Rochford is ready for the sophomore challenge

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

The sophomore slump is something that Mayo manager Stephen Rochford is hoping to avoid this coming season, while it was not exactly a breakout success for this group of Mayo players last year when they went toe to toe with one of the best sides to ever play the game in last year's All Ireland final, for Rochford it was his debut year as the boss in the inter-county ranks. With the National Football League getting under way tomorrow evening when Mayo host Monaghan in Castlebar, we caught up with the Crossmolina native this week to look ahead to the league and back on a few things from last year.

It all begins again tomorrow night

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

And so it begins. With the greatest respect to the FBD league, Mayo's season kicks off in earnest with a home tie against Monaghan in MacHale Park tomorrow evening. I will let someone else tell Andy Moran about the insignificance of the FBD league. Mayo's evergreen full forward was full of passion for the trip to Kiltoom to face Roscommon in the final FBD group game, scoring two late goals to ultimately decide the contest and rub salt to the wounds of the Rossies' who had given him plenty of stick while he was on the sideline.

Opening day options

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

The start of the National Football League on Saturday evening will see thousands flock into MacHale Park to see the new season get under way properly. The league is often seen as time for guys to be given a chance to impress in the early rounds and stake their claim for a place later on in the year. But is this really the case?

Mayo go hunting for first win

Fri, Feb 03, 2017

Last weekend saw the Mayo Ladies' senior side open their account in the National Football League this season with a defeat registered against them, but in the grand scheme of things, with the confirmation that Cora Staunton, Yvonne Byrne, and Martha Carter would be committing to another season in the green and red coming late last week, the result will be forgotten quickly enough.

Louisburgh dream ends in Ennis

Mon, Jan 30, 2017

Not even in their wildest dreams on Saturday night could Louisburgh's lions have dreamt up the situation where they would find themselves 0-7 to 0-0 up against a Glenneigh-Glencarr side that came into this All Ireland semi-final as almost unbackable favourites. But that's the position they found themselves in on Sunday in Cusack Park in Ennis.

Westport warriors battle through the rain to book Croker date

Sun, Jan 29, 2017

It was a day that will live long in the memory of those who made the trip to Ennis from the seaside town of Westport on Sunday. Westport are in the All Ireland Intermediate final and that's all that matters now, but if they hadn't been able to surge past Kenmare in extra time, they would have been kicking themselves for a long time, because they dominated this game and should have rattled the back of the net on a few more occasions than they did.

Three of the best for Mayo in Sligo seals North West Cup win

Sat, Jan 28, 2017

Mayo manager Michael Solan made seven changes from the side that started the previous week against Donegal with Marcus Park, Gary McHale, James Kelly, Cathal Hennelly, Ryan O’Donoghue, Barry Duffy and Colm Reape all coming into the starting 15 for this North West Cup Final against Sligo. 

What we learned from Mayo's win over Roscommon

Mon, Jan 23, 2017

Mayo wrappeded up their FBD League run for 2017 with a remarkable win over Roscommon on Sunday, we look back on a that win and pick out a few talking points. You can read our match report at http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/89983/moran-seals-miracle-ending-for-mayo

Moran seals miracle ending for Mayo

Sun, Jan 22, 2017

It’s a long way from the business end of the year, but the determination shown by Mayo to dig out what looked like an impossible victory as the game moved towards the end of normal time and they trailed by five points is something that will warm the spirits of the Mayo faithful ahead of their league opener against Monaghan in a fortnights time.

Warm welcome in store for Mayo in Kiltoom

Fri, Jan 20, 2017

It may still only be January, but the meeting of Mayo and Roscommon at any stage of the season is always an encounter to look forward to, and on Sunday Mayo will make the long trek to Kiltoom to take on their neighbours in the final round of the FBD League.

Mayo look to take down Donegal

Fri, Jan 20, 2017

The defending All Ireland U21 champions got off to a ropey start in the North West Cup last weekend against Sligo in the Sligo Centre of Excellence. After Derry's withdrawal from the competition this was Mayo's first outing in the cup, with Sligo having seen off the challenge of Donegal the previous weekend.

What we learned from Mayo's victory over IT Sligo

Mon, Jan 16, 2017

Strength in depth
It's hard to imagine that come the business end of the season that Mayo will have as much experience and depth on their bench as they did in Ballina on Sunday. After jetting back in from their team holiday in South Africa late last week, Colm Boyle, Donal Vaughan, Aidan O'Shea, Cillian O'Connor and Tom Parsons were all on the bench. Cathal Carloan was also named to started in reserve but he replaced Kevin McLoughlin in the Mayo starting 15 before throw in.

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