Search Results for 'Derry'

Gaelic football, played at its brilliant best, excites me. It is a game that provides heroes and role models, moments of glory, and great sporting occasions, with the potential to lift the spirits of whole communities and providing a focus for local loyalty and a real sense of community. Unfortunately this year’s championship hasn’t yet done any of that and has provided only one game of real quality so far, that of Cork v Kerry.

I was delighted to hear on Saturday evening that Ronan McGarrity had participated in the A v B game in McHale Park, it was good news for all concerned and his inclusion in the Mayo team announced on Wednesday night gives the county and the player himself a great boost going into this weekend’s Connacht final. Normally before matches of this nature, I’m fairly confident in predicting in advance who will win, but this time I’m finding it difficult. Mayo’s performances in the championship to date have been hugely impressive albeit against weak opposition. And on the other hand Galway have been deteriorating since half time in the league game in Tuam, when Mayo came back in the second half in impressive style to win the game. Since half time in that game, every time Galway have togged out they have had question marks hanging over them. In Sligo they were very lucky and had to use six different combinations at midfield to see off the Yeats county men who, if they had a bit more conviction when goal chances were presented, could have sent Liam Sammon’s side into the qualifiers at that stage.

A member of the Defence Forces was roundly criticised by Judge John Neilan for her attitude to the court.

Tomorrow (Saturday) in McHale Park in Castlebar at 5pm Mayo will be expected to account for Fergal O’Donnell’s Roscommon and qualify for the 2009 Connacht final on July 19. Mayo have been operating at a higher level then Roscommon over the past few years and it is a steady and consistent Division 1 team facing a Division 3 outfit.

Roscommon athlete Lorcán Ó Catháin has qualified for the European Youth Olympics Festival (EYOF), it has been confirmed by the Olympic Council of Ireland.

The mountain of press cuttings shows the impact that Derry faith healer, Danny Gallagher, has had since he discovered his gift for healing. 

ANTRIM’S STUART Graham and Derry’s Judith Roddy are currently in the Nuns Island Theatre, rehearsing for the award winning play Blackbird by David Harrower, which is part of this year’s Galway Arts Festival.

I am finding it fairly difficult to establish just how good this current Mayo team really are, so I have conducted my own little independent survey among knowledgeable footballing friends from outside the county. Every single person I have spoken to since Mayo’s Connacht final victory over Galway has suggested that the Mayo team is in with a serious shout of winning this year’s All-Ireland title. They love the fact that this present group of players is big and strong with lots of ball winners particularly in the central positions. They also argue that it is a team that appears capable of scoring goals.

Domino's Pizza Cycle-ogical Challenge finish and Family Fun day at Kilkenny Castle Park will be held at 12 noon and run on till 4pm on Saturday September 12.

THE ROMAN Catholics of Northern Ireland have very little to thank British governments for, except a piece of legislation, which would help empower a generation to speak out against discrimination of Catholics in Ulster.