Emotions on hold as Elwood bids farewell after twenty-four years

Fri, May 03, 2013

Connacht close their 2012/13 season this evening in what is expected to an emotional farewell to the province’s most significant personality of the last 24 years, coach Eric Elwood.

Two dozen Mayo girls in national finals

Fri, May 03, 2013

A squad of 24 female boxers from 10 clubs in Mayo will attempt to add additional titles to the 18 national titles won by various boxers from the county so far this season. The action will commence this evening (Friday) continuing tomorrow in the National Stadium in Dublin. Geesala BC will have the biggest contingent with six boxers in the finals. Golden Gloves and St Anne’s each has four boxers in the finals, with Castlebar sending forward three, Ballinrobe two, and one each from Ardagh/Crossmolina, Swinford, Ballyhaunis, Ballina, and Knockmore.

Achill Half Marathon launched

Fri, May 03, 2013

The popular Achill Half Marathon, with a new 10K race added for 2013, was officially launched last Friday April 26, in Pieta House, Dublin. “Pieta House is our charity partner for this year,” explained Pauric Corrigan of Achill Events Management, the organisers of the event “and we are delighted to be able to raise awareness of the vital service the voluntary organisation provides for its clients.”

Bank holiday competitions to take centre stage

Fri, May 03, 2013

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Last weekend’s stroke play competition was won by PJ Brett on a score of 53pts, Bernie O’Connor finished second two points behind and in the process scored a hole-in-one on the 17th. Jimmy Walsh took third place with Conor Holian winning the junior prize scoring 54pts. The ladies’ competition was won by Mary B Prendergast on 52pts, Breege Moran finished in second place on 54pts, Mary B O’Donnell took third spot with Carmel Costello claiming the gross win. The golfer of the year table is currently being lead by Aodan McSuibhnie on 19pts in the gents’ section, with Mary B O’Donnell heading up the ladies’ table.

Keane looking forward to holding Galway at bay

Fri, May 03, 2013

Five years ago, Kevin Keane was looking forward to hopefully a long summer of minor football in the green and red of Mayo. That summer brought him all the way to Croke Park on All Ireland final day and ultimately a heartbreaking defeat to Tyrone in a final replay in Longford. Since then Keane has worked his way though the ranks of the u21s and up to a starting spot in the senior final against Donegal last September. The Westport native and Sligo IT student was in McHale Park this week to launch this year’s Electric Ireland All Ireland minor championships, and he puts what he learned playing in the minor championship five years ago as one of the major reasons he is where he is today in the game. “Back in 2008, it was a great honour to represent your county first and foremost and then to go on to where we got, was just amazing. It was a huge stepping stone looking back on it now, getting to represent Mayo as a senior footballer. It was a great level to learn your trade as a footballer, which is what it’s all about really in developing you as a footballer. I was lucky enough to win a Connacht title and get to an All Ireland final in Croke Park, which at 18 years of age is one of the most amazing things you can ever do as a footballer, especially when you’re only 18.”

Ballina and Westport lay down big markers

Fri, May 03, 2013

There might be only two rounds completed in the Mayo League, but both Ballina Town and Westport United laid down serious markers of their intentions for the season. While Westport have been pressing success on a number of fronts over the winter Ballina were left to plot for the new season. Ballina Town backed up their tight win over Castlebar Celtic in round one with a 9-1 demolition of Snugboro United in Conway Park last weekend. John Durkan bagged a hat-trick as Ballina Town put the newly promoted side to the sword and did their own goal difference no harm in the process. It was never likely that anyone was going to come close to the nine goal haul Ballina put on the scoreboard, but Westport United gave it a good go as they beat Claremorris 6-0 in Concannon Park in Claremorris. J P O’Gorman scored half of his side’s total as they hit the whole half-dozen from the 27th minute to the 70th of this one sided contest. Westport will play their second league of the season this weekend when they take on Ballyheane in the Sportspark tomorrow at 6.30pm in a catch up game. The men from outside Castlebar got their league campaign off to a start last weekend with a 1-1 draw away to Iorras Aontaithe in Carnenash, thanks to an injury time equaliser from Arek Tobiasz after David Reilly had put the home side into the lead on the hour mark from the penalty spot.

The other game in the top division last weekend saw Castlebar Celtic’s title ambitions take another massive hit when Manulla made the short trip into Celtic Park and went home with the points following a 3-2 win. The home side went into a first minute lead when Ioseph O’Reilly scored from close range. Manulla levelled the game up when Paddy Canavan finished from close range following a scramble in the box three minutes later to get the game off to a blistering start. Ollie Cunningham’s drive from the edge of the area put Celtic into the lead, but three minutes later Gary Durkan put the sides level again. That was the way it remained until injury time when Canavan headed home from close range to give Manulla a 3-2 win and send them home with the points.

Championship starts with trip to Kildare for Mayo hurlers

Fri, May 03, 2013

Two weeks before their senior football colleagues open their championship campaign, the Mayo senior hurling team will travel to Newbridge to take on Kildare in the first round of the Christy Ring Cup tomorrow afternoon. The Lillywhites are 11/2 third favourites to follow in the footsteps of the likes of London, Carlow, and Westmeath in lifting the trophy, while Mayo are currently priced at 16/1, second last favourites according to one major bookmaker.

Celtic on the chase for cup glory

Fri, May 03, 2013

Six years on since the class of 2007 claimed the FAI Youth Cup, Castlebar Celtic will make the long trip to Turners Cross in Cork tomorrow with hopes of writing their names front and centre in the already long and imposing history of their club. Seven games on from when they saw off the challenge of Roscommon 3-0 in the first round, they have score 24 goals and conceded only five on a trip that has brought them to Galway, Tullamore, and Cork already, and back to the Rebel county tomorrow to face down Castleview with kick off at 3pm.

The latest batch of Celtic stars booked their place in the final a couple of weeks ago with 3-2 win over Castlebridge Celtic in Fermoy. The main man on the day was striker Liam Flatley who bagged all three goals for Celtic to book their place in the final. Flatley’s form over the past year has also been recognised at international level for Ireland. But this Celtic side are no one man team, with players like Gerry Hunt and Colm Nevin also making a name for themselves as they have moved through the different underage ranks with Celtic up to this side and tomorrow’s national showdown.

Connacht aim for Italian success

Fri, Apr 26, 2013

With European rugby taking centre stage this weekend, Connacht and Treviso are locked into a battle of their own in their refixed RaboDirect Pro 12 clash in Italy this evening. Both sides are still looking for their best league finish and, on this occasion, Treviso have the upper hand. They are currently in seventh place with 43 points, while Connacht are in ninth with 36 points. A win for Connacht would ensure they cannot be caught by Edinburgh, who, just four points behind, host the Dragons next week, while Eric Elwood’s side host a Glasgow outfit looking for a home-semi. “This is a huge game for both sides,” says Elwood. “ Treviso are going for their best finish and we can still improve on our league standing for a third year in a row, so there is a lot riding on this game. A win for either side would ensure we go into the last match with a huge incentive.”

Rice College secure green pennant

Fri, Apr 26, 2013

Having secured their place in the All Ireland Senior Colleges final at Balmoral Golf Club; Rice College under the stewardship of local teacher Joe Cuddy, clinched the first national golfing pennant for Westport in more than 30 years. Jack Healy, Matthew Golden, Sam Gillivan, Joe Hastings, and Jack O'Donnell overcame tournament favourites Ulster with some determined play in the morning semi-finals and went on to defeat De La Salle, Waterford, in the final. With every player contributing a crucial point over the two matches the result could not have been any sweeter. All five team members play golf locally at Westport Golf Club and shortly after news came through from Belfast, Westport junior convenor Joe Carty congratulated all those involved in this tremendous victory for Rice College.

Two out of three ain’t bad for Mayo boxers

Fri, Apr 26, 2013

Mayo boxers won two out of three contests in the Senior Cadet Championships last weekend. Two boxers from St Anne’s BC and one from Ballyhaunis BC had qualified for the semi-finals of the championships. Martin Collins St Anne’s was in the 54kg division and obtained a walkover in the semi finals as his opponent Kalum Mc Conville (Dealgan BC) had obtained a hand injury during the week. Sean Conroy was boxing in the 75kg class and was the first Mayo boxer between the ropes, his opponent was Keelon Sexton (Ennis BC). This was Conroy’s final as Sexton has a big reputation and the Ballyhaunis boxer put on a magnificent performance of strength and speed in the opening round finishing on double scores of 6-3. In what was an all action contest Conroy piled on the big blows for the next two minutes finishing round two 12-5 ahead. Both boys tired nearing the final bell and the Mayo boxer finished on a very comfortable score of 18-8. Francis Carr from St Anne’s was the next Mayo boxer into the ring on Saturday evening and the current boy four national champion lost the contest in the first round. Carr came back to the corner after the first bell 3-1 down and that was the beginning of the end for the St Anne’s boy. Carr lifted his performance in round two and equalled his opponent Gary Maughan (Cavan BC) punch for punch. The Mayo boxer held his own in round two and maintained the two point deficit he had mounted at the end of round one, finishing the round 7-5. It was all on the final round and two points was not an impossible task for the strong St Anne’s boy. Carr just did enough in round three to equal Maughan’s scoring and after three gruelling rounds the Mayo boxer was knocked out of the competition on a score of 8-10. On the final day’s boxing on Sunday, Mayo had two contestants in action in the finals and both boys did themselves and club proud. Martin Collins (St Anne’s) won his first national title defeating Vlad Kamarcshuchuk (Wexford CBS) having to come from behind to accomplish this great feat. Down 3-4 after the first bell Collins dug deep into his reserves and overturned the score in his favour in the next two minutes to 6-5. Collins kept his opponent scoreless in the final round with a tight defence and lifted the National Senior Cadet 54kg title on a score of 8-5. Sean Conroy (Ballyhaunis BC) made it 18 national titles so far this season for Mayo boxers and his seventh personal title and second this season. Conroy is a former European Schoolboy bronze medallist and this showed in his splendid performance against Ryan Devine (Immaculata BC). The Ballyhaunis boxer stopped Devine in round two with powerful punching to the head and body.

Polkadot cycle looks to attract all class of riders

Fri, Apr 26, 2013

The annual Polkadot Cycle Challenge, promoted by the Western Lakes Cycling Club, takes place this year on Saturday May 11. This event has become established as a major event in the leisure cycling calendar, and over the past number of years has attracted cyclists from every corner of the country. This year the club has revamped the routes to attract the ever growing numbers of newcomers taking to the roads, while taking in the breath-taking scenery around the beautiful Lough Mask.

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