New date for Breaffy 10k and plenty of medals picked up

Fri, Aug 16, 2013

The postponed Breaffy 10k road race originally scheduled for Sunday, August 25 has a new date. The Breaffy 10k is now set for Sunday October 6 at 1.30pm. This will now be the final race in the Mayo AC Road League and the relatively flat course should see some good times from finishers. The postponement was due to the involvement of the local GAA Club, for which the race is a fundraiser, with players competing in both the minor and senior teams in the All Ireland football semi-finals on August 25 in Dublin. The organisers apologise for the change of date. They hope that the new date will attract even more competitors as it is the only local permitted race on that weekend.

Official opening of new Knockmore/Foxford boxing gym

Fri, Aug 16, 2013

The preparations are well underway for the official opening of the new Knockmore/Foxford boxing gym in Foxford which will be held on Friday evening next, August 23 at 7pm. Fr Padraig Costello will celebrate Mass in the gym, first with the official opening being carried out by Minister of State for Sport, Michael Ring afterwards. A great evening’s entertainment has been lined up for all who come along and it’s open to everyone over the age of ten. The club has issued invitations to all the six Mayo girls who recently competed in the European Union Championships and to all boxing clubs in Mayo.

Mayo focused on the challenge ahead

Fri, Aug 16, 2013

As of Wednesday night, there are no new major injury concerns for Mayo according to James Horan. The Mayo manager met the assembled local and national press corps in Breaffy House and when quizzed on the injury front the Ballintubber man said that, “I don’t think there’s anything new since I talked to you last. Some of the guys who were out injured are making good progress.” The two main injury concerns coming out of the last two games, Michael Conroy and Tom Cunniffe, were coming along well according to Horan on Wednesday night. “Mickey [Conroy] trained last night and played very well so he’s back up and running, so we’re delighted with that.” On Cunniffe, who twinged a hamstring, the Mayo boss said: “He’s making good progress, the medical team are working very hard with him. He’s not back training yet, but he’s very close to it. Some of these are seven to 10 day ones and you’ve to see how they pan out.”

Castlebar Golf Club’s ‘Middle East Celts’ Gathering Golf Classic

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

Castlebar Golf Club hosted its own Gathering golf event entitled the Middle East Celts Golf Classic. Lady captain Mary Caulfield and her committee drove this project from its inception to reality and it turned out to be a fantastic success with a huge crowd of Celts turning out to play, including US Celts such as James McGovern, Adam Niles, Dave Perez, and Dustin Sparman; Middle East Celts from Dubai including Kevin Burns and Noel Rice; flying Celts including Siobhan Dravins, Albert Dravins, Margaret Reynolds, and Brian Reynolds as well as a large number of local Celts.

The Races of Castlebar - a three-race event for all abilities

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

The Races of Castlebar were officially launched on Thursday August 1. This series of running events has been organised as part of the In Humbert's Footsteps festival that will be held in August. It is a joint venture between Castlebar Tennis Club and Mayo Sports Partnership.

International success for Knockmore rider

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

Eleven year old Ciaran Nallon, Ballylodge Stables, Knockmore, has won two gold medals representing Ireland in a two-week period.

From the bunker

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

Ballinrobe Golf Club
Captain's prize (Richie Donohue): 1st Michael Lee, 2nd Patrick Hession, gross Gary Brett, 3rd Ray Prendergast, cat 1 Dara Jennings, cat 2, Noel Corbett, cat 3 Martin Boyle.

Surf lifesaving nippers in Achill this weekend

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

The sport of lifesaving is not very well known in the county, but it is one that is becoming ever more popular and one that competitors in Mayo are good at. Over the years the Mayo Senior Lifesaving teams have won numerous national titles both in the pool and at the beach (surf), while also having their fair share of international representatives.

GAA Fixtures

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

Intermediate Football Championship
Sat, 10 Aug, Elvery’s MacHale Park, Castlebar

Bonniconlon overcome St Lawrence’s of Manchester in Gathering launch

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

A challenge match between Manchester represented by St Lawrence’s GAA and Mayo represented by Bonniconlon GAA marked the launch of the Manchester Mayo Gathering.

It is time to be cautious but optimistic

Fri, Aug 09, 2013

Hunger was the difference between Mayo and Donegal last Sunday according to many pundits; it was more like starvation. What more can you say, the best ever performance by a Mayo team in Croke Park and I don’t say that lightly. Donegal didn’t know what hit them, the way they dismantled the All-Ireland champions was so impressive it scared the living daylights out of everybody watching including the remaining three teams left in the competition. I was on Highland Radio (Donegal’s local station) the Wednesday evening before the quarter final and after telling it as it was, that I thought this Mayo team were in a really good place because of their build up, the competition for places and their ability to ease and not rush players back from injury unlike Donegal, and that Mayo were in serious physical shape, only to be jibed somewhat by James McHugh and Paul McGonigle (two former Donegal players) that “according to John Casey Donegal shouldn’t bother turning up on Sunday”. Well, maybe they should have listened.

I travelled down from the game with Liam McHale and both of us were on a real high and ultra impressed by what we had just witnessed. Normally in a big game you hope to have 10 to 12 players performing well to try to squeeze you over the line. Last Sunday Mayo had 20 and a management team on top of their game which resulted in a demolition job on the very tired looking All–Ireland champions. Not one Mayo player played second fiddle to their opponents and Chris Barrett and Ger Cafferky were outstanding on Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy - two of the most dangerous forwards in the game.