Search Results for 'Michael Glavey'

I cannot wait for the Ballintubber and Corofin Connacht senior final on Sunday, it promises to be a real cracker. Corofin are massive favourites at 4/9 while Ballintubber are priced at a very generous 9/4. These odds simply don’t make sense. Ballintubber have beaten a team that played in an All-Ireland club final this year (Castlebar) and a team that won the All-Ireland the previous year (St Brigid’s), yet the bookmakers think it is not worth their while turning up. Corofin have shot the lights out against every team they have played winning every game by 10 points or more, their semi-final hammering of Aughawillan more embarrassing on Leitrim club football than complimentary of Galway’s status.

There’s been plenty of novel match ups in the history of the GAA, but this Sunday’s meeting of Achill and Oileain Arainn (Aran Islands) in the Connacht Club Junior Football Championship Final is probably one that will not be topped for a long while to come. Having two islands meet on the mainland for the title of being the best junior club in Connacht is going to be one of those games that will be talked about for many years to come. Of course if they wanted to be finicky the Galway outfit could probably claim to being the only true island team, with part of the parish of Achill stretching on to the main land and the Michael Davitt bridge joining it to the rest of the country. But enough of that geography talk, it is the football that really matters on Sunday.

Anytime you win a county senior title is a good time but there are certain times when it can be more favourable than others.

Ballyhaunis GAA club are most certainly on cloud nine at the moment. I can only imagine how tough it is trying to keep the hurling and football teams fresh as they are playing every other week. In all, 10 or so players are representing both teams so some serious negotiating has to be going on between the managers to make sure that the players are fresh for whichever code is on the following weekend. Their hurlers had a fantastic win last Sunday in Athleague and this Sunday it’s the footballers’ turn against tournament favourites St Croan’s in Hyde Park at 2pm. Kiltane’s victory over Boyle last year in Castlebar means it’s an away game for Ballyhaunis. I don’t imagine club officers would have it any other way and love the predicament they are in. Any time you are training for championship matches after the October Bank Holiday weekend means you have at the very least secured a county title for your club, and with wins for both the footballers and hurlers already in the provincial series it can only mean there will be a real adrenaline rush attending training. I experienced it twice as a player; it brings such a feel-good factor around your town or parish to be involved in the championship when the evenings are short. Players are probably and deservedly getting a little spoilt now, gear bags, training tops and polo shirts are more than likely been sponsored and to top it off they are probably been treated to some grub after training, which is ideal for the bonding of the group, that never happens unless you at least win your county title. Ballyhaunis will need to be on top of their game to win in Roscommon.

A meeting is to be held on Wednesday to look into the planning of a reunion for past pupils of Dean Kelly School, Athlone.