European Silver medal for Eoghan Grady

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Eoghan Grady, a member of Castlebar Swimming Club was selected to represent Ireland at the European Junior Lifesaving Championships which took place in the Adriatic resort of Riccione, Italy last weekend. He secured a silver medal in the beach run and surf swim at his debut in European competition.

Big turn out at Charlestown 10k

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

September in the rain marked the second running of the Charlestown 10k on Saturday evening. The recent good weather turned colder, wetter, and breezier, but the rain held off during the race and conditions were good for running. Christina Duffy and her team, assisted by John Roddy, put on another enjoyable and impressively organised event. They provided an excellent well marked and marshalled course all the way from the starting line at Lowpark to refreshment tables in the CBD sports complex, for which the race acted as a fund raiser. John Byrne, John Mannion, and Paul Conlon led David Tiernan out of town, as the field headed for Cloonaweema. Jonathon Deane, Thomas Kelly, Brendan Gill, and Anto Devaney kept them in view until they crossed over to the old Dublin road at halfway near Gowel. By then Byrne had a few metres on Mannion, with Tiernan and Conlon together over a minute behind. Ann Lennon had John Nolan for company as she had in Balla 10k and Claremorris four mile the previous week. John Byrne stretched his lead gradually from 6k and crossed the line in 32.32, a new course record, to record his first league race win since 2011. “I thought I’d never see that time again”, he said afterwards. This marks a brilliant return to form for Byrne, who has been at the forefront of Mayo athletics for over 15 years. Mannion finished second in 34.10 with Tiernan third in 34:51, a new PB and beating his 2012 winning time by over a minute. Ann Lennon 37:47 – a brilliant performance by the National W45 half marathon champion, and Colette Tuohy in 39:20 finished first and second in the women’s category. Standards were high, with more than double the number finishing in under 40 minutes compared to 2012. There were a number of PBs joyfully celebrated at the finish line. The road League continues in east Mayo in less than three weeks with the Ballyhaunis 8k on September 28, followed a week later by the final race, Breaffy 10k on October 6.

Mayo men make their mark in Sligo

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

There were a number of Mayo competitors in action last Sunday in the Sligo Loose Surface Autocross, achieving some impressive results.

Mayo League Soccer Fixtures

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Umbro FAI Junior Cup Round 1
(At 5.30pm)

Autumn competitions get swinging

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Balla
The team of PJ Brett and Mick Mellett won the yellow ball competition last weekend, Margaret Walsh and Marie Flanagan finished in second with the duo of Walter Barrett and Padraic Cuffe finishing in third place. Cuffe also landed a hole in one on the sixth.

Hurlers put on a great show for all

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

I know it sounds like an old cliché but tickets for this All-Ireland final do seem to be like gold dust. If I believe everything I’m told some Mayo folk are willing to give limbs and/or offspring just to get their hands on one. Never mind a Willy Wonka golden ticket, just give me a ticket for the All-Ireland seems to be the message. Even with our minors through to the final there seems to be a scarcity in the county. The main reason for this is because of our opponents, they will have an even bigger problem than us because of their large following. Any neutral county players I spoke to in the last few weeks don’t want to offload their tickets as they feel this game could surpass the semi final encounter between the Dubs and Kerry and want to be there to watch it. Spare a thought for Paddy McNicholas, Vincent Neary and the county board who have the grim task of distributing the tickets to success-starved Mayo fans.

We got a real glimpse of All-Ireland final fever last Sunday. We thought the Dublin Kerry football semi-final would not be surpassed this year for excitement but the hurling final between Cork and Clare brought the word dramatic to a whole new level. It was enthralling stuff by two teams who went hell for leather and despite Clare being the better team they will be glad of a replay. It would have been very unjust if Clare had lost that game but the same old rule applies - goals win matches, well almost win matches, and to think a corner back from Clare’s Domhnall O’Donovan who never scored a championship point in his life, was the hero albeit 30 seconds after the final whistle should have blown. I don’t think anybody outside of Cork will begrudge them the draw. If there is any lesson for us to learn from this it’s to make sure your free takers are up to speed and they bring their A-game with them. Clare’s Colin Ryan ended the game with 12 points, despite missing two chances in the second half, and Cork’s Pa Horgan scored 11 points and I don’t think he missed a chance from a dead ball. It was a master class in free taking.

Football fever sees plenty of talk before the final

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

With the All Ireland final not to long away now, there’s not much else being talked about around the county. If you’re someone who is looking for some expert opinion on the game over the next week, there’s plenty of opportunities to hear some expert views.

On Saturday night in Ballina, the Stephenites will be hosting a preview night in clubhouse from 8.30pm where Terry Reilly from the Irish Examiner will put Kevin McStay, Liam McHale and Eamon O’Hara through the wringer. Admission is €10 and there will be a raffle on the night open to those in attendance for All Ireland final tickets.

Scahill seals it for Mayo

Sun, Sep 08, 2013

Mayo 1-15
Monaghan 0-8

White Tigers head to Belgium

Fri, Sep 06, 2013

For the first time in almost a decade; White Tiger Martial Arts will enter a team in the Flanders Cup in Beveren-Waas, Belgium. This event has grown into one of the top points fighting tournaments in Europe in recent years. Training under the guidance of point fighting instructor, Damien Gormley, team mates Alan Lyons, Emma Flannery, Gearoid Cramp, Rory Dravins and Davitt Neary have been preparing for this event for the last three months, and as departure time draws near, the excitement is building. For a group of young people aged between 10 and 15, it is a rewarding opportunity to travel to Belgium and represent their country at a very prestigious event in their chosen sport.

Canty wins De Care four mile event

Fri, Sep 06, 2013

Like many races these days, the winners of the De Care Sport-a -Smile Claremorris 4 mile were clear of the field after the first mile. Due to the volume of events on the calendar, seven races last weekend in Connacht - battles to the line are rare, which reduces competitiveness and lessens excitement for participants and spectators alike. This is not to take away from the efforts of race winner Michael Canty (Ballina AC) and the women's winner Ann Lennon (Mayo AC) who led from the start, while David Tiernan, Brendan Gill and Anto Devaney stuck together and sorted out the top places. Colette Tuohy had a steady run to finish second woman. Both Paula Prendergast (Dublin 10 mile) and Mary Gleeson (Longford Half Marathon) had hard races the previous weekend and filled the third and fourth spots. Finishing times were down due mainly to the twisty terrain on an uneven gravel surface. The race route and distance were changed a few days prior which may also have been a factor, four miles is rarely run these metric days. Mayo AC were the winners in most categories. This weekend should be a bigger event as race four of Mayo AC Road League moves to the new kid on the block the Charlestown 10k. Again, everyone is welcome to run, walk, or jog on a loop course which has proved popular and is relatively flat and fast. The Charlestown 10k organisers are looking for a big turnout. See wwwmayoac.com for full details. Race entry on runireland.com until today, Friday September 6 and on the day at race HQ.

Mullen wins at Sunset Rally

Fri, Sep 06, 2013

Mayo and District Motorsport Club member Darragh Mullen, from Ballisodare, has made it two wins in a row now for himself and his driver, Derek McGeehan, in their Mini World Rally Car, after their success on the night stages of the Sunset Rally held in the forests around Draperstown, Northern Ireland, on Friday night last.

NYPD and the gardai to meet in Castlebar

Fri, Sep 06, 2013

An Garda Siochana will take on the New York Police Department in a boxing tournament in The Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Saturday, October 5. This is a long standing and prestigious fixture. The Garda team have been travelling to New York since 1986. Last year the Garda team hosted the NYPD for the first time ever. The 15 person NYPD group are travelling this year as part of the Gathering Celebrations and will be in Ireland from October 4 to 7 for the events.

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