‘Let’s do it’ again Connacht

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

They do not come much bigger than this. The aristocrats of French rugby Toulouse take on Connacht in the Heineken Cup on Saturday in the Galway Sportsground (6pm) on a mission of revenge.

Mayo novice and underage championships under way

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

The 2013 Mayo Novice championship and underage tournament commenced last Saturday in the Peter Callaghan Centre Westport.

A good entry of underage and novice boxers weighed in for the competitions and two full days of boxing was required to complete the programme. Most of the boxers were stepping into the ring for the first time in competition, and in front of a packed gym it was a daunting experience for some of the competitors. There were 16 underage contests on the Saturday and weights that had three boxers involved, the best boxer of the bout went on to box the third boxer in that weight on the Sunday to give every entrant a contest. The Boy 1, 39kg is always a popular division and there were two quarter final contests on the programme Saturday.

Westport girls claim national title

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

The curtain finally came down on the FAI Post Primary Schools First Year Futsal finals on Wednesday last (December 4) in Franciscan College, Gormanston. The girls from Sacred Heart School in Westport put in some awesome performances throughout the day to claim their respective titles in fine style. This year’s format saw the participating schools play 15 minute games with schools playing each other twice, resulting in a total of six games each. Thus ensuring that top of the leader board status would guarantee the prestigious title. Some pulsating ties ensued as it was all to play for in the opening battles The girls’ section had a clear cut winner with the Westport girls proving decisive in front of goal. Seamas MacEachmharcaigh’s crew won all six games, scored 17 goals, and only conceded three times to claim top spot on the leader board with 12 points generated.

Mayo season starts with three games in ten days

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

Mayo will get the 2014 season under way five days later than initially announced, with the announcement on the county board Twitter feed on Wednesday evening that the FBD League game against NUIG would now take place on Friday January 10 in Elvery’s MacHale Park. Mayo will be in action again two days later against IT Sligo and then face Roscommon away the following Sunday, January 19. With Mayo on their well deserved team holiday at the start of the month, the fixture change was inevitable. The change will see Mayo GAA fans get to see the senior side in action twice in three days at the start of the month, and the county’s u21 side in action on the Saturday sandwiched between when they play in the Hastings Cup at home to Cavan on January 11. Mayo are hosting a fundraising banquet in the Knockranny House Hotel on Sunday December 22 to raise funds for the team holiday with tickets costing €100 per adult and €10 per child. To book your place contact Elverys MacHale Park on 094 9250487 or contact 087 6680115

Twin internationals for Mayo female boxers

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

Three Mayo female boxers will represent Ireland against Poland in historic twin boxing internationals this weekend. The St Brigid’s BC in Edenderry, Co Offaly, which is are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year, will host its first women’s boxing international in Ireland at the Hamlet Court Hotel in Kildare on Sunday December 8. Forty eight hours before the Kildare clash, a Belfast International Select goes head-to-head with the Poles at the Whiterock Leisure Centre in Belfast. Castlebar’s Grainne Gavin will compete at the 54kg weight at both events with Geesala boxer Ciara Ginty, the current AIBA World Junior champion and AIBA World Female Junior boxer of 2013, who will be between the ropes in Kildare alongside her, and Lycia Heneghan from the Aglish boxing club.

Connacht need to front up to test Toulouse again

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

It has been a tough week for Connacht Rugby. After an “embarrassing” away defeat to Edinburgh in the Pro 12, Connacht now head to France to face one of Europe’s most decorated clubs, Toulouse, in the Heineken Cup.

Crokes, lights, and the antics of Curran

Fri, Dec 06, 2013

As we expected Dr Crokes of Kerry won the Munster club title to set up an All-Ireland semi final with Castlebar Mitchels to be played next February. An old team mate of mine who now plays his club football in Clare told me last week that Cratloe had a fine team and were in no uncertain terms just going to make up the numbers. He advised me to have a bet on Cratloe using the handicap, as I was told there was no chance of them shipping a hiding, he was right and I didn’t listen. Cratloe, who boast seven of the Clare senior hurling team, threw the bookmakers’ odds out the window and went agonisingly close to causing an enormous upset. Any team with a backbone like that will be tough and in physically brilliant shape. I could only imagine the tension and excitement in the Castlebar camp as Cratloe took the lead with four minutes to go. Castlebar should not and will not fear anyone, but they would have loved to see Crokes who were going for a three in a row in Munster beaten. Crokes have an unbelievable team and I am sure they are thinking this is their best chance to win that elusive Andy Merrigan cup. I am sure they took their eye off the ball last Sunday and they got the fright they needed. I was very anxious to hear about Colm Cooper’s red card, to see if he was going to be suspended for the semi final against the Mitchels, thankfully it was just a second yellow. Part of me wanted him suspended (Castlebar would have a much better chance) but the football brain came into action and the most part of me wanted him available to see how he copes against a very good Castlebar defence. If Barry Moran appeals his red card (which he should) I hope it gets overturned as I fully believe his tackle on Karl Mannion merited a yellow card at worst. It would be better for football followers all over the country to see both teams going at it with a full panel to pick from. Dr Crokes players are household names at this stage, more well known than a lot of county players from outside division one. They have three current Kerry players in the Gooch, Kieran O’Leary, and Eoin Brosnan, and two other brilliant forwards in Brian Looney and Daithi Casey. It will be fascinating to see a brilliant forward line going up against a well oiled and organised backline next February, something has to give.

Never mind the rugby, Hyde Park was the place to be

Fri, Nov 29, 2013

While driving to Hyde Park in Roscommon last Sunday there were two things on my mind. The first, I was wondering what Santa Claus would bring me, the second, whether I would rather be at home watching the All Blacks against Ireland in the rugby where the All Blacks were bidding to make history by being the first team to go unbeaten in a calendar year. By all accounts the rugby was pulsating, but with GAA in the bloodstream I was definitely in the right place. The Connacht club final between reigning All- Ireland champions St Brigid’s and Mayo champions Castlebar Mitchels was one of the most intense and exciting games I was ever present at. It literally had everything. Brilliant goals, superb defending, disallowed scores, unreal goal keeping, dubious refereeing, and for the week that is in it a scene out of Monty Python when Shane Curran had to be man handled off the field, red cards, and last but by no means least, the last kick of the game levelling scores. I am sure everyone present will take a different memory home with them.

Rumley and Walsh to be honoured with Henry Downes award

Fri, Nov 29, 2013

Next Friday night (December 6) in the Welcome Inn Hotel the Mayo League will honour the best performers of the year at its annual awards night. The league has selected teams of the year across all five divisions of the Mayo League, from the Super League to League Two, and team of the year for the Masters competitions it runs. It will also announce on the night the player of the year in each division.

The Mayo League has also announced before the awards the joint winners of the prestigious Henry Downes Service to Football award, which this year goes to Tommy Rumley, Manulla, and Mick Walsh, Castlebar. These awards, introduced last year, are in honour of a man who dedicated so much of his life to the game in the county. Henry Downes served as chairman of the Mayo League from 1959 to 1989, an incredible length of time for any sporting volunteer which is unlikely to be repeated.

Carnacon on the drive for five

Fri, Nov 29, 2013

Familiar foes will square off in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick on Shannon on Sunday at 1.30pm, with the Dolores Tyrrell Cup up for grabs. For the second time in as many years, Mayo’s Carnacon will square off against Donaghmoyne from Monaghan for the right to be crowned the best club side in Ireland. The game also sees the meeting of the last two All Ireland champions with Carnacon preceding the Monaghan ladies as the holders of the title, having won their fourth All Ireland senior club title in 2011 with a win over Na Fianna from Dublin. While the Mayo ladies are going for their fifth national title on Sunday, the Monaghan ladies are looking for their fourth, having won the title in 2006 and 2009 to go with their win last year. The side from Farney County also have the upper hand over Carnacon when it comes to final meetings, having beaten the Mayo side twice on the big day, last year and back in 2006 when they claimed their first national senior crown.

Former Limerick hurler O'Connor appointed as Mayo hurling coach

Fri, Nov 29, 2013

The Mayo county board has ratified the appointment of former Limerick u21 hurling manager Leo O'Connor as Mayo hurling coach. O'Connor joins the Mayo hurling management team with fellow Limerick man Christy Phillips (manager) and Austin Kenny (selector) from Mayo champions Tooreen.

O'Connor first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick u21 hurling team. In 1987 he missed out on the county's Munster final triumph over Cork, but was included on the starting 15 for the subsequent All-Ireland final. A 2-15 to 3-6 defeat of Galway gave O'Connor a coveted All-Ireland u21 hurling medal.