Ballaghderreen get back to the top of the mountain

Sun, Oct 21, 2012

Ballaghaderreen 1-9     Ballintubber 0-4

Ardnaree get second tilt at the title

Sun, Oct 21, 2012

Darragh McCormack came to the rescue of Ardnaree late on in McHale Park on Sunday to give his side a second crack at this years Mayo junior title. Two minutes into injury time, Michael Walsh drove forward with purpose and laid the ball off to the Ardnaree number ten who held his nerve to pull the game level at 1-5 each. It was McCormack who left only one point between the sides, six minutes earlier with a neat finish under pressure.

Ballintubber chase the three-in-a-row dream

Fri, Oct 19, 2012

t’s been 36 years since it was last achieved when Garrymore saw off Knockmore by the smallest of margins on a scoreline of 1-9 to 2-5 to claim a historic three-in-a-row. On Sunday, Ballintubber are looking to become the latest side to enter their name in that ledger in the history books of Mayo football.

Connacht prepare for avenging ‘Quins

Fri, Oct 19, 2012

Connacht are preparing for a massive backlash from English premiership champions Harlequins when Heineken Cup rugby returns to the Galway Sportsground on Saturday. No supporter could forget Connacht’s 9-8 victory over Quins in the final pool match last season - a win which ended a nightmare run of 14 defeats on the trot for the home side, produced a first much-cherished win in the Heineken Cup, but one which also ended the English outfit’s European dreams.

Thus,with nearly 6,000 tickets already sold, the stage is set for a rematch, and Connacht coach Eric Elwood knows Conor O’Shea’s squad arrive with revenge on their minds. “There is no doubt there is a lot of history between us. They will be smarting from last year, but, from our point of view, we know on our day we are capable of beating them. The good thing is we have have confidence of the Zebre win under our belt, and they come here knowing they will have to be on their game. It will be extremely difficult because they are a quality side, but we would fancy anyone at home and in the Heineken we have proved it already against them.”

Ballagh in with a good shout of dethroning champions

Fri, Oct 19, 2012

I missed the semi-finals of this year’s senior championship so I am basing my judgment on information I got from friends, many of whom are far more expert than I. The consensus is that Ballaghaderreen have a fantastic chance of dethroning the county champions. I assume that judgement is based on the semi-final in which Ballintubber looked very ordinary in their lucky victory over Crossmolina.

Latest batch of monthly awards announced

Fri, Oct 19, 2012

The Mayo League this week have revealed the winners of their various monthly awards for August and September this week. The club of the month award for August went to Urlar United with the September award going to Partry Athletics. The manager of the month awards went to Michael Moran (Castlebar Celtic B) for August, and Michael Carroll (Urlar United) for September.

North against south in the junior decider

Fri, Oct 19, 2012

On the undercard of Sunday’s senior final is the meeting of two sides who have been beaten in three of the last four junior finals as they look to finally make the break up to intermediate football. Ardnaree were seen off last year by Islandeady and were also beaten in the final of three years ago by Kiltimagh. The Neale were last in the final in 2008 when Killala saw them off to claim the title.

Charlestown bounce back at the first attempt

Sun, Oct 14, 2012

Charlestown 1-7
Burrishoole 0-6

Elwood says Heineken Cup opener is a must-win for Connacht

Fri, Oct 12, 2012

Greater expectations surround Connacht’s second Heineken Cup campaign which begins tomorrow with a return visit to Italian newcomers Zebre. Having already claimed a RaboDirect Pro 12 win in Parma, Connacht head to Italy knowing what is needed to open this year’s cup campaign is a win. Any thing else will be seen as a backward step for the Irish side which also faces Europe’s third ranked side Biarritz and English champions Harlequins in pool three.

Horan to be offered two year extension to current deal

Fri, Oct 12, 2012

Only a matter of weeks after James Horan led Mayo to the All Ireland final, GAA matters in the county were thrown into a state of flux again with reports this week the Ballintubber club man was considering his position in charge of the side over a number of logistical issues. The issues of concern were reported to have been hotel accommodation in Dublin and the availability of training pitches and McHale Park.

However on Wednesday night the Mayo GAA County Board PRO Aidan McLoughlin issued a strongly worded statement, where he confirmed that Horan had met the board and would be offered a two year extension to his current deal which has a year left to run.

Charlestown look to triple Burrishoole’s pain

Fri, Oct 12, 2012

When Colm McManamon took over Burrishoole three years ago, it looked to be a forgone conclusion that he would be able to guide a talented, hard working, side back into the senior ranks in the near future. But it has not worked out that way for the men from McGovern Park in Newport. For the third time in as many years, he has guided his side to the final of the intermediate championship, and left them only 60 minutes from achieving their goal. But on Sunday they could not have asked for a harder side to get through at this grade than those who they will be facing in the green corner.

Four home games for Mayo footballers in the league

Fri, Oct 12, 2012

In what will be a welcome boost to the coffers of Mayo GAA, there will be four home games for Mayo in the proposed fixtures for Division 1 of the Allianz Football league next year. The draft fixtures which were released this week will see Mayo entertain Kerry, Tyrone, Kildare, and in a repeat of this years All Ireland final, Donegal in Elvery’s McHale Park. They will be on the road to Dublin, Down, and Cork in their remaining three games. The fixtures will see Mayo open up at home to Kerry on Sunday February 3, and follow that up with another home game against Tyrone the following Sunday. After a couple of weeks break they will be back in action on Saturday March 2, in the first of two away games in a row, on a Saturday night against Dublin, they will follow that up the next Saturday night away to Down. They will be back home the next Saturday night, March 16, against Kildare, before hosting Donegal the following Sunday, March 24, in Castlebar. They will round off the group stages of the competition away to Cork on Sunday, April 7. Mayo will have three Saturday night games and four Sunday afternoon games in the proposed fixtures.

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