Lough Mask swim challenge this Sunday

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

The second Lough Mask swim takes place this Sunday September 5 and again will prove a tough challenge and a great goal for swimmers from throughout the country. The swim will start on the shores of Lough Mask outside Paddy’s bar in Gortmor, Tourmakeady, at 1pm sharp, the swimmers will swim diagonally across the lake passing Devenish Island on the way to Cushlough bay some 8k away. Last year strong winds and big swells made the going tough for the swimmers and kayakers, with just 14 of the 25 swimmers braving the conditions to make it across. This year the change in direction should suit the prevailing winds from the southwest which are normally prominent at that time of year.

Flynn and Cassidy lose out in intermediate semi-final

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Mayo's Ollie Cassidy and Paul Flynn lost out on a place in the all-Ireland intermediate doubles semi-final on Sunday last as they went down in two games to Kilkenny duo Timmy and David Clifford. The Swinford/Ballaghaderreen duo got off to a bad start in the opening game and lost is 21 aces to 10. It was a different story in the second as the Mayo duo really got stuck in and, playing some great handball coupled with top class serving, they led 16 aces to 8 at one stage. However try as they might they simply could not finish off this game and despite serving out game ball at 20 aces to 19 they lost the second by a single ace 21-20 and with it their hopes of a tilt at the title in three weeks’ time. However much credit must go to Cassidy who put the heartbreak of his father’s death just nine days ago behind him, to turn in a fine performance on the day.

Mayo athletes perform well at Phoenix Park 10 mile

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Mayo AC members recorded some great performances at the annual Frank Duffy 10-míle road race in the Phoenix Park recently which attracted more than 6,000 competitors. John Byrne finished ninth overall in a time of 53.44, while Paddy O’Toole finished in 59.46 and Kevin Mellett, who has recovered from recent injury, came home in 62.27. Catherine Conway ran an excellent race finishing fourth in the senior woman in 62.10, while Paula Prendergast clocked 70.02. Caroline Conway ran strongly to cross the finish line in 75.13.

Autumn tag tournament in Castlebar

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

An autumn tag rugby tournament in currently being organised in Castlebar. The tournament will get under way on Thursday September 23 and will run each Thursday night for six weeks. The final will take place on Friday October 29. Games will get under way at 7pm each Thursday at Castlebar Rugby Club and the tournament promises to be fun from beginning to end. Tag rugby has really taken off in Mayo over the last 12 months and is a great social outlet for men and women. Between now and then, training continues on Tuesday nights at 7pm and there will be two introductory nights on Thursday September 9 and 16 for new players who would like to get involved in the Tournament. Why not come along and start tag rugby in Castlebar. All are welcome.

Losing never gets any easier

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

I know what it feels like to lose, having been there on several occasions throughout my sporting career. It never gets any easier and you just cannot prepare for it. I was in the losers’ enclosure with the Crossmolina football team again last Sunday, having come up short against Knockmore for the second year running. It is standard practice that the manager of a team would say a few words on such occasions and it is not an easy thing to do. I tell them that the hurt they are feeling can help to push them on for next season. The ugly feeling can propel them to greater heights if channelled in the right direction, and there is no point in apportioning blame on anyone or anything just now. It is not a time to be feeling sorry for themselves, but I can and do fully understand why they look so weary and broken-hearted. I tell them how proud I am of their efforts and in my eyes they are not losers. These lads prepared as professionally as any inter-county team. They are ordinary lads with ordinary jobs who made an extraordinary effort over the past eight months. Many postponed holidays, left building sites hours ahead of schedule to train with the club. I acknowledge that enormous effort, but at the same time I tell them that there are no guarantees in sport. Winning a county title does not come easy, irrespective of what people might think. I mention the enormous effort and sacrifices men made decades earlier just to get to see a football match never mind play in them. There is no point lamenting what might have been, but the preparation for next year must start now. It is important that young footballers continue to grow and develop and equally important that they do not give up after a defeat. Crossmolina are top of the league table with four games left and we will be doing our best to win that title. It is important that we do not throw away the opportunity to continue to progress.

Interest heats up in Mayo job

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

The Mayo county board have received a number of expressions of interest in the position of Mayo senior football manager other than from those who where already in the public domain, the Mayo Advertiser has learned.

Attention turns to the junior ranks this weekend

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Following the quarter finals in the senior and the intermediate championships last weekend, attention will turn to the junior championship in the county this weekend. The action will get under way on Saturday with the meeting of Ardnaree and Parke in McHale Park at 5pm. The north Mayo men made it as far as the final last season, going down by two points in the final to Kiltimagh. En route to the final they knocked out their opponents in the semi final stage. The west Mayo men will be looking for revenge, after nearly making the break through to senior football a couple of years ago, before tumbling down to the junior grade they have been pushing hard to make it back up to the intermediate ranks.

The second quarter final sees The Neale and Lahardane go to toe to toe at 6.30pm in McHale Park. The south Mayo men made it as far as the final in 2008 before being beaten by Killala and should go into the game as favourites against the west Mayo men.

Castlecomer golf news

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Ladies results from the President Betty’s Prize are as follows: 1 Honoria Fogarty 69 nett; 2 Eileen Fogarty 70 nett; Gross Katherine Molloy 88; 4 Breda Phelan 74 back 9; 4 Betty Byrne 74 nett; Senior Margot Rowe 75 nett; Front 9 Josephine Leahy 36.5; Back 9 Jacinta Culliton 33.5.

O’Loughlin Gaels retain Lisdowney 7S Tournament

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

O’Loughlin Gaels retained the prestigious Lisdowney 7s under 13 hurling tournament over the weekend. In a very tough competition the Niall Bergin trained boys beat Ballyhale Shamrocks, Dicksboro and then James Stephens in the final.

Kilkenny’s rugby season kicks off on a low note

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Kilkenny travelled to Enniscorthy last Sunday for the first round of the South East League and the first competitive fixture of the 2010/2011 season. They were expecting a tough encounter and that’s what transpired at the Ross Road grounds.

Holmes ends his season on a high with new personal best record

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

National 100m sprint champion, Jonathan Holmes, ended his track season on a high with a personal best performance in Heat 3 of The Diamond League in Brussels on Friday night.

Kilkenny players owe it to themselves to complete the 5-in-a-row

Fri, Sep 03, 2010

Twelve months ago Kilkenny entered Croke Park knowing a victory over arch rivals Tipperary would see them lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a record equalling fourth time in a row. After a pulsating battle they emerged victors a feat that put them beside the great Cork team of the ‘40s.

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