Tangled up in Blue

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

It’s been a hectic year for Aidan O’Shea that has seen him line out in the colours of his club Breaffy, his college DIT, his county Mayo, and just last weekend his country, in the first Ireland international rules test against Australia. This Sunday his focus is very much on one thing, winning his first and his club’s first senior county championship. The towering midfielder wasn’t long back from his international rules duty when he spoke to the Mayo Advertiser ahead of Sunday’s game and kicking things off he said the whole international rules adventure was an enjoyable experience. “It went our way, it was something different, something that I wanted to get ticked off. We were (better than Australia) in the first two quarters, but they seemed to come together a bit after half time and they were more competitive. But it was an enjoyable game.”

Things have changed

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

Castlebar Mitchels have been going the extra mile this year in their quest to win their first county championship in 20 years, according to Richie Feeney. The team that have lost two of the last three county finals have been working hard to find those extra couple of inches to get themselves over the gain line and back to the promised land, he says. “I think the effort the lads have put in this year, is more effort that they’ve put in, in the last three or four years from what I’ve seen anyway.” Getting players to commit to stay around during the summer when the championship can enter a hiatus and not lot of football is played is another thing that has been a great boost to the cause this year he says. “I suppose the boys decided to stay around, there were a number of lads who went off travelling the last few years and things like that. Two of the boys went, but they came straight back into it and only missed one game and everyone decided to put the shoulder to the wheel and give it a good rattle.”

Castlebar hold the aces if they can quell Breaffy’s midfield

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

All roads lead to Castlebar on Sunday for Mayo’s showcase football final. The proximity of the two clubs with brothers and cousins being on opposite teams makes it intriguing to say the least. Barry Moran being fit for the Mitchels is a must to combat the power of the O’Shea brothers. I expect Castlebar to have the resources to shut out the threat of Alan Durcan, Liam Irwin, and co, and don’t expect them to get the same freedom they were afforded in the semi-final win over Charlestown. However Breaffy have a mean back line themselves and a very hard working half forward line to boot. I still think Castlebar hold the aces up front, and in Neil Douglas, Neil Lydon, and Richie Feeney they have three top drawer forwards. It is simple, the mid field battle decides who wins the game. If Castlebar break even in the middle their superior forward line will see them through. The bookies see this as a foregone conclusion, I am not so sure it’s that straightforward. Castlebar at 10/11 to start at -2 is the bet of the weekend.

A brilliant first half display by Kiltane in the Connacht Intermediate championship saw them ease past a very disappointing Menlough of Galway. That is two years in a row Mayo champions have easily disposed of their Galway counterparts. I expect big things from Kiltane this year and even next, and they possess a pretty lethal forward in Mikey Sweeney. Davitts’ run in this competition two years ago plucked Michael Conroy and Colm Boyle from the inter-county wilderness, culminating with Boyle playing for his country last weekend. Who knows we may see Mikey Sweeney in the Mayo colours next year.

Simple twist of fate

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

It is just another of the intriguing twists to a game already full of possibilities on Sunday that the Breaffy manager Declan O’Reilly will be in the blue corner after soldiering his way through his own playing days with the Mitchels. Much like on the field on Sunday where two brothers will be lining out on opposite sides, brothers of his own donned the blue of Breaffy after they relocated to Breaffy a few decades ago, while he continued to wear the red of Mitchels of their youth. Declan’s father Séan is another Mitchels stalwart having been chairman of the town team during the 70s, among other roles. But come throw in Sunday, Declan will have both feet firmly in the Breaffy camp as he explained to the Mayo Advertiser this week. “Yeah, it’s unusual, but that’s sport and that’s the way it goes. Breaffy contacted me earlier in the year and they asked me would I take over for the year, and it really was a challenge, and I said it’s a challenge I’m grateful for and I’ll take on. As I said to you before, I know the Mitchels lads well and I’ve nothing but the height of respect for them, and the way they conduct themselves and the way they play football is top class. But I signed up for Breaffy this year and it’s my obligation to see it through, in particular because I asked so much of the Breaffy players.” As for the day and the event, it is something he is chomping at the bit to get into. “It’s a good day for the club, it’s a good day for the players, a county final hasn’t come around before, so we’re looking forward to it immensely.”

On the road again

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

Castlebar Mitchels’ manager Pat Holmes is facing into his second county final in three years on Sunday which will also be the club’s third crack at the title in four. The All Ireland u21 winning manager from 2006 was also part of the last team from the county town to taste success in this competition 20 years ago, alongside a number of players with long roots to Sunday’s final, including his opposite number Declan O’Reilly who was a member of the panel and Tom O’Reilly whose two sons will line up in opposite camps come Sunday.

Mayo club competitions swing into winter

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

Balla
Last weekend’s stableford competition was sponsored by Vinny Gibbons and the men’s section was won by Mick Mellett with a score of 40pts, PJ Brett finished in second place and Noel Healy came home in third. The ladies’ competition was won by Mary Conlon with a score of 37pts, while Catherine McNulty finished second and Geraldine O’Malley came home in third place.

Last weekend’s stableford competition was sponsored by Vinny Gibbons and the men’s section was won by Mick Mellett with a score of 40pts, PJ Brett finished in second place and Noel Healy came home in third. The ladies’ competition was won by Mary Conlon with a score of 37pts, while Catherine McNulty finished second and Geraldine O’Malley came home in third place.

Tooreen look to take the right path through Four Roads

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

On bank holiday Monday at 2pm, Tooreen will be looking to see off the challenge of Four Roads from Roscommon and book their place in the Connacht Intermediate Club Hurling Championship final. Monday’s game in Athleague will see the blue devils look to keep up the form that saw them demolish Ballyhaunis in some style in the county final a fortnight ago.

Carnacon and Louisburgh go for provincial glory

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

It’s a case of all roads lead to Ballinlough this weekend for ladies football in Mayo, with Carancon and Louisburgh competing in the Connacht ladies senior and junior finals respectively. Tomorrow lunch time, Carnacon will get the show on the road when they take on Kilerrin/Clonberne in the senior final at 1.30pm. The Mayo girls have breezed through the championship so far after accounting for Castlebar Mitchels in the county final, then Roscommon’s Strokestown in the quarter-final and St Nathy’s from Sligo in the semi-final. Carnacon who are still under the guidance of Jimmy Corbett and Beatrice Casey are looking for their 15th provincial title in the last 17 years and eighth in a row. With Cora Staunton in rude scoring form and Claire Egan expected back after injury combined with the likes of Fiona McHale and Noelle Tierney they have the more than enough punch to see off the Galway champions on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday a youthful Louisburgh side go in search of a first provincial title for the seaside team. They are up against Shannon Gaels from Roscommon at 1.30pm. The team who are under the guidance of George Gibbons, overcame Menlough/Skehan from Galway in the semi-final by a whopping 6-10 to 3-4 after beating Tourmakeady in the county final by ten points. Sunday’s game could be a much tougher encounter.

Connacht look to bring European form to domestic stage

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

Connacht must take their European form to Dublin if they stand any hope of overcoming Leinster at the RDS in Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro 12 interprovincial (6.45pm).

Sports clubs unite in white collar event

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

Three sporting clubs in the Foxford area have joined forces to stage a fantastic night of white collar boxing. Knockmore /Foxford boxing club, Moy Davitts (GAA), and Straide and Foxford United (soccer) will put on an exhibition of boxing that is certain to entertain the large attendance expected as ticket sales are soaring at present. Under strict coaching by the KFC boxing coaches the participants are almost fully prepared to step between the ropes for the first time in competition this Sunday October 27 in Foxford Sports and Leisure Centre.

One for every mile

Fri, Oct 25, 2013

The 34th Dublin City Marathon takes place this Bank Holiday Monday. Once again Mayo AC has a strong team entered, 26 in total - 17 men and nine women.