Cup final brings down the curtain on domestic season

Fri, Nov 15, 2013

In many ways it is the classic cup final between the historic big two in Mayo soccer this Sunday when Castlebar Celtic and Westport United meet in Milebush. For a team that dominated at home and in the province last year, this year has been successful on the field for the Covies. A so-so start to the league saw them chasing from early on, but they found their form as the season went on and had a major say in the destination of the title in the closing stages, beating eventual champions Ballina Town on the penultimate day ensuring the destination of the Super League crown went down to the last day of the season. They then held second placed Ballyheane to a 2-2 draw at the end of October killing off their hopes of sneaking the title on the last day of the league. They eventually finished six points behind Ballina in the league, and know if they had been able to turn any of the four draws they were held to in the league season the day would have been right in the mix to retain the title.

Tooreen go for glory against Galway champions

Fri, Nov 15, 2013

After a 10 year absence from the top of the tree in Mayo hurling, the most decorated hurling side in the history of the county, Tooreen, are looking to cap their year with a Connacht title on Sunday.

Kiltane come knocking for more glory

Fri, Nov 15, 2013

A couple of minutes into the second half of their Connacht semi-final against Rosses Point/Drumcliffee it looked as if Kiltane had their place in this year’s provincial final wrapped up and tucked in the luggage compartment of the team bus and on the road home to Erris. But Martin Barrett’s men were made to sweat right until the final whistle in MacHale Park a few weeks ago, as a combination of taking their eye off the game and the Sligo champions refusing to go away saw Kiltane just hang on by the skin of their teeth to set up this Sunday’s meeting with the Roscommon champions Boyle in the county grounds in Castlebar.

Carnacon look to make home advantage count

Fri, Nov 15, 2013

It is one of those things that seems to never change like the winter weather, come this time of the year Carnacon will be on the hunt for an All Ireland title. On Sunday at home in Clogher the standard bearers of senior ladies football in the county are once again looking to book their place in an All Ireland final. Standing in their way are the Laois and Lenister champions, Mountmellick Sarsfields.

All eyes on Sunday will be once again on Cora Staunton who picked up her ninth All Star award last weekend, along with fellow Mayo player Yvonne Byrne who picked up her first All Star award after a stunning year in goal for the Mayo senior side. Staunton has also been in fantastic scoring form for her club side this year, running up huge scores in the Mayo final and through the Connacht championship. But of course Staunton is not the only leading light that Carnacon can call on, with Claire Egan having returned following a recent injury, Fiona McHale, Noelle Tierney, and Martha Carter all top quality players in their ranks.

Castlebar send Corofin packing

Sun, Nov 10, 2013

Castlebar 2-8
Corofin 1-10

Eddie O’Sullivan shares his thoughts on Success in Sport – What Does it Take?

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

Former Irish international rugby manager Eddie O’Sullivan and Sunday Game analyst Kevin McStay will lead out a strong team of sports men and women at a special seminar to explore what it takes to succeed in sport in today’s world where injuries, heartache, losses, and set-backs have to be overcome and where the lure of an easier life is never too far away.

The seminar, called Success in Sport – What Does it Take? takes place on Tuesday, November 12 at The Breaffy House Hotel starting at 7.30pm. It will be chaired by Ballinrobe native and well known GAA commentator Liam Horan. Also included in the panel is local Ladies GAA football star Cora Staunton. Mayo GAA team doctor Sean Moffatt is also to attend and will give an insight into the health and wellbeing of current day high performance sportspeople.

Mayo athletes off to masters international cross country championships

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

Athletics

Winter competitions and leagues in full swing

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

Balla
Last weekend’s stableford competition in Balla was won by Martin Moylette with a score of 39pts, he held off the challenge of Joe Healy and Pat Mohan who finished in second and third place respectively, just one point behind him. The ladies’ competition was won by Gabrielle Clesham on 36pts, with Rose O’Connor second and Breege Moran in third.

Injury-hit Corofin expects a massive battle on Sunday

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

The bookies have Corofin as hot favourites to advance to the Connacht senior club final when they take on Mayo champions Castlebar Mitchels in the provincial semi-final at Tuam Stadium this Sunday (2pm).

This will be Castlebar’s biggest test yet

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

our county champions Castlebar Mitchels take on the might of Corofin in the Connacht club semi-final. It really is a step into the unknown for Pat Holmes’ team who look set to have to plan without ace midfielder/attacker Danny Kirby who was red carded in the county u21 football final last Friday. There will be arguments all over as to whether Kirby’s suspension should follow through to the senior grade, but the fact that this was his last game as an u21 player meant he had to be suspended for something. He should not have put his team or manager in this predicament and I am sure ‘Holmesy’ was raging, as Kirby is a vital part of the Castlebar game plan. Corofin seem to have their eyes on bigger prizes this year and next, they will see Sunday as a means to an end. They also had the luxury of cantering home in their county final against a very disappointing Salthill/Knocknacarra on a score line of 2-13 to 0-7. Playing two weeks before the Mayo final also gave Crossmolina native and Corofin manager Stephen Rochford the ideal situation of being able to watch Castlebar in full tilt in the county final (as if he did not know enough already). I myself have been on the wrong end of a pasting from Corofin in the Connacht Club Championship. In 2009 they came to Charlestown and destroyed us on our own patch in the Connacht final. We were literally beaten all over the field. That game was due to go ahead a week previous but was postponed due to a water logged pitch after two weeks intensive rain, however what I ultimately remember from the whole experience is the day before the postponed game was to go ahead, Corofin had three officials in Charlestown for the pitch inspection, checking that matters were conducted correctly. They leave no stone unturned such is their professionalism. Gary Sice was their main man in the county final scoring 1-04, the Galway star seems to have found the form which his talent suggested, but they have match winners all over the field. Kieran Comer is a proven handful for whoever he has come up against and watch out for pocket rocket Joe Canney, (not to be confused with hurler Joe Canning) he destroyed us in that final in 2009. There is no doubt this will be the best team Castlebar have come up against in the last few years. They will need to be at full tilt to have any hope in this game, the Mitchell’s have some brilliant individuals who are capable of going toe to toe with anyone, but when big team performances are needed I cannot see past the well oiled machine that is Corofin.

Mitchels face stern test from fancied Corofin

Fri, Nov 08, 2013

Castlebar Mitchels’ main goal at the start of this year was to claim the Moclair Cup for the first time in two decades, a goal they successfully achieved a fortnight ago with a win over Breaffy. But while that success was the one they craved the most, this coming Sunday they have a chance to push their championship ambitions a step further when they take on Corofin in the semi-final of the AIB Connacht Senior Club Championship in Tuam at 2pm.