Murray wins Sea2Summit

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

Over 1,000 athletes took up the challenge of the Westport Sea2Summit last Saturday. The Westport based competition has become on of the top adventure racing events in the country and Westport’s Anthony Murray was the first person home over the finishing line. Anthony finished in a time of 3:00.39 over the tough 56.5km course, which took in road running, cycling, a run up Croagh Patrick, sea dash and an obstacle course before finishing with a tough run to the finish line at The Mall in the town. Murray, who won the sprint competition last year, can now add the title of supreme champion for 2011.

From despair to survival in a couple of days

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

Crossmolina played Westport in a relegation play-off match last Sunday at McHale Park. It was a glorious day for football and we arrived at the venue in a fairly confident mood. This match was a relegation play-off to ultimately decide who would join Burrishoole in the drop to division 1B of the senior league. A defeat, however, wasn’t the end of the road as the losers (Crossmolina) had a second opportunity of survival with a match against Ballinrobe this Sunday (or so we thought). Both teams were aware that a county Board meeting was scheduled for last Monday night that would ratify a proposal to relegate just one team to Division 1B, thus ensuring all three teams would remain in the upper division next year. However, we came to McHale Park to win the match and we failed miserably, producing, arguably, one of the worst performances I have witnessed from Crossmolina in years.

This is all alien territory for a club like Crossmolina who have been to the forefront in the county in both championship and league performances over the last 15 years. Our boys could do nothing right and the wide open spaces of McHale Park offered few hiding places. Many looked as if they had little interest in the outcome. As manager of the team, I ultimately have to take responsibility for the under-performance and, to be honest, in the immediate aftermath of the game I wasn’t quite sure how I should address the situation. You see, this is not about playing league football in a particular division next year. This is about the future of this proud club. The post-match mood in the Crossmolina dressing room was one of utter despair, demoralisation and sheer frustration. A cursory look around at the sad faces told its own story. Here were some of the club’s greatest ever players looking forlorn and weary and perhaps reflecting on former glory days. My heart went out to them. There was a sliver of light, however, when I heard last Monday night that the county board delegates had ratified a proposal to keep 12 teams in division 1A next year. And so, the final match against Ballinrobe scheduled for this Sunday has been shelved. So had the county board meeting taken place a few days earlier, there would have been no need to witness Sunday’s sad faces. And equally importantly, my good friend Tomas Tierney, manager of the Westport side wouldn’t have the bragging rights over me for the remainder of the year.

Three Mayo clubs make Volvo top 100 Irish course

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

There will be cause for celebration on three golf courses in Mayo this week as they have been included in the Golf Digest Volvo Top 100 ranked Irish golf courses for 2012. Carne Golf Links in Belmullet has climbed four places from last year’s list to number 21 in the rankings, with the two other Mayo clubs making the list being Westport at number 56, down 11 spots from 2011, and Ballinrobe moving up one to number 90.

Counting the cost of McHale Park development

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

“Frightening and scary” is how one well known Mayo GAA personality described the figures presented by the Mayo County Board executive to the delegates at Monday night’s county board meeting. It had been a high pressure day for some of the principal officers, who were summoned to a meeting with Croke Park officials in the Connacht Council offices in Ballyhaunis earlier that day to discuss the financial situation of the development. County board chairman Paddy McNicholas told the meeting that they had to have a plan in place in a fortnight’s time for Croke Park and the banks.

New league structures given the go ahead

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

At the end of last weekend’s league relegation play-off, Westport would have been relieved to have overcome Crossmolina and ensured their survival in division 1A for another year, while the defeated side knew that they had one last chance this weekend to stay up against Ballinrobe. However both last weekend’s game and the one which was fixed for this weekend were rendered null and void of any consequences following Monday night’s county board meeting. At the meeting the delegates passed a new league structure for 2012, meaning that all three sides who were involved in those play-offs were safe in the top flight for another season.

Connacht’s hour comes tonight

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

It is the biggest day in Connacht’s history. After 15 seasons of Amlin Cup rugby, during which time the ultimate goal has always been to play Heineken Cup rugby, the day has finally arrived.

Winter League competitions see good scoring

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

In last weekend’s competition John Parsons was the winner with a score of 38pts, he finished two in front of Bob Leggett in second place. John O’Connor came home in third place, also on 36pts. The ladies’ competition was won by Geraldine O’Malley who scored 34pts, her play on the back nine kept her in front of Nora Heraty in second place and Catherine McNulty was back in third place on 33pts.

Final tickets for Toulouse game on sale

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

Connacht Rugby this week announced the release of the last batch of tickets for Connacht's first home Heineken Cup game against Toulouse on November 19. The final return of tickets has been received from Toulouse and numbers are strictly limited. These tickets, which are for the Bohermore and College Road terraces cost €30 each and will be sold on a first come first served basis so supporters are urged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie or from the Connacht Rugby Ticket Office on 091 561568

Ballintubber enhance their reputation even in defeat

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

It was a glorious afternoon for football last Sunday at McHale Park with conditions absolutely perfect for football for this time of year. Those who turned up for the occasion were treated to two fantastic games of football. The big crowd didn’t arrive until minutes before the second match, but those who got in early enjoyed a superbly contested junior championship encounter between Islandeady and Clonbur.

Hollymount road race ready for action

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

When the trees are almost bare, and starry starry nights and frosty mornings return, it must be time for Hollymount Road Races. Yes, the 46th version of this legendary Annual International event takes place next Sunday, November 13. There will be three races around the familiar testing 3k circuit. Many famous names in Irish athletics have done battle here over the years and once again a top class field is expected from clubs around the province and further afield, as well as the traditional coachload from the Liverpool area.

Mayo get Oscar Traynor campaign started on Sunday

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

The shutters have come down on the Mayo League season for another year, the external competitions have transferred from local rounds to the great open draws. So this Sunday rivalries will be put to one side as the best of the Mayo League come together to launch another assault on the Oscar Traynor Trophy. Mayo get their group stage under way with a trip to Lecarrow on Sunday at 2pm, to take on the Roscommon League.

Celtic women hit the national stage

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

On Sunday afternoon in Ferrycarrig, Wexford a new chapter will be written in women’s soccer in the county when Castlebar Celtic kick off their inaugural game in the Women’s National League. Celtic are one of six teams who will compete in the first ever FAI Bus Éireann Women’s League. More than 20 clubs applied to be part of the league and Celtic are one of the lucky half dozen to be invited to take part in this new adventure. The other sides taking part in the league are Peamount United, Cork Women’s FC, Raheny United, Shamrock Rovers and Celtic’s opponents on Sunday, Wexford Youths. That list of clubs has Celtic as the only side in both Connacht and Ulster to make the league and offers them a wonderful opportunity to make their mark on the game at a national level. It will represent a big step up for the hoops who have been playing in the FAI Intermediate Cup for the past few years, where now they will be pitting their wits against the best of the senior sides in the country. Celtic will be guided by the management team of Michael McNicholas and Jeremy Dee from the touch line with the likes of Irish international Emma Mullin along with a number of other experienced players who have joined recently doing the business on the field they hope.

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