A new beginning for Mayo under Horan

Fri, Jan 07, 2011

Just over six months since Mayo last played a senior inter-county game the road is opening up in front of them for another year. On Sunday in Ballinamore in Leitrim the newest version of the Mayo senior team will take to the field under the guidance of James Horan for the first time. Since his appointment at the end of September, Horan has only been able to run his eye over his new charges a handful of times, the last time last weekend in a series of inter-squad challenge games and previous to that in a number of trial games in November.

New year swings into action

Fri, Jan 07, 2011

Ballyhaunis
In the New Years weekend Stableford competition sponsored by An Lochán Bar and Restaurant, Liam Lynskey playing off 17 was the winner with a score of 42pts. His scoring on the back six kept him ahead of second placed finisher David Murphy who also finished with a score of 42pts. In the ladies’ section Kung Fanning playing with a handicap of five was the winner with a score of 40pts.

In the New Years weekend Stableford competition sponsored by An Lochán Bar and Restaurant, Liam Lynskey playing off 17 was the winner with a score of 42pts. His scoring on the back six kept him ahead of second placed finisher David Murphy who also finished with a score of 42pts. In the ladies’ section Kung Fanning playing with a handicap of five was the winner with a score of 40pts.

Ballintubber GAA club’s extraordinary year to feature on TG4 Christmas special

Fri, Dec 24, 2010

The pride and passion of the Ballintubber GAA club in winning their first Mayo senior football title in 2010 is to feature in a special insightful documentary on TG4 this Christmas. Baile an Tobair – Bliain an Bhua relives the amazing journey of the Ballintubber senior football team from the desolate ranks of junior football a few years back to the exalted highs of Mayo senior football champions in 2010. This intriguing story unfolds as the club in the shadow of Ballintubber Abbey celebrates its centenary also this year, having being founded in 1910. Baile an Tobair – Bliain an Bhua echoes and mirrors the life of every GAA club in the country with success and failure, heartbreak and jubilation, pain and passion all interwoven into one.

Connacht look to upset Munster on St Stephen’s Day

Fri, Dec 24, 2010

Connacht will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Sportsground on St Stephen’s Day when they take on Munster in the Magners League, but Eric Elwood’s charges will have to do so without the services of their inspirational captain John Muldoon. The 28-year-old Connacht forward suffered another injury in a season that has been blighted with setbacks. In Connacht’s Amlin Challenge Cup defeat at home to Harlequins the Portumna native broke his arm, it is the second time this year he has suffered from a broken arm, he broke it against New Zealand in the first of the summer tour tests in the southern hemisphere. However it is hoped that the break is not as serious as the one he sustained on international duty and he will be back in action in number of weeks as opposed to months.

Claremorris Colts and Claremorris FC join forces

Fri, Dec 24, 2010

Claremorris Soccer Club and the Claremorris Colts RFC are combining forces on St Stephen's Day for a tournament to beat all others. You may have heard the saying before but SocTag is most definitely a game of two halves, with participants playing half a game of soccer and half a game of tag rugby.

Ladies GAA issue report on Mayo situation

Fri, Dec 24, 2010

Following on from a year of high drama in the ladies football world in Mayo, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association issued their report in situation this week and issued a number of conclusions and recommendations. Included in the report’s conclusions was the issue of the inability of the county to hold on to a senior team manager over a prolonged period of time. The report stated that, “A number of reasons were put forward for the failure to hold on to managers over the years but the majority by far felt that the problem lay with a few of the more senior players who constantly tried to exercise control over the team. It was said that this should have been tackled some years ago, when one manager left, but it was let carry on and managers preferred to leave rather than rock the boat.” While the report does hit out at some senior players, they also lay some of the blame at the footsteps of the county board saying, “This situation was exasperated by the poor procedures adopted by the county board in the appointment of managers.”

Open week kicks off on St Stephen’s Day in Claremorris Golf Club

Fri, Dec 24, 2010

Claremorris Golf Club will hold its annual Christmas open week beginning on St Stephen's Day. This will run until Sunday January 1, weather permitting. Met Éireann has promised a thaw from Christmas Eve, which presumably should see the course open for the Open week. For further information contact Chris or Joey at 094 9371527.

Home win becomes a must for Connacht belief

Fri, Dec 17, 2010

A home win has become a major priority for Connacht when they host Harlequins in this evenings return European match at the Galway Sportsground (7pm). Although Connacht are unlikely to qualify from this year’s Amlin Cup pool, having lost two of their three matches, Elwood believes there is more at stake for his players, particularly as they head into a crucial Christmas period with the traditional interprovincial clashes against Munster and Leinster.

Strategic review taking shape

Fri, Dec 17, 2010

Next Monday night the different committees of the Mayo GAA Strategic Action plan will meet up and give their recommendations from their various committees, the chairperson of the strategic action plan steering group Liam Horan has been very pleased with the amount of engagement from the public and GAA members at large to the plan. Speaking to the Mayo Advertiser this week he said “It has proved that there are plenty of people who are willing to work and roll up their sleeves to help Mayo GAA, it also shows that people who say that the age of volunteerism is dead are wrong. We’ve had a huge amount of interest from people who wanted to get involved and still do want to get involved.”

Poor start costs Loftus Recycling in Portlaoise

Fri, Dec 17, 2010

A poor start meant that Loftus Recycling were always playing “catch-up” in this National Basketball League division one game in St Mary’s Hall, Portlaoise, on Saturday night. The visitors were without the services of the injured Liam McHale and, with Paul Barrett still recovering from surgery and Ronal McGarrity still unavailable, this was never going to be an easy match for the Ballina men. Subway Portlaoise took full advantage and built up an early lead with their new player Skuzinskas getting most of the baskets. Nothing seemed to go right for the visitors who found it very hard to find scores against a physically stronger Portlaoise team. The home team had built up 13 point advantage at half-time 37-24 with Peter Papic getting most of the Ballina scores.

Mayo look for bright start to Oscar Traynor campaign

Fri, Dec 17, 2010

“It’s a cup competition in reality, you can’t afford to lose a game,” is how Mayo League manager Brendan Kenny sees Sunday’s game against the Roscommon side in the Oscar Traynor Trophy. Weather permitting, Kenny’s Mayo will host neighbours Roscommon on Sunday in Milebush Park at 2pm in their first game in this year’s Oscar Traynor Trophy. It will be the visitors’ second game in the competition this year after going down 3-1 to a Sligo/Leitrim side a few weeks ago, meaning it is do or die on Sunday for them.