Ballina keep their head above Westport
Fri, Aug 14, 2009
Eight games out and at the top of the table and with one trophy already in the bag, Ballina Town have it all to play for over the next few months in the Elverys Sports Super League. Last weekend they followed up their Westaro Cup win over Ballyheane with a 2-0 win over Kilmore to keep themselves level on points with Westport United, but ahead of them on goal difference, and maintain the poll position.
Read more ...Sometimes we are just not good enough on the day
Fri, Aug 14, 2009
I received a text immediately after the final whistle that simply asked ‘What happened Mayo?’ It was from a friend of mine who was convinced that Mayo would beat Meath last Sunday. It was not the first time I was asked that same question down through the years, but this time I wondered at its appropriateness. We may just have to accept the hurtful reality that we just were not good enough on the day. We could apportion blame on a sub-standard performance from the referee and his officials, but that would not in any way explain why we did not finish off an average Meath team, particularly when leading by four points midway through the second half. The reality is we just did not play well enough to win the match.
Read more ...Final fling in race for last eight
Fri, Aug 14, 2009
It’s a case of all to play for in most of the groups in the Intermediate championship this weekend. Last year’s beaten finalists Kilmaine look odds on to make it out of section one in top spot. They will face a testing encounter against a Killala side who are currently in second spot in the table on points difference and will be going all guns blazing to keep their own chances alive. The other game in the group promises to be a tough physical battle when Hollymount make the trip to Tourmakeady; neither side will give quarter to the other, but home advantage should be enough to see them make the last eight along with Kilmaine.
In section two Belmullet have maximum points going into their game at home to Swinford, they saw off Crossmolina B in the first round and were given a walkover against Davitts after their game was put off following a tragedy in the Ballindine area and wasn’t able to be played within 13 days of the original fixture. The Erris men will fancy their chances of having a good cut at the title this year and should pick up another win on Sunday. If Belmullet do as predicted Davitts know that a win against a Crossmolina B side who have failed to impress too much this year will see them join them in the last eight, and big games will be needed from the likes of Colm Boyle and Keith Prendergast in Crossmolina. Section three is as cut and dried as you can get with both Westport and Achill through to the last eight with two wins from two each. The sides will face each other on Sunday in Westport and Martin Connelly’s men should have enough to hold off their west Mayo rivals. The other game in the group is a battle to avoid the dread relegation play off. Ballyhaunis must win to avoid that fate as they currently trail the north Mayo men on points difference, but having the advantage of playing at home could swing it in the east Mayo men’s direction on Saturday evening.
Read more ...Ulster champions stand in Mayo’s way
Fri, Aug 14, 2009
The long lay off, of five weeks since their defeat at the hands of Galway in the Connacht final, did not do Mayo too much harm last weekend when they finally got back to championship action. Kevin Reidy’s side, which lost their provincial title to Galway back at the start of July, were slow coming out of the blocks against Laois and found themselves 1-6 to 1-2 down early in the first half, but inspired by player of the match Emma Mullin they ran out seven point winners in Pearse Park, Longford. That win has set up tomorrow’s meeting with Ulster champions Tyrone in Ballymahon, Co Longford, for a right to make it to the last four of the competition.
Read more ...
The rough guide to what happened Sunday
Sun, Aug 09, 2009
Turning point
An easy one really, with Mayo having just gone into a four point lead thanks to Aidan O'Shea's goal. The decision of the linesman on the Hogan Stand side of the field to award a line ball to Meath which looked clearly to be a Mayo ball. As Mayo players argued with the official Joe Sheridan dropped in the ball which lead to Cian Ward's goal from a penalty.
No excuses for defeat
Sun, Aug 09, 2009
Have you ever watched those medical drama's on television, where when a doctor has a case when someone dies but they shouldn't have. The then have to present the case to their fellow doctors in some kind of peer review of the facts. On Sunday under the Cusack stand or was it the Dravin Stand, it's tricky enough to remeber where you are when your in the belly of the Jones Road ground, the members of the fourth estate gathered to conduct their own peer review of what happend over the course of the previous seventy minutes in the media room cum lecture hall with the victorious and the vanquished, just like in one of those shows.
Read more ...The case for the defence
Fri, Aug 07, 2009
Thirteen years on from a bounce of a ball hopping over the bar and a one for all brawl in front of the Hill, Mayo will renew acquaintance with Meath in the championship looking for their first win over the Royal County since the heady summer of 1951. When the final whistle is blown on Sunday, the initial headlines will probably go to the forward who puts the ball over the bar for the winning score or kicks a handful of points over the 70 minutes. But no matter how good the front six are all victories have their foundation on those whose primary job is to stop the other side from putting the size five over the black spot or into the back of the net.
Read more ...From the bunker
Fri, Aug 07, 2009
Westport Golf Club
Results of Gents’ Senior Competition held on July 30 in first place was Bill Hopkins (12), 37.5pts, B9; second Gar Golden (11), 37.5pts; third John P Kelly (16), 36.5pts; fourth Michael Cafferty (20), 36pts. Cat (1) John Gavin (22) 35pts; Cat (2) Chris Lavelle (16) 32.5pts; Cat (3) Perry O’Reilly (6) 33pts; Cat (4) Michael Hastings (19) 34pts.
Results of Gents’ Senior Competition held on July 30 in first place was Bill Hopkins (12), 37.5pts, B9; second Gar Golden (11), 37.5pts; third John P Kelly (16), 36.5pts; fourth Michael Cafferty (20), 36pts. Cat (1) John Gavin (22) 35pts; Cat (2) Chris Lavelle (16) 32.5pts; Cat (3) Perry O’Reilly (6) 33pts; Cat (4) Michael Hastings (19) 34pts.
Read more ...