Mayo on the verge of historic four in a row

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

For the 10th year in a row, Mayo will contest the Connacht u-21 football final. In the past nine years the JJ Fahy Cup has been presented to a Mayo captain on six occasions and Mayo captain Tom Parsons will be hoping that he becomes the seventh man in a decade to lift the trophy. Mayo have won the competition 22 times already while their opponents on Sunday have yet to claim the title.

Iorras ready to step into the final

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

There is not much to be said about Iorras Aontaithe’s run to the semi-final that hasn’t been said before. The north Mayo men who looked to be in free fall midway through the Super League season last summer, pulled themselves together in the home straight and pulled themselves clear of the relegation quagmire. Since then they have gone on to show the true quality that the Barony men possess, navigating eight rounds of the FAI Junior Cup to arrive in this Sunday’s semi-final. In a sort of homecoming Iorras will welcome Ballymun United to the home of Mayo soccer, Milebush, on Sunday with a place in the final up for grabs. For Iorras it offers them a chance to add an FAI Junior Cup to the FAI youths cup they won in 2005, and puts them up there with Westport United from 2006 as the only Mayo sides to bring home the national junior title.

Iorras player/manager Eric Reilly has been taking it each game at a time in his side’s run to the final four and was still just looking at the 90 minutes ahead of his side on Sunday when he spoke to the Mayo Advertiser this week. “We have done unbelievably well to get this far already. Getting over Fairview Rangers in the last game was always going to be a tough one, but the reward of a home draw in the semi-final was something that helped us in the game.” A home game it may in name but it’s still the guts of a 100 mile round trip for the Iorras Aontaithe players to Milebush and back, but it’s further for Ballymun United and closer for the Iorras supporters according to Reilly. “We’ll be sleeping in our own beds the next night, where the Ballymun lads won’t be. We had great support in both Kinsale and Limerick in the last two rounds of the competition and this game will give us the chance to have even more support. Hopefully the people from Erris will all come down and support us on Sunday.”

Spring season competitions pick up a gear in Mayo

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Balla
Catherine McNulty took first place in the ladie’s competition, with Mary Neary and Kathleen Minogue completing the top three. Bob Legett won the men’s competition with a 52 and Jimmy Sheridan took second place with a 53. Dermot McMahon won the gross competition with a 59 and Billy Gallagher was in third place with a 54. The youths competition was won by Michael Miller with a 70. This weekend’s competition is a stableford competition which is sponsored by Tolsters, Castlebar.

New season on the road gets back into gear

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Western Lakes
Five Western Lakes riders were in action in the Weller Cup race in Bohermeen, County Meath, on Sunday. In the Senior A and B category race Willie Connelly, Mark Quigley, and Padraig Marrey were in action with the Marrey finishing a superb third on the day. Also on Sunday, Joe Marrey and John Murphy finished well in the main group in the Senior C race. In the youths’ race Western Lakes club member Brendan Scullion took part in the under 16 category which acted as one of the qualifiers for the Youth Olympics. Scullion rode well throughout and finished safely in the pack on the day. Next weekend the action switches back to Mayo on Sunday with a big entry list expected for the Mayo League Race in Partry.

Five Western Lakes riders were in action in the Weller Cup race in Bohermeen, County Meath, on Sunday. In the Senior A and B category race Willie Connelly, Mark Quigley, and Padraig Marrey were in action with the Marrey finishing a superb third on the day. Also on Sunday, Joe Marrey and John Murphy finished well in the main group in the Senior C race. In the youths’ race Western Lakes club member Brendan Scullion took part in the under 16 category which acted as one of the qualifiers for the Youth Olympics. Scullion rode well throughout and finished safely in the pack on the day. Next weekend the action switches back to Mayo on Sunday with a big entry list expected for the Mayo League Race in Partry.

A good win and something to build on

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

For what it’s worth, and irrespective of what you might have heard on the streets since, I didn’t meet a single person who believed that Mayo would beat Galway before last Sunday’s game in Tuam. That is why that one point victory had people giddy with excitement after the match. It was an incredible result. Let’s be honest here for a minute. The form shown in Ballina exactly one week earlier against a mediocre Dublin outfit was to say the least very ordinary. Yet here, a week later, 14 of that very same starting 15 are brimming with confidence after taking the scalp of the form team of 2009. It’s not too difficult to analyse the reasons for the victory. Put the maroon and white of Galway in front of a green and red jersey and you have a different attitude and approach to the whole occasion. Clearly it’s a mindset. There is no doubt that there would have been lots of smiles, not to mention a bounce in the step of all who participated in the morale boosting victory last weekend. Because the win is worth an awful lot more than the two points on offer that more or less saw Mayo scramble away from the relegation zone and into mid- table that will surely guarantee Mayo division one football next year. This victory reminded everyone that the age-old rivalry that exists between these two teams is very much alive and well. Long may it continue! Both sides just love having a go at one another, out on the pitch and extending into the terraces too.

Reality bites for Galway

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Went to Omagh last Saturday night for the Tyrone v Derry game, it’s no joke of a trip from the city of the tribes and took the guts of four hours. Indeed!!! “Boo-hoo for you” - I hear you say. Get out the smallest violin in the country and we’ll play you a tune. “We’ve no sympathy for you, Silke. And you getting well paid to go”.

Fantastic four for Mayo

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Mayo 3-14
Sligo 1-8

Iorras dream dies at the hands of Ballymun

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Iorras Aontaithe 1
Ballymun United 2

Ballymun United 2

Mayo GAA Results

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Welcome Inn Senior Football League Division 1A:
Bohola Moy-Davitts 0-11, Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-8, Venue: Moy-Davitts, Round 1;

Bohola Moy-Davitts 0-11, Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-8, Venue: Moy-Davitts, Round 1;

Mayo Sports round up

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

Badminton
Celebrations in west Mayo

Holmes has his eye on Sligo

Fri, Mar 27, 2009

After the speeches and the euphoria had died down in the home dressing room, following Mayo's thrill-a-minute win over Roscommon in the Connacht under 21 semi-final, Pat Holmes was a happy man as his walking wounded were given treatment for injuries picked up over the course of 80 minutes of breakneck football.