Luke makes it a double for Coláiste Cholman

Fri, Dec 11, 2009

It was a win for the home team of Cormac Hanley, Stephen Murphy, Stephen McGowan and Luke Gibbons in the open inter-schools team held at Claremorris equestrian centre on Sunday last. The home riders, under the guidance of teacher Carmel Cruise and Chef D’Equipe Charles Hanley, finished both rounds without a single error on a zero score. Hotly on their heels, however, and lying in a close second place were two teams who finished on a total of four faults – the neighbouring Claremorris school, Mount St, Michael and Calasanctius College Oranmore. Representing Mount St Michael were Lydia Glynn, Alice Shally, and Kayleigh Heneghan while Calasanctius College, Oranmore was represented by Stephen Flanagan, Karen Connolly, Tanya Costello, and Steven Connor. Luke Gibbons made it a double for Coláiste Cholman when he held his good form and went on to take the open individual competition with his pony Newtown Sampson.

Ballaghaderreen secure senior club title

Fri, Dec 11, 2009

Ballaghaderreen claimed their fifth successive All-Ireland senior 40x20 club title at the expense of a game Coolboy of Wicklow at Abbeylara on Sunday last. Dessie Keegan opened for the Mayo side where he once again faced an in-form Michael Gregan. The Wicklow ace made life very difficult for the Mayo powerhouse in the first game, which he won comfortably 21 aces to seven. Keegan, at this stage a veteran of these team encounters, responded well in the second, which suffered a five minute delay due to a wet court, as he made his Wicklow opponent work much harder for each ace. Keegan took this game 21 aces to 15 to leave the Mayo side trailing by eight aces going into the doubles. Vincent Moran and Paul Flynn put in a fine performance to secure a good 21 aces to 12 win in the first game against Coolboy’s Pat Quaile and Michael Lennon. The second was a much closer affair which the Ballagh duo just won by a singles ace. With this slender advantage it was all up to Joe McCann who took on Johnny Willoughby in the final match of the afternoon. McCann was made to work very hard against a much-improved Willoughby and he did just that, winning the first game 21 aces to 17. This still left McCann needing 16 aces for victory in the final game of the evening. McCann kept a cool head and achieved the target at 16-14 to give Ballaghaderreen the well deserved victory. Much credit must go to the Coolboy lads who certainly pushed the Mayo champions all the way but overall Ballagh had the better balanced team on the day.

Mitchels and Ballintubber to bring curtain down on U21 A club championship

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

While the fog did not lift last Saturday in Castlebar, as the Mitchels finally saw off the challenge of Breaffy in the u21 A semi final, the result will stand unlike the previous week’s game which was blown up early. At the end of 60 minutes of hard fought and often times blind play the Mitchels came out deserved winners by 1-9 to 0-8. That win for Paul Jordan and Tommy O'Malley's side has set up a mouth watering encounter against another local rival, Ballintubber.

American athletics coach to give insight into preparation of top athletes

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

A 70 year-old Co Mayo man, who has coached 26 Olympic athletes in a glorious athletics career stretching over four decades, is to give an insight into preparation of top athletes in an informative and practical seminar.

Chadwicks Cup final draws a conclusion to the end of long season

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

The first weekend in December will see the Mayo league finally wrap up the business end of its competitions when Swinford and Manulla clash in the Chadwicks Cup final in Milebush.

Loftus Recycling bid for cup semi-final place

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

Team Loftus Recycling host Maree, from Oranmore, Galway, in the quarter-final of the Men’s Senior Cup at Ballina Sports and Leisure Centre on Saturday evening with tip-of at 8pm. With Ronan McGarrity lining out for the side in the National Cup, the Ballina club see themselves as having a real opportunity to claim some national silverware this year, but they can expect a very tough match on Saturday night from a side that has been very impressive in their first season at senior, national level.

Despite a shock defeat to Queens, in Belfast, on Saturday afternoon, Loftus Recycling will be hopeful that the availability of a full squad and home advantage will be enough to see them reach the semi-final stages of the competition. However they would do well not to underestimate Maree who knocked out 1998 Cup winners, UCD Marian, in the previous round of the competition and inflicted a heavy defeat on Meadowlands St Brendan’s, Tralee, last Saturday in the National League. Bearing in mind the Tralee side defeated Ballina in recent weeks, the Galway team have shown that they are a very serious outfit indeed even if it is their first year competing at this level. They have not reached senior level overnight, however, and have been built on the back of years of success by Oranmore at underage and schools levels, it was only a matter of time before all of the talent emerging at youth level progressed to senior ranks.

Claremorris Colts RFC

Fri, Dec 04, 2009

Mini rugby with Claremorris Colts RFC has been under way for three months and, despite a couple of upsets with weather conditions, everyone - both the children and coaches - seems to be enjoying great progress.

With Christmas almost upon us, there are a couple of dates and events that parents should note. On Saturday next, December 5, Dunmore RFC will travel to Claremorris to take on the Colts. The games will be fun and all age groups will be participating. Matches will get under way at 11am and are expected to be finished by 12.30pm. After the games, the members of Claremorris Colts RFC, as well as the visiting club, are invited to go to Supermac’s where refreshments will be provided. Parents are asked to transport their children to Supermac’s and are more than welcome to join them for the refreshments.

Heartbreak for Charlestown as Corofin ease home

Sun, Nov 29, 2009

Corofin 2-14
Charlestown 0-7

Connacht club final looks to avoid second wash-out

Fri, Nov 27, 2009

“You’ve got to dance with the ladies that are in the hall, as they say,” is Ciaran McBrien’s outlook as he thinks about the injuries he has to deal with ahead of this Sunday’s refixed Connacht club final against Corofin. The Charlestown manager already knew that he would be without the influence and experience of David Tiernan for this final due to injury, and star forward Richie Haran was going to be another major doubt for the game last weekend with a broken bone in his hand. The extra week has given Haran some more time to recover, but McBrien does not know if it is going to be enough. “It’s one of the hardest breaks to heal we’ve been told, they reckon it will be a six to eight week injury whichever way you look at it, but we hope he’s able to make it in some form.”

Tough five mile event in Leenane

Fri, Nov 27, 2009

In wet and windy Leenane on Sunday, Brendan Gill (Mayo AC) was the winner of a tough five mile race. The local terrain was hard enough, but gales and rain made it doubly difficult. Gill finished in 31.28, a great time in the circumstances. The Westport man is having a brilliant first season with Mayo AC, winning silver medals in both the National half and full marathons as part of their successful o-35 team. Other brave Mayo AC souls among the finishers in Leenane were Jimmy Feeney, PJ Hall and that man again, Christy O'Malley now heading towards completing 70 races before the end of 2009. The race was organised by the Leenane/Maam Branch of the Red Cross to raise funds for upkeep of an ambulance.

Connacht Cup keeps the action moving

Fri, Nov 27, 2009

There is no let up from the action in Mayo soccer circles this weekend with the Connacht Cup taking over where the FAI Junior cup left off last weekend. Even with the terrible weather conditions which saw a lot of sporting events called off around the country, only two games fell foul to the rain in Mayo, the ties between Castlebar Celtic and Straide and Foxford United and the Ballina Town and Kiltimagh/Knock United game.