Lam urges injury-struck Connacht to give it one big push before autumn break
Fri, Nov 01, 2013
n the back of another "gut wrenching" loss, Connacht must now regroup to host title-seeking Glasgow Warriors at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (5pm).
Read more ...Kiltane go looking for final spot
Fri, Nov 01, 2013
Winning the Mayo intermediate title this year was number one on Kiltane’s list of objectives at the start of the year, they achieved that a number of weeks ago and a summer season of senior championship football now beckons for the north Mayo men. But winning the Mayo title was not the be all and end all of this team’s ambitions and they have taken to the Connacht championships with gusto, and on Sunday they will return to MacHale Park looking for a place in the Connacht final and put themselves in with a chance of doing what both Davitts and Charlestown have done in the two previous years, top off a great season with provincial honours. Then come the spring time a crack at an All Ireland series could await them and set them up for 2014 in style.
Read more ...Cill Chomain take on Galway champions for final spot
Fri, Nov 01, 2013
The first game of Sunday’s double header in MacHale Park sees Cill Chomain look to complete the first of a north Mayo provincial double in the Connacht Championship. The Mayo junior champions take on Galway side Headford at 2pm in the county ground, with a place in the Connacht final at stake.
Kieran Moran’s men battled through a tough Mayo championship to claim the title with a final win against Ardnaree after having to go two rounds with Louisburgh in the semi-final in the same venue. Moran’s men will be hoping that familiarity with the venue will be another advantage to them on Sunday against Tom Flynn’s north Mayo side.
Read more ...
Horan staying on for 2014
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
The Mayo county board confirmed on Wednesday evening that James Horan has pledged his future to the Mayo senior team for next season. The Ballintubber clubman held his second meeting with county board officials in eight days on Wednesday night. Speculation that there would be a shake-up in the management backroom team was confirmed with the news that James Nallen would not be part of the setup next year. The Crossmolina man had been part of Horan's management teams since he was appointed to the role in October 2010.
Read more ...Bringing it all back home
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
The dividing lines are fluid when it comes to the boundary, fluid enough to see two brothers togging out for opposing teams on Sunday, but one thing that is not fluid is the desire of both Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy to take home the Paddy Moclair Cup with them on Sunday evening. Both of this year’s finalists have got there on merit, one was expected to be still standing here, while the others dusted themselves off after heavy defeat to the other in the group stages and have battled back to show their true worth.
Read more ...Final day drama to sort out the Super League title
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
There will be plenty of drama in the Elverys Super League on Sunday when the final round of games kick-off, with both Ballina Town and Ballyheane having a chance to claim the title. Last Sunday Fergal Forde’s men from north Mayo had a chance to claim the title when they played their catch up game against Westport United, but last years champions were not in any mood to just let Ballina Town take their crown and ran out 3-0 winners against them in the Sportspark.
That win sets up this weekend’s round of games very nicely, with Westport United also set to have a big day as they travel to Quigley Park to take on Ballyheane, while Ballina Town are making their way to Celtic Park to take on Castlebar Celtic. Both teams are sure to have their own men at their rivals grounds for updates on how the games are going. As it stands Ballina Town have a one point advantage going into the game, so it is all in their own hands. If the win the title is theirs, but a draw or a defeat and win for Ballyheane and they take the title. It has been one of the most exciting races in recent league memory, with Ballyheane’s re-emergence to a Super League powerhouse after a year out of the top flight something many would not have predicted at the start of the season. The Heane have gone through this year’s league campaign unbeaten to date, with their tight defence one of their bedrock of their title run, conceding only 10 goals in the league so far, eight fewer that their fellow title contenders. Ballina have lost three times this year so far, the most recent coming last weekend when the Covies put three past them thanks to efforts from Dave Cameron, JP O’Gorman, and Michael O’Rourke. The possibility of a play-off between the Ballina Town and Ballyheane is also looming, if Ballina Town lose to Celtic and Ballyheane draw with Westport United, leaving the two sides locked on 28 points. It is lining up to be a nerve wracking day of football in two grounds within a few miles of each other.
Read more ...Tangled up in Blue
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
It’s been a hectic year for Aidan O’Shea that has seen him line out in the colours of his club Breaffy, his college DIT, his county Mayo, and just last weekend his country, in the first Ireland international rules test against Australia. This Sunday his focus is very much on one thing, winning his first and his club’s first senior county championship. The towering midfielder wasn’t long back from his international rules duty when he spoke to the Mayo Advertiser ahead of Sunday’s game and kicking things off he said the whole international rules adventure was an enjoyable experience. “It went our way, it was something different, something that I wanted to get ticked off. We were (better than Australia) in the first two quarters, but they seemed to come together a bit after half time and they were more competitive. But it was an enjoyable game.”
Read more ...Things have changed
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
Castlebar Mitchels have been going the extra mile this year in their quest to win their first county championship in 20 years, according to Richie Feeney. The team that have lost two of the last three county finals have been working hard to find those extra couple of inches to get themselves over the gain line and back to the promised land, he says. “I think the effort the lads have put in this year, is more effort that they’ve put in, in the last three or four years from what I’ve seen anyway.” Getting players to commit to stay around during the summer when the championship can enter a hiatus and not lot of football is played is another thing that has been a great boost to the cause this year he says. “I suppose the boys decided to stay around, there were a number of lads who went off travelling the last few years and things like that. Two of the boys went, but they came straight back into it and only missed one game and everyone decided to put the shoulder to the wheel and give it a good rattle.”
Read more ...Castlebar hold the aces if they can quell Breaffy’s midfield
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
All roads lead to Castlebar on Sunday for Mayo’s showcase football final. The proximity of the two clubs with brothers and cousins being on opposite teams makes it intriguing to say the least. Barry Moran being fit for the Mitchels is a must to combat the power of the O’Shea brothers. I expect Castlebar to have the resources to shut out the threat of Alan Durcan, Liam Irwin, and co, and don’t expect them to get the same freedom they were afforded in the semi-final win over Charlestown. However Breaffy have a mean back line themselves and a very hard working half forward line to boot. I still think Castlebar hold the aces up front, and in Neil Douglas, Neil Lydon, and Richie Feeney they have three top drawer forwards. It is simple, the mid field battle decides who wins the game. If Castlebar break even in the middle their superior forward line will see them through. The bookies see this as a foregone conclusion, I am not so sure it’s that straightforward. Castlebar at 10/11 to start at -2 is the bet of the weekend.
A brilliant first half display by Kiltane in the Connacht Intermediate championship saw them ease past a very disappointing Menlough of Galway. That is two years in a row Mayo champions have easily disposed of their Galway counterparts. I expect big things from Kiltane this year and even next, and they possess a pretty lethal forward in Mikey Sweeney. Davitts’ run in this competition two years ago plucked Michael Conroy and Colm Boyle from the inter-county wilderness, culminating with Boyle playing for his country last weekend. Who knows we may see Mikey Sweeney in the Mayo colours next year.
Read more ...Simple twist of fate
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
It is just another of the intriguing twists to a game already full of possibilities on Sunday that the Breaffy manager Declan O’Reilly will be in the blue corner after soldiering his way through his own playing days with the Mitchels. Much like on the field on Sunday where two brothers will be lining out on opposite sides, brothers of his own donned the blue of Breaffy after they relocated to Breaffy a few decades ago, while he continued to wear the red of Mitchels of their youth. Declan’s father Séan is another Mitchels stalwart having been chairman of the town team during the 70s, among other roles. But come throw in Sunday, Declan will have both feet firmly in the Breaffy camp as he explained to the Mayo Advertiser this week. “Yeah, it’s unusual, but that’s sport and that’s the way it goes. Breaffy contacted me earlier in the year and they asked me would I take over for the year, and it really was a challenge, and I said it’s a challenge I’m grateful for and I’ll take on. As I said to you before, I know the Mitchels lads well and I’ve nothing but the height of respect for them, and the way they conduct themselves and the way they play football is top class. But I signed up for Breaffy this year and it’s my obligation to see it through, in particular because I asked so much of the Breaffy players.” As for the day and the event, it is something he is chomping at the bit to get into. “It’s a good day for the club, it’s a good day for the players, a county final hasn’t come around before, so we’re looking forward to it immensely.”
Read more ...On the road again
Fri, Oct 25, 2013
Castlebar Mitchels’ manager Pat Holmes is facing into his second county final in three years on Sunday which will also be the club’s third crack at the title in four. The All Ireland u21 winning manager from 2006 was also part of the last team from the county town to taste success in this competition 20 years ago, alongside a number of players with long roots to Sunday’s final, including his opposite number Declan O’Reilly who was a member of the panel and Tom O’Reilly whose two sons will line up in opposite camps come Sunday.
Read more ...