It was third time lucky for Ciaran McBrien’s men last Sunday as they claimed the Moclair Cup thanks to a three point win over Knockmore in the county senior final. The east Mayo men were deserving winners over an injury hit side from north Mayo who lacked the killer punch up front denied to them by the absence of Aidan Kilcoyne and Damien Munnelly, but that is of little worry to Charlestown who went out and did what they had to do. David ‘Ginger’ Tiernan rolled back the years with a tireless display in the middle of the field which saw him rightfully rewarded with a man of the match trophy after the game but good performances from the likes of Richard Haran which saw him score four points, John Casey in goal who pulled off a few good saves one late on when Knockmore were battling for a goal to save the tie and substitute Brian O’Connell who offered them something different in attack when they needed it, during the final scuffles saw them over the line. And after the celebrations died down this week, attention will turn to the Connacht Club championship, a competition the east Mayo men won the last time they were county champions back in 2001.
No rest for Westport
The day before the senior showpiece Westport came out on the right side of a war of attrition with Tourmakeady in horrendous conditions in McHale Park. Damien Keane was the main man for Westport scoring 2-4 for his side who won out 2-7 to 0-12 to claim the Sweeney Cup. In a game that was not one for the purists, Westport dug out the win after losing the services of James Gill seven minutes before half time to injury.
But there is no rest for Westport this weekend with the Connacht Intermediate Championship semi-final coming up in Markievicz Park on Sunday at 2pm against Sligo champions Greevagh who turned over the Roscommon champions St Croan’s in the quarter final last weekend. The provincial championship is scheduled to end in this grade the following weekend with the final pencilled in for the winners. It could be a big ask for Westport to shake of the celebrations from last weekend’s county final and get back to business so soon, but with players like Damien and Kevin Keane, Lewis Cawley, and Dermot O’Connor in their ranks if they put in the effort provincial glory might not be too big of an ask at all for them.
Kiltimagh look to Connacht glory
At the same time as Westport are going for glory in the Connacht intermediate championship, Kiltimagh will be doing the same in the Junior championship in Hyde Park when they take on Ballinameen in their provincial semi-final. While Kiltimagh were made battle hard against Ardnaree, they will have to ensure that they don’t go into Sunday’s game with any complacency against a side who didn’t even make the Roscommon junior final. Ballinameen were the only side in the final four of the Roscommon championship eligible to enter the provincial series as they were the only ones who weren’t a ‘B’ team left in the competition. While Kiltimagh have already achieved their aim of making it back to the intermediate championship this year by winning junior at the first time of asking since being relegated, they have a serious chance of adding provincial glory to bookend the year if they go for it on Sunday and the final which is booked in for the following Sunday.
Dempsey takes charge of u21s
Ray Dempsey was ratified last week as the new manager of the Mayo u21 side following the decision of Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly to step down after four successful years in charge of the side, which yielded Mayo’s first All Ireland title in two decades in their first year in charge of the side. Dempsey moves up the grades following three years in charge of the minors which saw him guide Mayo to two Connacht titles and two All Ireland finals. With Dempsey departing the minor side for next year, the county board’s attention will turn to finding someone to take over the reins for next season.
Ballyhaunis fire into the final
Ballyhaunis made up for last year’s defeat at the hands of Four Roads, from Roscommon in the Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final with a 3-18 to 2-16 extra time win in Athleague last weekend. Keith Higgins who was away last year when the sides met, scored 11 points for the east Mayo men, with Niall Murphy chipping in with 1-2 to set Ballyhaunis on the way to the championship final.
Yeats county men up first in chase for Sam 2010
Kevin Walsh’s Sligo are first up for Mayo in next year’s Connacht Senior Football Championship following the draws made last week. Walsh, who played a key role in John O’Mahony’s success in Galway in the late 1990s, will be taking charge of the Yeats men against Mayo. If Mayo over come Sligo they will face into a home game against Joe Kernan’s Galway side, who make the trip to New York next year to open the championship.
