Search Results for 'Christy Phillips'

The Mayo senior hurlers get their National Hurling League campaign under way on Sunday, when they head north to take on Donegal in their opening game in Division 2B of the league.

With just over a week until the Mayo senior hurling team start their 2015 campaign in the Connacht Hurling League away to Leitrim on Saturday January 3 they are looking for a new manager after Christy Phillips resigned last week.

For their efforts this summer three Mayo players will pick up All Star awards at tonight’s banquet. The ever reliable Keith Higgins picked up his third All Star in a row for his displays this summer after being selected in the corner back position.

Mayo manager James Horan said this week that his players and management have not wanted for anything from the county board during his tenure and they have a very good working relationship. Speaking this week he said, “I’ve been in this job four years and to be honest, the players and the management have not wanted for anything really from the county board. I know, no more than the managment team, they can get a lot flack and abuse. We’ve had our ups and downs for sure, but we’ve worked very, very well. Vincent Neary has come in and is exceptional and works very well with us. So overall, very happy with the relationship with the county board. Everyone has to be pointing the one way for a unit to be successful, but we’re getting there.”

James Horan sprang a surprise with the team he announced for Sunday’s Connacht semi-final against Roscommon this week when he opted to hand Conor O’Shea his first championship start at centre-half-forward alongside teenager Diarmuid O’Connor who will be making his second championship start after making his debut against New York at the start of last month.

“There’s nothing won yet!” said Christy Phillips this week to the Mayo Advertiser after we congratulated him on his team’s win over Wicklow in the quarter-final of the Christy Ring Cup.

Tomorrow afternoon the Mayo senior hurling team put their season on the line when they make the trip to Arklow to take on Wicklow in the quarter-final of the Christy Ring Cup at 2.30pm. Mayo manager Christy Phillips told the Mayo Advertiser this week that he believes that his team have what they need to make the breakthrough on Saturday and reach the semi-final of the competition for the first time in a number of years.

Mayo will still go into the quarter-finals of the Christy Ring Cup in a few weeks despite their narrow defeat at the hands of Meath on Saturday afternoon in a blustery MacHale Park. A late free from Meath captain Stephen Clynch at the end of normal time was the difference between the two sides on the day. The Royals number six showed nerves of steel to stroke the ball right over the black spot under pressure to send Meath straight into the semi-finals of the competition. Mayo did have a chance right at the death, but Sean Regan was unable to direct his sideline cut from 21 meters out under the stand over the bar.

The Mayo senior hurlers will pass the half-way mark of their league season on Sunday when they take on Down in Páirc Esler in Newry at 2pm. Christy Phillip’s side will be looking to bounce back from a five-point defeat at the hands of Meath in Trim last time. That defeat leaves Mayo with a notch in both the win and loss columns so far and has them locked in a four-way tie on two points each with Fingal, Wicklow, and Meath from the opening two rounds. Sunday’s opponents are sitting two of the division 2b table with two wins from two having seen off Wicklow and Armagh. Their win over the Orchard County in the first round was particularly impressive where they ran up 2-20 on their hosts in the Athletic Grounds.

GAA: National Hurling League