Mayo athletes shine in Dublin Marathon
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
The 43rd Annual Hollymount Road Races take place on Sunday November 9. The 3km plus course is a familiar testing one, with a stiff uphill finish along the main street in the village. Three laps make up the men's 10km, while the women just do one in their 3km, race. Many famous names in Irish athletics have done battle here over the years and once again a top class field is expected from clubs around the province and further afield as well as the traditional coachload from Liverpool. Of course individuals are heartily welcome too. The race format has not changed much over the years, and is typical of many races around the country that originated in the 60s and 70s. The programme is: 1pm: U17 boys/girls 3km; 1.30pm: women's 3km, various master's categories. Entries (€10) /changing/post race presentation in Community Centre. Contact: Sean Reilly 094 954 0110, 086 840 2679
Read more ...Mayo squad announced for Oscar Traynor Trophy
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
Mayo Oscar Traynor team manager, Declan Kilkelly, announced his squad of players for the forthcoming group one games in the National Oscar Traynor Trophy competition. The panel includes four new players (Emmet Peyton, James Jennings, Paul Walsh and David Reilly) receiving their first call up along with another three players who have been added to last year’s squad (Ronan O’Boyle, Andy Neary and Gerry McLoughlin). Mayo will be competing in group one with the Inishowen League (away) and the Galway League (home).
Kilkelly stated, “I am very happy with the squad which we have selected, and absolutely delighted with the positive response and attitude of the players. I have watched several games over the course of the season along with my management team, and this squad I believe represents the best talent available in the county. All players recommended by their clubs were seen either by my management team or myself. We have gone this season for a good mixture of experience and strength along with the players that have been performing well on the field of play. Having spoken to all of the players over the past couple of days, I am fully convinced of their commitment to the squad and the team, and they are fully prepared to put in the work and effort in preparation for the games ahead.
Read more ...The effect a new manager can have
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
Have you ever wondered about the effect a manager can have on a group of footballers? Let me highlight just one example of how a single individual has transformed the fortunes and the mood of a club in the space of a week. We are witnessing an astonishing turnaround in the fortunes of Spurs in a matter of days, since the arrival of new manager, Harry Redknapp. I take a casual interest in the fortunes of this particular team as my wife Audrey is a lifelong supporter of the Spurs. In the last few months we witnessed one of the biggest clubs in England with big star players struggling in the relegation zone of the Premier League and facing relegation if the fortunes of the club didn’t improve immediately. Harry arrives on the scene and within days these underperforming stars are like men inspired. They grabbed their second thrilling comeback in five days last weekend, this time against table toppers Liverpool. I am perplexed and slightly intrigued as to how Harry has got them into a team of believers, with the mood of the club changed considerably in the space of a few days. People within the club have suggested that the fun has returned to the training ground and now everyone feels part of the team. Another suggested that they are now treated with respect. Harry apparently told them they were good players! This would suggest that previous management didn’t tell them that! Under previous manager Ramos a number of first team regulars were banished to the reserves without explanation, in the process undermining the morale and camaraderie within the whole group. There is a lesson here for all managers. If you lose the dressing room, in other words the very people you are expected to inspire and develop into a winning team, they will lose confidence in your ability to lead them. This should be the signal for you to walk.
Read more ...Kevin Walsh takes up the management challenge
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
It came as somewhat of a surprise to many people that Galway’s triple all-star Kevin Walsh, was ratified this week as the new manager at senior level with the Sligo footballers for 2009.
Walsh, will also be in charge of the county’s U-21 side for the coming year. The double all-Ireland winner in 1998 and 2001 is a hugely popular figure in Connacht footballing circles but he has limited experience at management level and from that perspective it is a brave move by the Sligo county board. Admittedly the 39-year-old former Garda has been in charge of the Aran Island junior “A” footballers this season in Galway and has been a selector with Connacht and John O’Mahony for the last few years. However, his only inter-county role was when he was involved with the Galway ladies’ footballers a few years ago. And it will be a big step up as regards making his first foray into senior inter-county management with the 2007 Connacht champions. Indeed he faces a massive challenge in the season ahead.
Read more ...Ballaghaderreen look to next level
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
After finally fulfilling the promise of the past number of years and sequestering the Moclair Cup in east Mayo for the winter, Ballaghaderreen look to take their next step on the road to greater success this weekend. On Sunday at 2.30pm they will enter Markievicz Park to take on Sligo Champions Eastern Harps in the Connacht SFC semi-final in what promises to be a intriguing encounter between the two border clubs.
Read more ...Mayo sides look to hit Monaghan clubs for three
Fri, Nov 07, 2008
It’s semi-final time this weekend in the VHI Ladies’ Club Championships and three Mayo champions at every grade have made their way through the Connacht stages to be only one game away from their respective finals. Standing in their way are the three clubs from the Farney county, with two of the Mayo sides getting the advantage of staying at home while the other must make the trip to Ulster.
The current All Ireland senior club champions Carnacon will be hosting Donaghmoyne in Clogher on Sunday in what looks on paper like a thrilling encounter. Carnacon, who were red hot favourites to see off Roscommon challengers with ease in the Connacht final, were given a serious shock by the Roscommon girls who really put it up to them and this weekend they will have to be in top form ahead of the visit of the Dunaghmoyne girls.
Read more ...Mayo athletes selected for international cross county races
Fri, Oct 31, 2008
The Home Countries International Masters Cross Country races take place this year at Singleton Park, Swansea in South Wales on Saturday November 15. Following the Irish Masters team trials, which were incorporated in the Gerry Farnan five mile XC at the Phoenix Park last week,two Mayo AC athletes have been selected on the Irish team. They are Ronnie Naylor from Ballina and Carracastle's Tom Hunt. Both of them were part of Mayo AC's gold medal winning Masters team in the National Half Marathon Championships in Waterford last month, and were also individual medallists, Ronnie winning silver in the O50 category, while Tom won bronze O60.
Read more ...Mayo sides need to pick up the pace after the break
Fri, Oct 31, 2008
It’s must win time for all three of the Mayo clubs in the Connacht Junior League this weekend. After the last few rounds have seen them all stumble out of contention for the title and left them scrapping around to stay in the race for All Ireland Junior Cup place for next season. And unless there is a draw one of the three Mayo sides’ losing run will continue into the next round of fixtures. This weekends round of games features a crunch all Mayo derby in north Mayo where Ballina will host Westport.
Read more ...Airing our laundry in public again
Fri, Oct 31, 2008
The great organisation that is the GAA has traditionally had a wonderful way of resolving disputes within the confines of its ranks, more often than not away from the glaring eyes of the media. However in these past few weeks and days we have witnessed some quite bizarre happenings within the GAA world that will surely have rocked the traditionalists of our game back on their heels.
Read more ...Connacht look to pick up where they left off in ‘69
Fri, Oct 31, 2008
Over the past few weekends there has been much made of the huge decline in spectator interest in the Railway Cup.
Read more ...Coyle opponent named for his hometown debut
Fri, Oct 31, 2008
Birmingham’s Delroy “Sweet D” Mitchell is promising an uncomfortable homecoming for Henry Coyle when the two clash in a light middleweight 10 rounder at the Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night on November 15. Coyle, the “Western Warrior” from Geesala in County Mayo, relocated to Chicago last year to launch his pro career having been Irish Senior Champion as an amateur. He returns to his native county on November 15 for his first professional fight on Irish soil as the chief support to Bernard Dunne who takes on world rated Mexican Eduardo Garcia.
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