Celtic claim the title with magnificent seven

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Castlebar Celtic claimed the Elverys Sports Super League title in style last Saturday evening with a 7-1 thrashing of Iorras Aontaithe in Celtic Park. It was really only a matter of time when Celtic clinched the title, but thanks to Westport United’s 2-1 win over then second placed Claremorris, Declan Kilkelly’s men were able to start their celebrations early with one round of games still left in the league. Westport’s win put them into second place in the table and two points clear of Ballina Town ahead of this week’s final round of games. The situation at the bottom of the table has been sorted out for a couple of weeks now with both Ballinrobe Town and Swinford making the drop back to the Premier A league next season.

Disappointing end to our championship run

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

I was hugely disappointed this week after our Crossmolina boys lost to Castlebar Mitchels in the quarter finals last Sunday. We had prepared exceptionally well, particularly over the last three weeks since the conclusion of the group stages with two good challenge matches and quality training in between. The feeling was that if we could beat Castlebar, we had a right chance of winning the county title. The mood was good coming into the game despite injury to five of our first team squad. There was a quiet air of confidence that we would beat the more fancied Mitchels. There was a big doubt about our county player Peadar Gardiner’s participation right up to the last few minutes, but he had pushed himself right to the limit to be fit to play.

Still one semi-final place up for grabs in Moclair race

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Both Breaffy and Ballina will do it again on Saturday evening as both sides battle it out for the last remaining place in this year’s Treanlaur Catering Mayo Senior Football Championship semi-finals. The sides finished level in McHale Park last Saturday evening thanks to a late equalising point from Breaffy wing-forward Matthew Conroy. Ballina looked to have the game theirs for the taking on a couple of occasions in both the first and second halves when they opened out big leads. But Breaffy pulled the Stephenites back in on both occasions to leave the game level at 1-11 to 0-14 at the end. Mayo minor Evan Regan was the main man for the north Mayo side, scoring 1-6 over the hour and caused the Breaffy defence a number of problems. Jim O’Shea and his management team will have been thinking hard all week what is the best way to counteract Regan’s threat tomorrow.

Connacht kick off new season on Saturday

Fri, Sep 02, 2011

Connacht’s biggest season since the game turned professional kicks off on Saturday when the province travels to Italy to face Benetton Treviso in the newly-named Rabo Direct Pro 12 League. Having achieved a best place finish in the Celtic League last season, Connacht’s task now is to consolidate that position, while enjoying the glamour that Heineken Cup rugby will bring to the province for the first time.

Since Leinster’s victory in the 2010/11 Heineken Cup final paved the way for Connacht’s elevation, much has changed in the province. Necessary off-the-field developments continue apace - a new covered terrace will be ready for next week’s first home fixture, and some 3,000 season tickets have been sold - more than double last year’s take up. But that must now be matched by a Connacht team that will be under pressure, not only to pick up where they left off last season, but to secure more wins on a consistent basis both home and away.

Kirby blasts Mitchels in to the final four

Sun, Aug 28, 2011

Castlebar Mitchels 2-10
Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-9

O'Connor on form for champions

Sun, Aug 28, 2011

Ballintubber 0-13
Shrule Glencorrib 1-7

Breaffy battle back to get another chance

Sun, Aug 28, 2011

Ballina Stephenites 1-11
Breaffy 0-14

Knockmore just about hold on at the end

Sun, Aug 28, 2011

Knockmore 2-9
Ballaghaderreen 2-7

Box-off for Moylette to book place in World Championships

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

Ray Moylette will face off against Ross Hickey in the National Stadium in Dublin this day week, September 2 for a place in the Irish squad for World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Moylette, who claimed the European Championship at the light welterweight (65kg) grade, will be looking to defeat Hickey who is currently the Irish senior champion at the same weight. The national organising body decided to have a box-off between the two boxers for a seat on the plane to Azerbaijan because Moylette was injured prior to Irish qualifiers for the tournament, while Hickey was unable to travel to the European Championships, which was won by Moylette.

Celtic stand on the brink of reclaiming title

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

With just two games to go in this year’s Elverys Super League, Castlebar Celtic will edge ever closer to regaining the title with a win over Iorras Aontaithe in Celtic Park on Saturday evening. Declan Kilkelly’s side are three points clear of nearest challengers Claremorris with only two rounds left in the competition. Celtic also have a far superior goal difference to their south Mayo rivals with +21 in the bank as opposed to +11 for Michael Hutton’s team.

First ever Breaffy 10k this Sunday

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

The inaugural Breaffy 10k will take place this Sunday, August 28, as part of the Breaffy Blast Festival. The 10k walk/jog and run is being organised by Breaffy Community/ Breaffy GAA and Castlebar Fit for Life in aid of Western Alzheimers. This community-inspired event is aimed at runners and walkers of all abilities and levels of fitness over a 10km circuit. The predominantly flat route starts behind the national school in the village and extends in a loop along mainly picturesque country roads to finish at the front of the school.

Mayo gave it their all last Sunday

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

I hung around for a while outside Croke Park last Sunday evening chatting about the game. I got the impression that Mayo people were not too disappointed with the result as the general consensus was that we were beaten by a better team. We have come away from HQ on other occasions with our heads bowed, but this time, I like many others, was proud of the fact that we gave it our best shot but just were not good enough on the day. And yet, had we taken a few of the goal chances that were created things might have been so different. I got a text from a friend 20 minutes into the first half suggesting that Kerry were very beatable and were there for the taking. I did not disagree as we were leading by a couple of points at the time and Kerry appeared to be quite ragged. Jack O’Connor had an agitated look on his face and his team were leaking heavily in a few positions. Long ball into Donaghy was being mopped up by Ger Cafferkey and the Gooch had barely touched the ball.

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