Plenty of positives among the sting of defeat

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

At the tail end of last September, James Horan took on the challenge of rebuilding and renewing the Mayo team. In the first flush of his tenure, only a couple of minutes after being approved by the county board delegates in fact, he faced the press and gave a very simple promise that his side kept up last Sunday to the very end. “I know a lot of Mayo supporters are down in the dumps with how things finished last year, but what we will insist on is that any time a Mayo player goes out he will give it absolutely everything he has.”

Back to basics in weekend of championship action

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

With dreams of Sam, put to one side for another year last weekend. It is back to the real heart of the GAA this weekend when the Mayo club championships thunder back into action at the quarter final stage. McHale Park on Saturday and Sunday is the place to be with a double header on the first day and the Sabbath day serving up a triple header of action in the county ground.

The meeting of Knockmore and Ballaghaderreen in the first of the Treanlaur Catering Mayo Senior Football Championship quarter-finals, kicking off at 4.30pm on Saturday. Ray Dempsey’s men have picked up their season from the floor after they were beaten by Kiltane in the first round of games and followed it up with wins over Ballinrobe and Breaffy to claim top spot in their group. Ballaghaderreen under the guidance of Kieran Gallagher look to be coming back to their best, but they did suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of Castlebar in the last round of games. A caveat must be added that they already had their place in the last eight booked before that game. Knockmore have a potentially devastating inside forward line of Aidan Kilcoyne and Damien Munnelly, while Trevor Howley and Kevin McLoughlin add guile and power in other areas. Kevin O’Neill did not start last time out for the Knockmore men, but when he came on he showed he has lost none of his sharpness and game awareness and is still a force to be reckoned with at this level. Ballaghaderreen will be looking to Andy Moran for inspiration and if he can pick up where he left off for Mayo this summer he will take some stopping.

Kerry teach Mayo a lesson

Sun, Aug 21, 2011

Kerry 1-20 & nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; Mayo 1-11
They came in their thousands and thousands from Belmullet to Ballinrobe to Croke Park on Sunday, hoping to see something special. The just over 50,000 who filled the ground did see something special alright, but unfortunately for the massive Mayo crowd who made the trip it was Colm Cooper who was providing the highlights. The Dr Crokes man was simply outstanding for Kerry as they eased their way into yet another All Ireland final by nine points.

Horan waits on walking wounded before announcing team

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Mayo manager James Horan will wait until this evening to announce his starting team for Sunday’s All Ireland semi-final against Kerry. It had been expected that the Ballintubber club man would announce his side on Wednesday night, but he has decided to wait until this evening to unveil his starting selection. Horan is waiting on the fitness reports of both Trevor Mortimer and Peadar Gardiner who picked up injuries in training for the county side and in club action respectively over the past few weeks. A third name was added to that list of worries on Tuesday night when Swinford’s Aidan Campbell picked up a knock at training in preparation for the clash.

Last eight pairings throw up fascinating ties

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

The quarter final pairings for the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championship and the Mayo intermediate and junior championship have thrown up a number of interesting battles that are sure to get hearts racing next weekend. Despite seven of the eight sides which made it to this stage of the competition last year being back again, the draw managed to avoid any repeat parings from this stage last year. Defending champions Ballintubber, now under the tutelage of Anthony McGarry following the ascension of James Horan to the Mayo hot seat, will take on Shrule-Glenncorrib. The defending champions will go into the game as favourites. Knockmore, whose win over Breaffy saw them leapfrog the west Mayo men to top their group, were rewarded with a tie against Ballaghaderreen for a place in the final four. The aforementioned Breaffy managed to avoid the two other west Mayo sides which were potential opponents and book a spot against an impressive looking Ballina Stephenites side who have been moving very well so far in the championship. The final clash in the Treanlaur Senior Championships sees our columnist John Maughan and his Crossmolina Deel Rovers facing off against Castlebar Mitchels in the last eight. The county town side are of course managed this year by Pat Holmes who played for many years under Maughan with Mayo and replaced him as manager at the turn of the century.

Mayo can be proud of what they have achieved so far, but they can go further

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

James Horan and his team can be very proud of what they have achieved so far, a Connacht title and success over Cork not based on fancy individuality that can so often lead to failure, but on the values of hard work, good skill, a cohesive team ethic, dedication and application. So you could say that this year’s targets have been comfortably met. However I know that neither Mayo management nor players will be content to sit pretty on one rung from the penultimate but rather will be striving to produce another Trojan effort and move a step closer towards attaining the ultimate prize.

Holding the line at the back

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

The pre-match press night is a necessary evil for players and management alike, with an unrelenting hunger for information from within the camp from local and national media and the general public in the build-up to a big game. It has become a customary exercise in the lead-in to the important business on the field. Last week, national and local journalists descended on McHale Park to get their few words with some of the actors in the drama that will unfold on the lush green sward of Croke Park on Sunday. With the evening's events winding down, the Mayo Advertiser caught up with Ballinrobe’s Donal Vaughan on the concrete concourse outside the meeting room, where his team mates Alan Dillon and Keith Higgins were still being put through the ringer by my colleagues from other outlets.

First Breaffy 10k run ready to take place next weekend

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

The inaugural Breaffy 10km has been announced as part of the Breaffy Blast Weekend Festival. The run will take place on Sunday week, August 28 at 1.30pm. The 10k walk/jog/run is being organised by Breaffy Community/Breaffy GAA/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.

There are toilet facilities at the start/finish line and plenty of parking in the village, at the church, GAA grounds, or in Breaffy House Resort, all within easy walking distance of the national school. Water stations will be available at the 3km and 7km marks along the route. When the exercise is out of the way everyone can relax over a cup of tea and refreshments in the local GAA club house, a short walk from the finish line, where changing rooms and shower facilities are available. Presentation of prizes will take place at 4pm. There will be spot prizes for participants in fancy dress.

Golfers around the county mourn the loss of Charlie McGoldrick

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Ballina
Club members were deeply saddened over the weekend at the sad and untimely death of local PGA Professional, Charlie McGoldrick. Charlie, who was attached to Enniscrone Golf Club, had represented the Ballina Club at many different levels in his amateur days and had always been an inspiration and mentor to golfers at every level both locally and throughout the northwest. He was a gifted golf teacher and hundreds of golfers can trace their interest and progress in the game to Charlie's patience and professional guidance. Gerry Tuffy, captain Ballina Golf Club, said: “Charlie was a wonderful ambassador for the game of golf. His family had a long and distinguished association with our club and we offer sincere sympathy to Rita, Lisa, Charles, his parents PJ and Mary and his extended family.”

Great week for senior handballers

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

It was a busy and hugely successful week for both Mayo men’s and ladies’ senior doubles handballers. Last Friday evening at Mullingar Dessie Keegan and Joe McCann defeated Kilkenny duo Nicholas and Ger Anthony 21-14, 21-17. Two days later they made the trip to the same venue to take one the 2009 All-Ireland senior doubles champions and the duo that denied them a first title, Eoin Kennedy and Egin Jensen, in the quarter-finals. The Ballaghaderreen club men put in one of their finest performances to date to secure the semi-final spot in a somewhat one-sided contest. The Mayo duo won the opener 21 aces to 4, a scoreline few would have believed possible a year or two ago, and they led 9 aces to 1 in the second. Kennedy and Jensen did mount a spirited comeback but it was short lived as Keegan and a rejuvenated McCann closed out this game on a 21 aces to 14 scoreline. While the result was by no means a shock, beating the senior doubles champions of two years ago still ranks a fine scalp. However if that result surprised some it was nothing in comparison to the second quarter-final which saw reigning All-Ireland champions, Meath duo Tom Sheridan and Brian Carroll, dumped out of the championship by the hugely impressive Paul Brady and Michael Finnegan of Cavan in a thrilling contest on a 21-14, 21-15 scoreline. Keegan and McCann now meet the Cavan men in the semi-final in three weeks’ time. Next up for Keegan is a singles quarter-final meeting with Ducksy Walsh at Abbeylara this Saturday at 2pm, and judging by his current form the Mayo man would be expected to progress.

Westport and Iorras in cup final clash

Fri, Aug 19, 2011

Westport United, fresh from hitting Manulla for six in the Connacht Gold Cup quarter final last weekend in the Sportspark, will be looking for more goals and glory this Saturday in the FCS Cup Final in Milebush. The Covies will take on Iorras Aontaithe in the divisional cup final in what promises to be an exciting encounter at the home of the Mayo League. Westport ran in four goals in the second half of their game last weekend against Manulla after being held 2-2 at the break by the men from Carramore. Saturday evening’s clash will see the meeting of the sides currently in third and fourth place in the Super League table. Westport are currently in third place, only one point behind second placed Claremorris, but trailing Castlebar Celtic by four points with two games to go, cup success looks like their only realistic chance of a trophy this season. Iorras Aontaithe are a further four points behind Westport in the table. When the sides met for the first time in the league this season they played out at 2-2 draw in Westport, with United winning the return game 3-1 in Carnenash in June. The game is down for a 6pm kick off in Milebush and is a game that should not be missed by local soccer fans around the county.