The champions show what they are made of

Sat, May 26, 2012

The defending champions Ballintubber laid down a marker for the rest of the sides in the county that they will not be giving up their championship easy this year when they blitzed their way through what looked like a potentially tricky opening round encounter against local rivals Breaffy with a 1-14 to 0-3 win. Breaffy were always going to be up against it facing the defending champions on their own patch in the opening round, but having to go into the game without both Seamus and Aidan O'Shea it was going to need a huge effort from them if they were going to take anything from the game.

But Ballintubber weren't in a mood to let Breaffy away with anything, the first thirty minutes saw Peter Ford's side hold Breaffy scoreless in the baking heat of Prendergast Memorial Park in Clogher. Both Padraic and Cillian O'Connor chipped in with two points each, while Alan Dillon and Damien McGing both got in on the act with a point each to give their side a 0-6 to 0-0 lead.

Ballyhaunis are Connacht winners of Ulster Bank Rugby Force

Fri, May 25, 2012

Ulster Bank Rugby Force, a community initiative which provides rugby clubs with support to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities, has announced Ballyhaunis Rugby Club as the Connacht winner of the ultimate rugby club support package, worth €5,000.

Nottingham Irish Golf Society makes generous donation

Fri, May 25, 2012

Balla
Last weekend’s competition, which was sponsored by Ted and Marion Gormally, Hennelly’s Bar, Manulla, was won by PJ Brett with a score of 50pts. His scoring on the back nine kept him in front of Dick Heraty who also finished on 50pts. The gross prize went to Danny Roache with Kenneth Lynskey coming home in third place.

Mayo Soccer fixtures

Fri, May 25, 2012

Saturday May 26
Welcome Inn Hotel Premier A (At 7pm)

League continues with heavy heart

Fri, May 25, 2012

The divisions and rivalries were put aside across Mayo this week as the tragic news of the death of former Swinford and Castlebar Celtic player Gary Price filtered through the county. Price rose through the youths ranks at Swinford, before moving to Castlebar Celtic where he was part of the 2007 FAI Youth Cup winning side. Tributes and condolences were paid from all involved in soccer in Mayo to Price and his family during this trying time. As a mark of respect the Mayo FA has postponed all games involving his former clubs Swinford and Castlebar Celtic in the Mayo league this weekend, and have asked for a minutes silence to be observed before all games this weekend in tribute to Gary.

Galway announced their return, but are they really as good as they looked?

Fri, May 25, 2012

Galway announced their arrival once again as a formidable force on the inter-county football scene with a significant victory over, albeit a very lethargic looking, Roscommon side. I have met Alan Mulholland on quite a few occasions throughout the winter months through my involvement with NUI Galway and I always came away with the impression that this young manager knows what he is about.

Bidwell leads Barrett and Devanney home in Balla 8K

Fri, May 25, 2012

Even without a couple of the hills at the start of the traditional 10k course, the Balla 8k proved to be a stern test. After a fast downhill start, the field hit a wall of reality as they headed up over the railway bridge in the first kilometre. Winner Matt Bidwell led Roger Barrett all the way to the finish, but could never really relax as Roger maintained the pressure just seconds behind. Sean Gallagher and Anto Devanney had their own battle for third until Anto went to the front in the closing stages.

Races keep coming thick and fast at Rosmoney

Fri, May 25, 2012

Sail boats abound on Clew Bay on Thursday evenings. Last week nearly 20 boats raced with three distinct classes divided according to the size and age of the boats.

All roads lead to Athlone

Fri, May 25, 2012

All roads throughout the country will lead to Athlone this coming weekend from May 25 to May 27 for the first weekend of the HSE National Community Games finals. More than 3,000 young competitors will descend on the Athlone Institute of Technology to take part in various sporting and cultural events. Mayo Community Games will be strongly represented by 90 young participants who will compete in art, model making, handwriting, chess, project, indoor soccer, table quiz, table tennis, and mixed distance relays. In the cultural section there is competition in the group music, dancing and singing. The programme will also include solo music, singing and solo recitation.

Is the time right for Tierney’s men to strike?

Fri, May 25, 2012

This weekend heralds the start of everything that 16 sides have been preparing for since Ballintubber claimed the Moclair cup for a second year in a row last autumn. Since that moment, everyone else has been looking forward to trying to knock the champions off their perch. The talk over the winter was of the old reliables having a crack, the likes of Knockmore, Ballina, and Castlebar being the kind of sides who could put a dent in Ray Prendergast Park ambitions for three in a row.