Connacht ready to qualify for quarter-finals

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

Connacht's European qualification hopes will be determined tomorrow night when they host Dax in the final pool fixture at the Galway Sportsground (6.30pm).

Needing a win, and possibly a bonus-point, to qualify for the quarter-finals, Connacht’s front-line players will return to action for this ultimate European Challenge Cup pool fixture.

Loftus Recycling Star in Sligo

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

Loftus Recycling 93
Sligo All Stars 76

Sports Shorts

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

Run for Fun in Castlebar
If you're looking for an event to kick-start a healthy new-year, the West of Ireland Fun Run is one to remember. Taking place on Saturday January 31 in Castlebar, the 10km fun run is the perfect opportunity to get active, get fit, and have fun.

Testing yourself against the best

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

During my first year in charge of Mayo in 1995/6 it was decided that we should take that year’s national league campaign seriously. We were playing in Division 3 at the time and I can assure you we had some right battles up and down the country squeezing narrow victories over some mediocre opposition in order to secure promotion. We made the play offs and managed to take a major scalp in the quarter final with a great victory over Meath in Hyde Park, Roscommon. We went to Croke Park to play Derry in the semi-final and were comprehensively beaten by what was then an exceptionally talented Derry side. In fact we decided before we left Dublin after that defeat that we would work our socks off for a few weeks and look for another game against the same opposition in order to benchmark and progress.

Roscommon and Galway in early season showdown

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

This Sunday in Tuam Stadium a Roscommon team that is beginning to improve and show some signs of unity and purpose under the stewardship of their great white managerial hope — Fergal O'Donnell — take on Liam Sammon’s exciting cocktail of youth and experience in the FBD league final. After the managerial trauma of the last few years culminating in John Maughan’s well publicised resignation last season, all Roscommon supporters will hope that O’Donnell who had a stunning success with the county minors in 2006 will provide a genuine stabilising influence for the county team in the coming years.

In any dealings I have had with Fergal, either on the field of play or off, I have found him to be a tremendous guy, sound as a bell in local parlance, and he may be just what the doctor ordered to bring Roscommon back to being a solid, competitive, hard-working and ambitious team. We wish him and his panel well for 2009. There is also no shortage of optimism in the city of the Tribes as Liam Sammon’s charges strolled through the FBD group stages without breaking a sweat.

Killala look to take out Liverpool challengers

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

On Sunday, Killala will look to book their place in the All Ireland Junior Football championship final when they take on Liverpool side John Mitchels in Carrick on Shannon. This will be the second time in two years the north Mayo men have been within touching distance of Croke Park and the All Ireland final. In 2006 they fell short against Greencastle at this stage and they will be aiming to put things to right this weekend.

Mayo make their mark, as clubs prepare for Connacht Cup

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

The Mayo league made their mark last weekend when they comprehensively beat the United Churches Football League in the last eight of the Oscar Traynor Trophy by 3-0. Setting up a February 15 clash with Athletic Union League in the semi-final at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh. In horrendous weather conditions the Mayo League side were comfortable winners leading the game 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from Westport United’s Martin Geraghty and Castlebar Celtic’s Sean McHale. The final nail in the UCL coffin was drilled home by Stevie Gavin from the penalty spot with time almost up.

Success for Ballina AC and Border Ramblers AC vets at Weekend

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Ernie Caffrey (Ballina AC) won three medals at the masters indoors track and field championships at Nenagh on Sunday. Competing in the V8 (o70) category he won gold in the 60 metres and shot putt, and silver in the 200 metres. Also at Nenagh, Patrick Moran (Border Ramblers AC) won gold in the V4 (o50) combined events pentathlon on Saturday and on Sunday in the masters indoors he won gold in both the 60 and 200 metres, and silver in the long jump.

Sports Shorts

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Western Lakes Cycling
Western Lakes Cycling club enrolment night takes place at the cycling centre on Thursday January 29 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The club welcomes all new members from youths to elders. Go along and join one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland which can be practised at any age. Every Monday night a circuit class is run from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, catering for all abilities, all you need is suitable clothing, a towel, and water. Spinning classes take place every Thursday from 7pm and 7.55pm, and 8.05pm to 9pm open to all adults men and women, bring your own bike or use a club bike. Both classes work on strength and cardiovascular exercise and help with weight control. The cycling centre is on the Kilmaine road underneath the water towers. Supporting fitness classes at the cycling centre helps keep the centre viable. For more details contact Padraig @ 087 7992857.

Getting the most out of the FBD

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Isn’t it a long season for our inter-county footballers when you consider they had their first match of the year last Sunday week, and some or most of them will be involved at either club or county level for another nine or 10 months. I know that the footballers who take their preparation seriously rarely take a week off, and during those two months of so called inactivity at the end of the year will undertake a maintenance programme so as to not lose their superior levels of fitness. It is very easy to pick these guys out if you attend early season matches as they are normally the players that catch the eye. Pat Kelly, Austin O’Malley, Alan Dillon, and Peadar Gardiner are players that spring to mind immediately when I think of players that live as close to a monastic lifestyle as is possible for young men these days. That is one of the primary reasons why they are right up there when it comes to selecting man of the match performances in the FBD league and early rounds of the National Football league.

Dire Late Late Show falls flat for GAA celebration

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Like many other sports fans I am a big admirer of much of the material produced in the RTE sports department on both TV and radio. Programmes on television like The Sunday Game, The Premiership, coverage of the rugby championship, the Olympics, World Cups, and the like are usually very professionally done and provide a lot of quality entertainment. My licence fee goes out by standing order every August and I have no real gripe with the television directors/producers who earn their crust out in Montrose. They do their job, and many of them do it very well. In our household we are becoming more radio than TV people anyway — old age and trying to set a good example to the children are taking their toll; I find myself listening to Morning Ireland and Drive Time much more now, sitting in traffic, keeping up to date with all the inward bound cut-backs, pay-cuts, or independent TD allowances that are indeed “entitlements” for the chosen few. Heaven.

Ideally I would prefer to keep a positive seam in this column and I’d like to point out that I think that Pat Kenny is a superb radio interviewer and presenter, but Jumping Jack Flash, do I find him hard to take on the Late Late Show, (I did say ideally). He is just so leaden and it all seems such hard work that it makes me feel uncomfortable. I find myself switching channels just to stop myself cringing on his behalf. However, even that constant viewpoint did not prepare me for the dreadful and abysmal effort that was trotted out last Friday night as a so-called celebration of the GAA’s 125 years. It was a shocker. A genuine shocker.

Mayo wrap up FBD with visit of Rossie's

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Mayo will entertain Roscommon in their final FBD League game of the season in Ballyhaunis on Sunday. Gollowing on from last weekend’s comprehensive win over a poor Sligo IT side John O’Mahony will be hoping that his side can wrap up their warm up to the league with a second win on the bounce.

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