Derry dash Celtic debut

Tue, Apr 14, 2009

Castlebar Celtic 1

Spoils shared on the final day

Tue, Apr 14, 2009

Spoils shared on the final day

Championship panel to be decided soon

Tue, Apr 14, 2009

Seven games, two wins, three draws and two defeats and after seeing his side wrap up fourth place in the table and ensure their division one status for another year, John O’Mahony was in positive form after last Sunday’s draw with Tyrone. The Ballaghaderreen club man admitted that his side could have killed off the All Ireland champions when they went two points clear, but was happy with the way his side performed over the seventy minutes. “It was a tough game, for the first twenty minutes we took the game to them. We were playing against a stiff breeze, but probably should have got a few more scores. We lost that high intensity and that's where the scores came from. The second half, we eventually started playing more direct and it started to pay off. But I have to give credit to Tyrone for the way we came back after we went two points ahead. We would have loved to have killed them off and probably should have killed them off. Like true champions they came back at us we have a lot to learn, but thankfully at any stage we didn't drop the head and the lads were ready to battle.”

Holmes relishes in fourth title on the trot

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Standing at the back of the crowd who had gathered in front of the stand in Sligo on Saturday evening to witness Tom Parsons lift Mayo’s fourth JJ Fahy cup in a row, Pat Holmes was a happy man. In the four years since he has taken over the side with his joint manager Noel Connelly they have not failed to deliver a provincial title and they bagged one All Ireland in their first year in 2006. While the celebrations went on in front of him Holmes was happy to take it all in from the back of the crowd and reflect on the game and what lies ahead for his side. “It is nice, each year there has been a different bunch of players and it is always very nice to win a Connacht title.” This year’s crop of players had come through two tough games against Galway and Roscommon to get to the final, in both those games they let big leads slip, something that Holmes had drilled into his side they couldn’t afford to do this time. “In the last two games we had let big advantages slip and that is something we have worked on, and we were very conscious at half-time that we couldn’t afford to take our foot off the pedal, and that we had to keep working hard.”

All go on the golf scene in Mayo

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Castlebar ladies
On Wednesday April 1 there was no fooling with Maureen Molloy in the 13 hole stableford competition. Maureen came first with 29pts on count back. Celia Coen was second also on 29pts. The weekend competition sponsored by abbeybreaffy.ie was won by Bernie Moran with 41pts. Second was Una Lydon with 37pts (Back 9) and in third was Elaine Healy also with 37pts. Sheila Baynes was once again our gross winner. The Am Am will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week and with a prize for the best ladies’ team score, get your names down, get out, and show the men how it’s done!

Mayo athletes getting ready for national 10k championships

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

The National 10k championships are just over two weeks away and a number of Mayo AC athletes checked out their form over the weekend. The BUPA 10k in the Phoenix Park attracted 11,000 runners. Among them TJ McHugh finished in 37th place overall in 34mins 10sec and Catherine Conway maintained her consistent current form to finish an excellent third in the main field in 37mins 02sec. Ann Lennon showed that she is back in top gear with a great time of 39mins 23sec to be the first over 40, and Caroline Conway finished in 45mins 14sec. These performances give Mayo AC a big boost of confidence as the 10k championships approach.

U21s continue to impress

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

It was generally felt that the Mayo u21s would not be prevented from winning their fourth Connacht title in a row at Markievicz Park last Saturday evening, having disposed of the two big heavy weights; Galway and Roscommon in earlier rounds. After 15 minutes of the match in Sligo it was very evident that Sligo were in the ‘also ran’ category! It was only a question of the margin of victory, and as it transpired Mayo ran out very comfortably on a final score line that flattered them a little. In fairness to Sligo they battled bravely right to the end, but they just didn’t have anything like the quality of players that Mayo possessed. Mayo scored 3-11 from play over the 60 or so minutes of the game and right from the throw in it was evident that management had their troops focused on the task at hand. Unfortunately, from a spectator point of view, this match didn’t represent great value for money as Sligo really had no answer to the slick mobility of the opposition. This Mayo team have already provided sufficient entertainment in two brilliant performances against Galway and Roscommon. It was difficult enough to select a man of the match as practically every Mayo player had his moments. Billy Fitzpatrick who had this task for Mid West Radio selected Jason Doherty, and it would be hard to disagree with him as Jason has improved with every outing so far this year and is playing with great confidence and authority. Aidan O’ Shea has been very good at every level this year and I thought that he in particular produced a flawless display from start to finish last Saturday. Kevin McLoughlin is another who has caught the eye and having watched him up close on three occasions I have to say this guy is the real deal. He kicked a magnificent point off his left foot from the left wing in the first half that was as fine a score as you will witness this year. Cathal Carolan got through his customary truck load of toil in another performance of relentless intensity. Tom Parsons has returned to the form that we witnessed a year or two ago and there must surely be no one doubting his talent at this stage. Eoghan Reilly, son of Tom (Monaghan and Castlebar) is another I would suggest can step up to the next level. His labour is rarely high profile (most defenders fall into this category) but he just toils away selflessly, always alert to imminent danger like a smart defender should be. I mentioned last week the immense contribution of Noel Connelly, Pat Holmes, and Mícheál Collins who have managed Mayo u21s for the last four years. They deserve a lot of credit for producing a team that are always well drilled, well disciplined, and keen to play the game as it is meant to be played.

It all comes down to the last round this Sunday

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Kerry won the league in 2004 under Jack O’Connor. And then in September they collected the Sam Maguire at their ease. They did the exact same thing two years later and no doubt that is what is on their agenda for 2009.

Mayo wrap up league with visit from All Ireland champions

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

McHale Park will get its first airing this season on Sunday when the All Ireland champions Tyrone come to town for the final round of the Allianz National Football League. Mayo will be looking to pick up where they left off against Galway in Tuam Stadium a fortnight ago, where a stunning second half performance saw John O’Mahony’s side overturn a six point half time deficit to squeeze past Galway by a single point and secure a one point win. The win leaves O’Mahony’s side in fourth place in the division one table on six points, equal on points with Mickey Harte’s side. A draw on Sunday would ensure both sides’ status in division one for next season, but a defeat coupled with a high scoring win by Dublin over an already relegated Westmeath and a win by Donegal over Derry could drag either side back into the bottom two of a very tight division one table.

Celtic ready for League of Ireland challenge

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Castlebar Celtic’s brave step into the Newstalk FAI League of Ireland A league is ready to roll this weekend when Derry City make the trip south to Celtic Park. Last Friday night Celtic launched their campaign in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre. Declan Kilkelly, manager of the side, praised the club’s decision to enter the competition when he was called on to speak at the launch. “This is a brave, brave, decision by the club to enter this competition. The decision was proved right by just looking at the number of lads we have got back from clubs like Galway United, Mervue United, and Sligo Rovers who are ready to do their part for the club in this exciting venture. Any players, whoever they are, want to play at the highest level they can and now we can offer our players who have come through our own underage system this chance to play League of Ireland football for Castlebar Celtic.” Kilkelly was in charge of the Celtic youth side who claimed the FAI Youth Cup in 2006, took over the club’s senior side midway through last season after the departure of former manager Gavin Dykes who had brought them to an FAI junior cup semi-final, and guided them in their first adventure in the FAI u20 league side in 2007 only to see the club excluded from the 2008 competition because they did not have an A league side. The decision of the club to throw their hat in the ring for the 2009 A league and try to emulate Mervue United which went from junior soccer in Galway to the A league in 2008, and is now a League of Ireland first division club, is a positive one for soccer in Mayo according to chairman of the Mayo League Pat Quigley who said: “I wish Celtic all the best in this challenge, it’s a great step for the club and a very positive one for soccer in Mayo in general. We have played a very small part in this in the Mayo league and we will continue to do whatever we can to help the club in this challenge. This decision offers every lad who starts off playing football with Celtic something to aim for, to play in the League of Ireland.”

Pat Duffy from the FAI was also excited by the decision by Celtic to enter the league and the long term future it offered for football in Mayo. “This is a great day for Castlebar Celtic, having been in the u20 league before they know the challenges they will face. This will be a step up in challenges for Celtic, they have a squad with an average age of 22, and it’s important people see this a work in progress that could take three to four years and it’s not just about year one. Celtic have a great crop of players and a great management team in place who will do their all to see the club succeed in this league and into the future.”

Mortimer out of team for Tyrone

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

John O'Mahony reveled his starting 15 for Mayo's crunch tie with Tyrone in McHale Park on Sunday. For the second game in a row Shrule-Glencorrib sharpshooter Conor Mortimer has been left out of the side, following on from his omission from side who started against Galway in the last round of the competition. Aidan O'Shea will continue in his role at full forward, the Breaffy teenager and Knockmore's Kevin McLoughlin are the only u21 players in the starting 15. The starting 15 also see's Billy Joe Padden come into the side at top of the left in the place of Mikey Sweeney, while McLoughlin will replace Kieran Conroy at left corner back.