Premier A title still up for grabs

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

It is still all to play for in the Welcome Inn Hotel Premier A title race this weekend. With only two rounds to go in the league, Conn Rangers, Ballyheane, are the favourites to finish in the top two, with both sides meeting this Sunday. Snugboro United’s challenge took a major dent in the last round of games when they were beaten 3-2 by Clew Bay United, leaving them trailing first place Conn Rangers by four points and second placed Ballyheane by three points. If Ballyheane see off Conn Rangers in Quigley Park this Sunday, it will leave the door open for their near neighbours in Snugboro to overhaul Conn Rangers on the last day of the season when they travel to Mount Falcon to take on the north Mayo side. First thing for the Conway Park side is a game at home against a bottom of the table Swinford on Sunday at 2.30pm.

The Super League will move into its second last round of game with the battle for second spot the only real thing up for grabs. Castlebar Celtic are currently in second spot on 22 points, three in front of Iorras Aontaithe, with Ballina Town in fourth one point further back. Celtic will be confident of maintain their grasp on that spot with bottom of the table Straide and Foxford United coming to Celtic Park on Sunday at noon. Iorras Aontaithe have to face the champions Westport United while Ballina Town are away to Fahy Rovers. The other game in the division is the mid table scrap between Claremorris and Manulla in Concannon Park.

Ballyhaunis 8K goes to the tape tomorrow

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

The Ballyhaunis 8k takes place next Saturday, September 29 at 4pm. This is race number seven in the Mayo Road league. Last year three former Irish Olympians took part, Jerry Kiernan, David Matthews and Noel Berkeley, who won the race in a fast time of 25:54. The women’s race was won by Mary Gleeson (Mayo AC) in 29:16. A large attendance is expected again this year.

Autumn season tees off around the county

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Balla
Last weekend’s competition sponsored by Nevada Bobs, Castlebar, was won by Brian Fallon with a score of 39pts. John O’Connor finished second with John Walsh coming third. The ladies’ competition was won by Breege Walsh on 36pts, with Carmel Costello finishing in second place and Geraldine O’Malley finished in third place. Mary Conlon won the junior scratch cup with Enda Holian finishing in second place. The captain’s away day takes place at Ballinrobe Golf Course on Saturday October 6 commencing at 12.30pm. A sign up sheet is on the noticeboard.

Parks to make his first Connacht start

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Connacht will hope that the debut of Dan Parks for the province this evening in the first inter-provincal of the season will be able to give them a springboard to success against Leinster. In the pre-game media build up, Connacht coach Eric Elwood said he was “hopeful” that Parks would make his debut saying, “Dan did some conditioning last week and came through ok, but we will have to see how he backs that up over the week.” But come yesterday’s team announcement Parks made the starting 15 at out-half.

Minors to light up Friday night

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

This evening in McHale Park a night of top class football promises to be in store with the county minor A and B finals down for decision in the county ground. The action will get under way at 7pm with the meeting of Carras and St Muradeach’s in the B final. The north Mayo amalgamation made their way into the final with a 1-10 to 0-9 win over Moy Davitts last weekend in Ballina. Darragh Burke was the man who got the only and vital goal of the game, with Ronan Neary kicking five points over the 60 minutes.

Back to basics on Sunday with intermediate semi-finals

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Seven day’s on from the All Ireland final and the glamour of Croke Park, it is back to the reality of club football this weekend. While for most its action in the league for the best four sides in the intermediate championship its semi-final day on Sunday. Burrishoole, Parke, Charlestown, and Kilmaine have all made it this far with two spots in the final up for grabs in McHale Park on Sunday afternoon.

Defeat is painful to take, but be proud of the performance

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Belief is everything in sport and long before the GAA was heavily populated with sports psychologists, this current Donegal side always looked like their name was on the trophy irrespective of who they were playing in the All-Ireland final last Sunday. I do not think the intervention of any amount of psychology would have stopped them winning their second All- Ireland. For a combination of reasons they had acquired a belief that they would win this year’s title, unless maybe an exceptional team stood in their way. Mayo are a very good team but, unfortunately, just did not have a sufficient number of big powerful men in key positions throughout the field to deny this Donegal side. One line in particular could have done with a big strong ball winner. If we had a Michael Murphy at 14, then I believe Mayo would have walked the steps on Sunday evening as champions. That is how close it was. But we do not appear to have that extra jewel at the moment. The fact that the aforementioned Michael Murphy is half a Mayo man does not make it any easier to accept!

Mayo League Soccer Fixtures

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Elverys Sports Super League (At 12 noon)
Castlebar Celtic v Straide and Foxford United

Castlebar Celtic v Straide and Foxford United

Mayo GAA Fixtures

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

Friday September 28

Mayo fall short at the final stage once again

Fri, Sep 28, 2012

It was not to be once again for Mayo on the grandest stage of all. But this was not like previous finals in 2004 and 2006 when Mayo left Croke Park after being mauled and maimed by Kerry and questioning everything about their approach to the game. No this was different, still hard to take, but it was another step on the way to the final destination in the future.