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Mayo’s Amy Corrigan and Pauline Gallagher secured a hard-earned first ever senior ladies 60x30 all-Ireland title against hot favourites and reigning champions, Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville at Abbeylara on Saturday afternoon last. However Mayo’s Dessie Keegan failed in his bid to reach a first ever men’s senior singles at the same venue.

Dublin City University students James Burke from Louisburgh and his project partner, Claire Shanahan from Dublin, have been announced as runners-up at this year’s Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Award for their ‘Drivefeed’ business idea. The masters of business management duo’s idea for a road safety system which facilitates peer-sharing among drivers and other road users was one of only six which made it to the final round of the nationwide competition.

It was not been the best of weekends for Connacht counties competing in all-Ireland finals with the tally of just one title won out of seven contested. That sole winner came to Mayo's Ciara and Clodagh McManamon who, as widely expected - claimed the All-Ireland Ladies Junior B doubles title at the expense of Kilkenny's Rachel Hogan and Maria Walsh on a 21-10, 21-10 scoreline at Crinkle on Saturday and a second title for Ciara McManamon who defeated Hogan in the singles final last weekend.

The Irish 40x20 National Championships concluded at Kingscourt on Sunday last and after three days of intense handball competition two Mayo handballers emerged victorious.

•Connacht Rugby will host a golf classic tomorrow. The competition, a four ball stableford with two scores to count, will take place at the Galway Bay Golf Club. Teams of four, which include tickets for Saturday’s match, cost €400. For further information contact Gerry O’Neill 087-2401076, Frank Mitchell 086-6050925, Simon Heaslip 087-2512803, or Eoin Hegarty 091-561568.

Mayo featured in a number of all-Ireland 40x20 semi-finals against Leinster opposition last weekend, and while there was the odd success, it was the Leinster champions who were the better for the exchanges.

Fresh from his third place finish at the Tubbercurry 10K on St Patrick's Day Roger Barrett, Ballina AC, travelled to Sligo for the Connacht senior cross country championships last weekend. Barrett was further rewarded for the hard work he gives to training when he ran a fantastic race and beat off all contenders to secure the senior title. He was followed closely behind by Liam Feeley of north Leitrim in second place and Tommy Kelly, north Sligo, in third. The only other Mayo athlete to compete was Sean Gallagher, Ballina AC, who finished in eighth place overall.

The main highlights of the weekend were the two provincial senior finals at Ballaghaderreen on Saturday. Much had been made of the all-Ballaghaderreen clash between Joe McCann and Dessie Keegan in the men’s final and a good attendance was expecting a close match. However it was clear from the off that while Keegan was on fire there was something seriously amiss with Joe McCann’s game. Keegan blitzed into a commanding 10 aces to nil lead, thanks to some powerful serving and what can be best described as a nightmare start for McCann. Although the game opened up somewhat toward the end of the first, Keegan maintained a hefty lead and won it comfortably 21 aces to six. Any hopes of a recovery by McCann in the second game were short lived as once again the impressive Keegan piled on the aces and the agony for McCann. While Joe McCann did cut the deficit to six aces at 13-7 and it looked for a brief moment that Keegan had lost his momentum this was quickly regained, as Keegan ran out a comfortable winner on a 21 aces to 9 scoreline.

Lough Key Forest Park, near Boyle was the venue for the annual Woodie's DIY AAI National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country Championships last Sunday. The scenic surroundings were a bit lost in the gloom of a frosty, foggy, February day. However, the parkland course was a good test for all four races held in chilly but mainly solid underfoot conditions. Mayo AC had a great turnout of 20 athletes, which represents a heartening revival of interest, and their four teams included athletes running cross country for the first time. Competition, as usual, was fierce with club and county honours at stake as well as individual age categories in the masters races. Despite not winning any medals this year there were some excellent performances. Ann Lennon ran strongly and was 16th overall in the Masters Women's 4k .She led the team to fourth club, albeit well outside the bronze points. Robert Malseed was in fine form — 12th in their masters race — just a week after his 32nd place in the Barcelona Half Marathon in an excellent 72.14. The masters o35 team were ninth club, while the o50s team were sixth. In the Intermediate men's race, Mayo AC were sixth club and were led home by another good run from John Byrne in 14th overall. Their four top finishers - John Byrne, TJ McHugh (37) Anto Devaney (62), Timmy Glavey (69), plus Roger Barrett (20) and Michael Canty (91) of Ballina AC, - brought Mayo to fourth place Inter County.