Search Results for 'Stephen Carolan'

Burrishoole started off this year as favourites following last year’s disappointment of losing out to Tourmakeady in the intermediate final. But they were given one hell of a scare by Hollymount-Carramore at the quarter final stage and needed two games to get over the south Mayo men. This Sunday they will not be taking anything for granted when they take on Ballyhaunis at the semi-final stage. Ballyhaunis have been impressive all throughout the championship seeing off fellow semi-finalists Parke in the group stages, along with Achill and Moy Davitts, before they had three points to spare over Belmullet in the last eight. However this is probably where the story will end for this season for Frank Browne’s men. Burrishoole picked themselves up and got back on track in their quarter final replay and they are still smarting from last year’s final defeat. Jason Doherty, Enda McManamon, Shane McDermott, and James Moran will be players that Colm Mac’ will be relying on having a big game on Sunday, and if they do the men from the east will find it very difficult to live with the McGovern Park side.

With dreams of Sam, put to one side for another year last weekend. It is back to the real heart of the GAA this weekend when the Mayo club championships thunder back into action at the quarter final stage. McHale Park on Saturday and Sunday is the place to be with a double header on the first day and the Sabbath day serving up a triple header of action in the county ground.

Stephen Carolan, a work colleague in Mayo County Council, called me a few weeks ago to arrange a chat with me to discuss the topic ‘Mayo GAA as a stimulator of economic activity’. I am struggling a little to come up with some ideas yet I would welcome the chance to sit and discuss the issue due to the importance of the topic. I think the best way to come up with some initiatives is to pull those interested in making a contribution into a room for an hour or two to discuss. It is amazing to think what might come out of such a discussion like that when like minded individuals get around a table. It is a crucial issue in the current situation we find ourselves in as there is a real danger that we will lose some of our finest players to emigration.

The make-up of the Mayo GAA Strategic Action Steering Group, and the timetable it will follow, have been announced. The thrust of the Strategic Action Group’s work is to look at 10 headings with a view to producing approximately six concrete recommendations per heading. Sub-committees are currently being established for each of those headings, and the chairpersons have been appointed, contact e-mail address are available on www.mayogaa.com

Iorras Aontaithe made the long trip home from the Old Head of Kinsale last Sunday evening in buoyant mood after seeing off the challenge of Kinsale in the seventh round of the FAI Junior Cup and booking their place in the last eight.

“It’s the waiting that’s the worst part, you are always looking forward to the next game after you win the last, but it’s been the waiting for the game that’s been the hardest thing.” Well the waiting is almost over for Iorras Aontaithe and their player/manager Eric Reilly as this Sunday they make the trip to Limerick to take on Fairview Rangers with a place in the last four of the FAI Junior Cup up for grabs.

There is not much to be said about Iorras Aontaithe’s run to the semi-final that hasn’t been said before. The north Mayo men who looked to be in free fall midway through the Super League season last summer, pulled themselves together in the home straight and pulled themselves clear of the relegation quagmire. Since then they have gone on to show the true quality that the Barony men possess, navigating eight rounds of the FAI Junior Cup to arrive in this Sunday’s semi-final. In a sort of homecoming Iorras will welcome Ballymun United to the home of Mayo soccer, Milebush, on Sunday with a place in the final up for grabs. For Iorras it offers them a chance to add an FAI Junior Cup to the FAI youths cup they won in 2005, and puts them up there with Westport United from 2006 as the only Mayo sides to bring home the national junior title.

The intermediate championship threw in for 2009 last weekend and Tourmakeady are already playing catch up after getting a 10-point trimming at the hands of Kilmaine in south Mayo last weekend. The vast majority of the field will be gearing up for action this weekend with 10 more teams getting involved in action, and with games spread out over the entire weekend from Saturday to Monday there is a feast of intermediate action to take in.

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