Connacht host Dragons in must-win match for both sides

Fri, Jan 04, 2013

Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground on Saturday evening (5pm) for what has become an increasingly crucial game in this year's RaboDirect Pro 12.

Westport United kings of it all

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

When they look back on 2012 in Westport, it’ll be one of the great years to remember for them. They conquered all before and after them, league champions, cup winners and Connacht Cup winners. They took them all on and saw them all off. And there is still the little matter of the FAI Junior Cup come the new year, which they will be targeting to bring home for the second time if they can. There will be plenty of memories for the men in red and black stripes, but Gary Cunningham’s two saves in the penalty shoot-out against Athenry in the Connacht Cup final to set up their win will undoubtedly be the highlight.

They were untouchable in the league here in Mayo strolling to the Super League title with 12 points to spare over Castlebar Celtic in second place. They won 12, drew one and lost one of an outstanding league season and on the way picked up the Connacht Gold Cup and the FCS Cup making it a clean sweep of titles on offer to their A side, their B team also picked up winners medals in the Connacht Gold Shield too. They also launched an ambitious plan to forge a new home of their own on the outskirts of the town, which when it comes to pass will set them up well for the future.

Ballagh’ climb back to the top of the table

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

This year’s club action kicked off with a couple of big questions looking to be answered, could Ballintubber be the first team since the legendary Garrymore team to do three in a row in the senior championship. And would Charlestown be able to bounce straight back up from the intermediate championship after their shock fall from grace the previous year.

There and back again

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

What was to be expected of the Mayo senior footballers at the dawn of 2012? Progress was what people wanted to see. But how much realistic progress could people expect from James Horan’s side in year two of his project. Knocking out the All Ireland champions at the quarter final stage was a pretty big thing to progress on 12 months later. But that they did and some more.

Ladies boxing at Ballina Boxing Club receives €10,000 funding

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

The awarding of a grant of €10,000 to Ballina Boxing Club by the Coca Cola Thank You Fund for the promotion of ladies boxing has been warmly welcomed by Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Deputy Michelle Mulherin. The award was one of only 11 that were made by the fund this year to organisations across Ireland.

Wanted - female sea-anglers of Connacht

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

It is high time there was more provision and resources for women sea anglers, and the Connaught Council of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers is stepping up to the mark. Its hope is to encourage female Connacht sea-anglers to compete for their province at the All-Ireland Ladies Inter-provincial Shore Angling Championships by providing support and guidance for female sea-anglers in the west.

From the bunker

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

Balla Golf Club
Christmas competition December 14 to 16. Ladies’ winners, first Nora Gibbons 36 points, second Breege Moran 31 points B9, third Rose O’Connor 31 points. Congrats to Nora Gibbons who had a hole in one on the sixth hole.

Mayo AC celebrated 25th birthday in style

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Mayo AC celebrated their 25th Anniversary in style at a party night in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar at the start of the month. A broad spectrum of members from the early days of the late '80s to the present time were among those enjoying the celebrations. It was a wonderful opportunity for old friends and rivals to meet again, run down memory lane, mix with the post millennium intake, and share training methods from the days of hand-written results sheets to today's racing menu where it's chips with everything. In tandem with the club's success, membership has grown from 30 odd in 1999 to over 140 in 2012.

End of winter competitions in sight for clubs

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Balla
PJ Brett was the winner of the gents’ stableford competition last weekend with a score of 35pts, Bernie O’Connor came home in second place and Mick Mellett was third. The ladies’ competition was won by Geraldine O’Malley with Mary Brett finishing second and Mary Conlon third. The first round of the winter league will start this weekend and can be played from Friday to Sunday.

Another great gala for Ballina Dolphins

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The most recent swimming gala took place in Ballina where several Ballina Dolphins swimmers not only took part, but achieved some great times and took home several medals. Amy McGowan had three amazing swims achieving an A time in all three, the 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m IM. Alex Patten also competed in two swims improving on her times and getting an A time in the 100m freestyle. Heather McGowan had a successful day achieving A times in both the 100m freestyle and the 200m IM.

Christmas Duathlon for Claremorris

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Don’t worry about putting on extra pounds over the Christmas as The Land of The Giants Duathlon will help to burn them up. On December 29 at 10.30am the town of Claremorris will be a colour fest of runners and cyclist all aiming to complete the first ever Claremorris Duathlon.

O’Connor only change for Elwood’s men

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Johnny O’Connor will team up with Andrew Browne and Eoin McKeon in Connacht’s back row in the only change to the starting 15 for this evening’s encounter with Biarritz from the side who defeated the same opponents on a historic night in the Sportsground seven days ago. O’Connor will replace the injured Willie Fallon, who was ruled out with a fractured eye socket he picked up in that win.

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