Crossmolina make last eight as other big names fall

Sun, Jul 22, 2012

The group stages of the Mayo senior and intermediate championships came to an end on Sunday evening with some drama in group two and Ballinrobe will feel the hardest done by in the senior grade. Norman O'Brien's charges hit the ground running on the last weekend in May in round one, by going to Crossmolina and beating the Deel Rovers by 2-13 to 0-11. That result seemed to mark a transition with Ballinrobe on an upward curve and Crossmolina on the way down. But roll on to the second last weekend in July and it's the men from Crossmolina who are in the last eight, while Ballinrobe will have to go away and lick their wounds for another year.

Big names make intermediate grades

Sun, Jul 22, 2012

In the intermediate championship in group one Swinford topped the group thanks to a 1-11 to 0-9 win over Parke, in Parke on Sunday afternoon. But it wasn't all bad news for the home side who still managed to make it into the last eight. Parke had previously beaten Ballyhaunis and drew with Kiltimagh leaving them on three points. Behind them in the table was Ballyhaunis on two points from their win over Swinford in round two, having already lost to Parke in round one and Kiltimagh who had only a point to show for their two games from their draw with Parke in round two. On Sunday, Ballyhaunis and Kiltimagh played out a 2-5 to 1-8 draw in Ballyhaunis. Which left the home side level on points with Parke and with a better scoring difference, but with places being decided on head-to-head results rather than scoring difference when two sides were tied on points, its the west Mayo side who went through to the last eight.

All roads lead to Balla for 20th running of Balla 10k

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

The 20th Balla 10k will take place on July 28 at 7pm. It is the third race in Mayo AC C&C Cellular 2012 Road League. This traditional race has an established place on the calendar and has always attracted runners from the top clubs in the west and further afield. The 10k course has a reputation for being tough but fair, and the same runners come back year after year. As well as the ups and downs, there are straight flat stretches and a fast downhill main street finish. The race open to all. Full details are on www.mayoac.com. This year clubs will compete for team prizes. The combined times of the first three men and women club finishers will count. There will be medals and high viz jackets for all finishers. Refreshments will be served in the Community Centre, while showers will be available in Balla GAA club. Entry costs €20 through www.runireland.com or on the day from the Community Centre from 5pm, the race will start at 7pm sharp. For more information contact Brendan on 087 2941227.

Captain’s prize day in Mulranny this Sunday

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

Balla
The greensome competition played last weekend was won by the duo of Aodán MacSuibhne and Mary B O’Donnell with a score of 47. Kitty O’Connor and Carmel Henry came second, with Bernie O’Connor and Aine MhicSuibhne finishing third. This weekend’s competition is a Stableford and is sponsored by Baxter, Castlebar.

Winning is the most important thing

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

I thought the Mayo team looked a little bit spooked last Sunday in Hyde Park and I really do not know why they appeared that way. Some might suggest that Conor Mortimer’s surprise departure from the squad placed a difficult burden on Mayo. I don’t believe it did. On the other hand I bumped into the Mayo manager in Castlebar last Saturday and could see he had the weary look of a man that had a belly-full of the Mortimer issue over the previous few days. I am sure he is sleeping a little more soundly since Sunday as his squad did just about enough to get over the line against a typically sticky Sligo challenge. As I stood to watch the presentation of the Nestor Cup, I engaged with a few Mayo supporters who were just as relieved that Mayo won the match. And I have to agree with their view which was that winning is the most important thing.

There have been a few big games in the past when I would have much preferred a victory ahead of an aesthetically beautiful performance. Those Mayo supporters were happy to have won a Connacht title as they would have found it very difficult to stomach a defeat to Sligo in a Connacht final. Very often a team that comes into a match as underdogs have the knack of making the so called ‘better’ side look slow and laborious. However, this Sligo side are no slouches and the modern Sligo team are both physically and psychologically a lot tougher than Sligo teams of yore. Kevin Walsh is a smart manager and had his charges well prepared. But the reality is after 45 minutes of pushing and pulling and no real flowing football, James Horan was in a position to spring Aidan O Shea from the bench. Kevin Walsh didn’t have such a luxury of having any player either on or off the field that came anywhere near the quality of the towering Breaffy man. O’ Shea was absolutely immense when introduced and had an immediate effect with the simple, highly intelligent twenty minutes of football he produced. Rarely do we witness a substitute grab a match by the scruff of the neck in such a manner but, not alone did he dominate the midfield sector in the final twenty minutes, he inspired all his team-mates into the bargain.

It’s all on the line for clubs this weekend

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

The final round of action in the group stages in the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championship and Egans Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship is down for decision this weekend across the county.

Cup action takes over this weekend

Fri, Jul 20, 2012

Bar three catch up games that took place last night after this paper went to print, it’s all about knock-out cup and shield action this weekend in Mayo — the Connacht Gold Cup and Shield to be precise. The catch up games that took place last night included what potentially looked like a cracker of a game between Claremorris and Castlebar Celtic in Concannon Park in the Super League. The game is one of two that Celtic have in hand over league leaders Westport United who they are trying to chase down — and if they manage to pick up wins in both they will close the gap at the top to seven points.

Mayo come good at the end

Sun, Jul 15, 2012

Mayo 0-12
Sligo 0-10

Coyle returns to Castlebar to defend his world title

Fri, Jul 13, 2012

Henry ‘The Western Warrior’ Coyle this week announced his return to the ring in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, next month where he will defend his WBF Light Middleweight title against Marcelo Alejandro Rodriguez from Argentina. The details of Coyle’s first defence of the title he won in the same venue, when he stopped Italian Elio Cotena, were announced in a press conference in Elvery’s McHale Park, Castlebar, last Monday. Coyle had flown in from his training base in Chicago to announce the fight. Sitting at the top table he was flanked on either side by his father, Gerry Coyle, and his promoter, Brian Peters, who is once again bringing another night of top class professional boxing to Mayo. Peters even revealed in the conference that Coyle’s fight on August 17 would be the first professional card of boxing in Ireland this year.

Big performances in Achill Half Marathon

Fri, Jul 13, 2012

The Achill Half Marathon took place in breezy conditions with more than 1,000 finishers. The excitement was tangible and Keel was awash with colour and crowds last Saturday. Congratulations go to Michael Shannon, who set a new course record at 1 hour, 11 minutes, 56 seconds in breezy conditions. The first woman to cross the finish line, and this was not her first win in Achill, was Fionnuala Doherty in 1 hour, 29 minutes, 43 seconds.

Tee times for insomniacs this Saturday morning in Westport

Fri, Jul 13, 2012

Balla
Breege Moran was the winner of the lady captain’s prize in Balla last weekend with a score of 111 in total. She was followed home in second place by Mary B O’Donnell who finished on a total of 112, with Geraldine O’Malley third on 132. The gross prize was won by Maria Flanagan who scored 132 over the competition. Mary Conlon was fourth, with Carmel Henry fifth, Imelda Flatley sixth, and Breege Jennings seventh. The first 18 prize went to Geraldine Evans with 56 and Helen Carey won the second 18 prize also with 56. The men’s competition was won by Dermot MacMahon with a score of 54pts, Padraic Cuffe took second place, with Joe Healy taking third, Frank Larkin fourth, and Mike Neary fifth. The gross went to John Parsons.