Nowhere to Hyde on Sunday

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

With a sell out crowd of 30,000 expected to head to Hyde Park on Sunday, there will be nowhere to hide for Mayo as they aim to dethrone Fergal O’Donnell’s defending Connacht champions on their home patch. Ten years ago O’Donnell was the man who lifted the Nestor Cup in the same venue on a sweltering Sunday evening when a late, late Gerry Lohan goal had primrose and blue ribbons hanging from the old trophy for the year at the end of one of the games of the ages.

Ted Webb competition has lots of action this weekend

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

The Connacht council promoted Ted Webb Connacht under-16 football tournament eagerly awaited by all involved in underage football in the province gets underway this coming Saturday in Tuam and Castlebar on a blitz system. Roscommon are the reigning champions having captured the crown in Ballyhaunis last August Bank holiday. This highly valued event is considered by many football pundits as a key indicator to the possible contenders for minor honours in the intervening two years,

Connacht GAA provincial games manager and former Galway star John Tobin has prior to competition wished all players and mentors the very best in this weekend’s action. “For many of the 150 players who will be facing into adult football in the coming years for club, college and county it is a perfect platform to showcase their skills. All who are on show this weekend in Tuam and Castlebar will have come through the development squad systems that are now firmly established in each county under the tutelage of qualified motivated coaches”. Tobin went on to add that “Many in action this weekend will be the senior stars of their counties in the next half decade at minor, under and finally senior level”.

Captains and Presidents prizes take centre stage

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

Balla
It was Lady Captains Day in Balla last weekend and Kitty O’Connor was the winner of the prize. She finished four points ahead of Marie Flanagan in second place with Patricia Larkin taking third place. Carmel Costello was the winner of the gross prize with Mary B Prendergast taking the past captain prize pm the day. The first 18 was won by Mary Brett with Julie Loftus taking the second 18. In the mens competition ran over the weekend, Billy Gallagher claimed the glory with a score of 50, Martin Moylette came home in second and Noel Hoban third. The gross prize was won by James Lavin.

Confidence in Roscommon, but it’s Mayo for me

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

I have been chatting to a few of my Roscommon friends over recent days and they appear very confident about their team’s chances this Sunday. I can understand why they might feel that way. Former midfielder and current team manager Fergal O’ Donnell has his team putting in good performances these days. I have heard stories of training camps and twice daily sessions being conducted, so it would appear that no stone is being left unturned as he pushes and strives for success. They are extremely fit and well drilled and are a formidable side. In their two games played in this year’s championship they played superbly. OK, the quality of the opposition i.e. New York and Leitrim wouldn’t be ranked very highly in the current ratings of championship contenders, but other teams have struggled in New York and Leitrim have always proved to be formidable opposition in Carrick on Shannon.

Balla 10K pushes road safety this year

Fri, Jul 15, 2011

It’s that time of year again plans are well in place for the 19th Annual Balla 10k which takes place this year on Saturday evening July 23 at 7pm. Over the years the Balla event has established itself as one of the “big ones” on the West of Ireland circuit and for the past number of months Race Director Brendan Conwell and his team have been busy to ensure that this years event will be the best to date.

Road safety is the theme of this years event the organisers have linked up with Road Safety Officer for County Mayo Mr Noel Gibbons and all finishers will receive a hi-vis vest a vital garment for all those people who go out on the road whether running jogging walking or cycling. Speaking recently Brendan was very anxious to point out that the Balla race is an event that is open to all. ”while we attract most of the top runners from around the West its always an event that appeals to all those who wish to run jog or walk the scenic and varied 10 kilometre course one does not need to be a member of a club or fit4life group to participate” he said.

Coyle to challenge for world title in Castlebar

Mon, Jul 11, 2011

Henry 'The Western Warrior' Coyle will come home to Mayo next month to challenge for the WBF Light Middleweight championship in The Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday August 12. The Geesala native who has been based in Chicago since he turned professional will take on Italy's Elio Contena in The Royal Theatre as the main attraction on a card of great boxing on the night.

Connacht Gold Cup action takes centre stage

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

Following on from Glenhest Rovers win in the McDonnell Cup final last weekend and round of action in the Super League which saw Castlebar Celtic keep staking their claim for the title, it is back to cup action for most of the sides in the Mayo League this weekend.

Byrne to captain Irish team in IAU Trail World Championships

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

The IAU Trail World Championships will take place in Connemara tomorrow Saturday July 9. The event will be operated in the area of Connemara National Park and its environs, starting at the world famous Kylemore Abbey and finishing in the nearby village of Letterfrack.

Large crowds expected to arrive in Kiltimagh for Race2Glory

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

The time has finally arrived and competitors from across the country will flock to Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, on Saturday week July 16 to take part in the inaugural 40km Race2Glory multi-adventure race. Sign on for Race2Glory will take place in The Cill Aodain Court Hotel, on Friday July 15 between 6.30pm and 9pm and again on the Saturday between 9am and 11.30am. It is important that all competitors present themselves at registration as this is where they will receive their race number, map, and a Race2Glory Cooltex T-shirt. The race will commence at 1pm at Kiltimagh GAA Park.

This is no minor matter

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

I got a call last Thursday from a friend wondering if I could meet him for lunch. Upon arrival at the chosen venue I could see said friend was extremely agitated and frustrated and it became apparent he needed a sounding board to launch a tirade regarding a minor match fixture. Friend happens to be the manager of the minor team in question that had made it through to the county league semi final. It transpired that his annoyance and frustration concerned a break down in communication regarding the fixture. He had received an email the previous night (Wednesday) saying that the fixture was scheduled for the following Friday evening (48 hours notice). He told me that he had been informed on the Monday night that the game would definitely not be played during that week and the best information he got suggested that it would be a couple of weeks before it would take place. Consequently the club did not fulfil the fixture and the match was awarded to the opposition on a walk over. The county final at this particular grade is fixed for this weekend. Some of you may be aware that the Oxegen concert also takes place this weekend when thousands of youngsters of this particular age group travel to the music festival.

Mayo athletes return home with haul of medals

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

The four Mayo athletes who were competing in Athens in the Special Olympics Word Summer Games returned home to heroes welcomes with a huge haul of medals you. The four strong contingent of Mayo athletes Deirdre Gannon. Deirdre Garvin, Paul Kavanagh and Mary McDermott came back to Mayo with six medals among them. The athletes from Claremorris, Swinford, Castlebar and Westport were part of a 126 strong team who brought back 107 medals from the games.

Ladies face old enemy in Connacht final

Fri, Jul 08, 2011

The Connacht senior football semi-final win over Sligo was the first step on the road to redemption for the Mayo ladies senior football team after a very poor run in the National Football which saw them go winless over the whole campaign. Jason Tanniane took over a team which had its difficulties, but with a championship win under their belt now he looks to have the team moving in the right direction. The win over Sligo was backboned by a number of old familiar names who have battled valiantly in the green and red for what seems like years now, Yvonne Byrne, Cora Staunton, Claire Egan, Fiona McHale and Martha Carter have all seen the highs with Mayo in the past and their experience will once again be invaluable on Sunday afternoon when they face the old enemy Galway in the Connacht Senior Football Championship final.

They have been supplemented by a number of players who have earned their spurs over the past four or five years, and more recently the likes of Kathryn Sullivan, Aoife Herbert, and Ciara Hanaohe have all come to the fore.

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