Drama until the death in both contests

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

I arrived early at GAA HQ last Sunday as I like to soak up the pre match atmosphere of All-Ireland final day. Normally there is a great buzz in and around Croke Park from about 10am and last Sunday was no different. I was privileged to have been asked to do co-commentary for the minor game and match analysis on the big one, so I had to be in the grounds by 12.45. As it happened, I also received an invitation from the GPA to attend a pre-match reception in Jurys Croke Park at 12 noon. It was a gig for former inter-county footballers and was an excellent idea as the opportunities to meet and chat with former players from other counties are few and far between. In fact during our playing years we would barely look at each other never mind hang about for a chat after matches. So unless you participate in some of the GAA golf classics, you rarely get a chance to say hello. And I don’t play golf! My friend Pat Holmes had arrived at the reception before I got there and, unfortunately for me, had devoured most of the sandwiches. Notwithstanding that minor complaint, the 30 minutes I spent at the pre match event was pleasant. I chatted with Greg Blaney, the former Down centre-forward, and John Lynch, corner back with Tyrone in the eighties. I asked both for their pre match predictions. Neither of them could see anything other than a Kerry victory. And that was the general consensus in and around Croke Park prior to the match, with the exception of the Dublin folk of course.

The classic pairing promises a great final

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Didn’t the summer slip by so quickly? What summer? I hear you ask. But here we are again at All- Ireland final weekend and the majority of us are still hoping for an Indian summer. Alas, it does not much look like it is coming our way now. But, we have the football All Ireland to look forward to and, this year in particular, it brings the promise of its own ray of sunshine. This final has definitely tickled the imagination of all GAA followers. The Dubs are back. But are they? Time will tell of course. As with every year the hunt for tickets is on in earnest and, also, as with other years, they are again at a premium like the proverbial ‘hen’s teeth’. Indeed it will be felt even more intensely this year as the pairing of Dublin/Kerry attracts far more neutrals than any other possible pairing. Every year, I get more than a few calls from family, cousins, friends, acquaintances, and occasionally from people I have never met in my life all looking for a ticket for the final. As this is the first Kerry/Dublin decider since 1985 it is a major box office draw. I have heard it suggested many times that participating counties should get the bulk of the tickets for finals. While there is a strong argument for that it would be wrong to deny genuine lovers of Gaelic football the opportunity of being at HQ for the highlight of the year.

Breakdown area remains top priority as Connacht head to Bradley’s Edinburgh

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

An interesting challenge awaits Connacht this evening when they come up against Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.30pm). Connacht travel to the Scottish capital with the momentum of two wins on the trot, but they will come up against an Edinburgh outfit determined to get their first points in this season’s RaboDirect Pro 12. Connacht have never beaten Edinburgh at home, and coach Eric Elwood knows Bradley has the advantage in this encounter.

Final four pairings set up some tough battles

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

Last Monday night’s draw for the final stages of the Mayo club championships across all three grades has set up some exciting games over the coming weeks. The main interest on the night was on the senior championship pairings, with two west Mayo and two north Mayo teams going into the hat. The luck of the draw kept the divisional rivals apart, with last year’s beaten finalists Castlebar Mitchels being pitted against a fancied Knockmore side, and the defending champions Ballintubber squaring off against Ballina Stephenites.

Keegan and McCann one step away from senior glory on a great weekend for Mayo handball

Fri, Sep 16, 2011

On one of the busiest weekends in the 60x30 season there were some top class performances and results for Mayo’s handballers, who secured three All-Ireland titles and a place in the senior singles decider this weekend. The excellently appointed Williamstown court was packed for the two senior doubles semi-finals and ladies senior singles final last Saturday, and all three matches lived up to expectations. Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann were first up as they faced legendary 40x20 champion Paul Brady and long-time partner Michael Finnegan, in a somewhat unique pairing. Keegan and McCann beat the duo two years ago to claim their one and only senior doubles title in the 40x20. Keegan and McCann started at a blistering pace, with McCann in particular on top form, and with the Cavan men struggling to come to terms with the power and killing ability of the Mayo duo the opening game was won impressively 21 aces to 9. In the second Keegan and McCann looked to close out the contest as they led 13 aces to 3 at one stage. However a determined fight back from Brady and Finnegan soon had matters level at 14 aces all. The Mayo duo should have pushed on from there but they let matters slip further and lost this game 21-16. Any concerns that the Mayo camp might have had in the deciding third were swiftly allayed as Keegan and McCann once again found their feet and they ran out comfortable enough winners, 21 aces to 10, to book a place in Saturday’s final. The second semi-final was a also a thrilling affair and it saw Wexford duo Gavin Buggy and Colin Keeling get the better of Kilkenny’s Michael Ducksy Walsh and Michael Clifford on a 21-18, 18-21, 21-4 scoreline.

Back nine scoring decides a number of club competitions

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

Balla
Last weekend’s Stableford competition sponsored by Tolsters Bar, Castlebar, was won by John Walsh with a score of 40pts. His scoring on the back nine was enough to keep him in first place ahead of Paraic Cuffe who also finished on 40pts. Pat Kilgallon took third place, with Breege Moran winning the ladies’ competition on 37pts, Geraldine Evans came second and Carmel Henry third. The junior competition was won by Liam Timmiss with a score of 34pts, while Sean Canny scored a hole in one on the 15th hole during his round.

Coady is a class act all around

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

In 2004 as All Ireland weekend approached the Mayo senior football management discussed the option of getting in a guest speaker to have a chat with the footballers before we lined out against Kerry. Certain individuals were suggested. . . the usual suspects from the various codes of sport. In recent times lots of teams have used big stars/names as they seek to gain the edge on match day. The likes of Roy Keane, Bernard Dunne and Keith Wood have all being invited to provide words of wisdom and reassurance on the eve of big matches. We invariably hear about the wonderful job these guys did if, and only if, the team manages to go on and achieve victory.

Ups and downs and cup action this Sunday

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

The situation across the leagues in Mayo was sorted out mostly last weekend with a few relegation spots to be sorted out this weekend and a few more during the week when a reprieve was given to some clubs after points deductions to others were applied. In the Welcome Inn League One division last Sunday, Claremorris B were looking down and out following a 3-3 draw against Kiltimagh/Knock United which dropped them into the relegation zone along with Ballyvary Blue Bombers. But late in the week Claremorris B were given a reprieve from relegation when Kiltimagh/Knock United and Urlar United, along with Ballyvary Blue Bombers were all deducted three points for failing to fulfil fixtures. The resulting points deduction saw Claremorris B jump three places in the table with Urlar United and Kiltimagh/Knock dropping down the league into the relegation zone and League Two football next season.

Connacht ready to go for first home game of the season

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

Connacht coach Eric Elwood and his management team are challenging Connacht to raise the bar again when they host the Scarlets in their first home match of the Rabo Direct Pro 12 on Saturday (3.15pm). With 3,000 season tickets already sold, and buoyed by Connacht’s hard-fought win over Treviso in last weekend's opener, Elwood says it is important his team builds on that momentum, particularly for this first home fixture. “We are very much driven this year to push on from last year, so it is one game down and 20 game to go. Treviso is behind us and now it is all systems go for Scarlets. This is our first home match, there is pressure on the boys - on all of us - but that’s what we thrive on and all that mattes is four points.” Elwood says his team is not getting carried away by last weekend's victory, but believes the supporters appreciate the value of a win in Treviso. "People realise how hard it is to get a win in Treviso and, given the conditions with temperatures in the mid thirties, we deserved the victory. People will now come on Saturday expecting another big performance and even another win, and it's up to us to deliver it." Elwood is unlikely to make any changes to his starting XV, but will welcome the return of prop Brett Wilkinson on the replacement benches. Wilkinson’s return from injury will be a big boost for the front row which will once again will be tested against a Scarlets outfit that destroyed Aironi last week.

“Their firepower up front won the game for them last week,” says Elwood, “and once again we have to compete in the physicality stakes. In addition they have quality in their backs, a lot of young players coming through, so they have strength in depth. We know they are a quality outfit, they always have been, and the brand of rugby they play will test any team around the park.”

Bidwell and Gleeson show their class in Claremorris 5K

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Matt Bidwell and Mary Gleeson further underlined their status as leading runners in this year's Mayo AC Road League on Saturday in Claremorris. It was the 10th running of the De Care Dental sponsored 'Sport a Smile' five mile event and brought a fun atmosphere to the town centre with puppet shows, face painting, music etc. It also served as a focus for Mayo Cancer Support through participants and street collections.

Sports Shorts

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Western Lakes racers do the one two
Mark Quigley has scored his second big win of the year by winning the Mooney Cup in Sligo town on Saturday last. It was a great result considering Mark spent a few hours that morning cycling on a stationary bike to help the club in their annual fundraising roller marathon. The club had a one two with Barry Holian playing the perfect team-mate by out-sprinting the rest of the breakaway group of riders getting second for the club.

Senior title for Corrigan and Gallagher

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Mayo’s Amy Corrigan and Pauline Gallagher secured a hard-earned first ever senior ladies 60x30 all-Ireland title against hot favourites and reigning champions, Maria Daly and Ashley Prendiville at Abbeylara on Saturday afternoon last. However Mayo’s Dessie Keegan failed in his bid to reach a first ever men’s senior singles at the same venue.

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