You could do worse than put a few bob on Ballintubber retaining their county senior title following the appointment of Anthony McGarry as James Horan's successor. McGarry was short-listed for the Mayo job and is a big catch for the Tubber boys who will be holding their annual dinner in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, on Saturday, February 12.
Two guests will be present. Six times All-Ireland winner and Kerry legend Darragh Ó Se is the special guest while the Moclair Cup will also be attending a Ballintubber function for the first official time as a member of the team.
Basketball in Mayo has been boosted by the bid of two school teams for All-Ireland titles. Barry Murphy, the scourge of the basketball courts in Mayo some years back when Ballina, Castlebar and Ballinrobe locked horns, will be hoping to coach St. Muredach's boys Under 16 team to an All-Ireland B title while the girls from Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, coached by Paul Barrett and Cathy Newman, will be bidding for an Under 19 B league title when they compete in the play-offs next month. Good luck to both.

Supporting the wasps

The Parke boys have settled down after their return from Manchester and have put the defeat in the All-Ireland junior championship behind them.
An interesting footnote to the Parke game is the fact that the Mayo and Connaught champions had to change their strip as there was a colour clash and it was the Manchester side who played in the familiar waspish colours of Parke, the same strip as the Kilkenny cats for those of you not familiar with the wasps.
It seems not all the supporters, and a large contingent across the pond, were aware of the colour change and one man in particular had been urging on the boys in the Parke colours for about 20 minutes before it was brought to his attention that Parke were actually wearing green.
For further details you can contact Toby McWalter, but just don't tell him where you heard this rather embarrassing little titbit.

Stephen on the move
And mention of Parke again, keep an eye on them for next year at intermediate level where they may well have former Mayo player and Belmullet's finest, Stephen Carolan, amongst their ranks.
Parke manager Frank McHale was remaining tight-lipped about a possible signing of Carolan, who is the IT whiz kid with Mayo County Council and is currently building a house in the Parke area.
"All I can say is, negotiations are at a delicate stage," said McHale, who has confirmed he will be remaining in the Parke hot seat for another year at least.
There was also a rumour that Tom Gruddy, one of the finest players ever to emerge from the Erris region, could also be up for signing as he is a close friend of Stephen's, but I'm inclined to think Gruddy's age may just go against him unless Parke are putting a team in the masters (Over 40) championship.

Maughan and Horan on collision course
It looks like James Horan and John Maughan will be crossing swords fairly soon.
Maughan has guided NUIG to three straight wins in the FBD Connaught League, which sees them through to the home final.
It is also looking good for Mayo who have taken two from two and a win over Leitrim in Ballinamore this Sunday will see them into the final.
Maughan's three-match winning streak has been ably assisted by former Mayo and Galway player Tomás Tierney, a man who is unlikely ever to get a Christmas card from Kevin McStay.
Another interesting aspect to the FBD League is the number of Mayo players who will be on opposing sides in such a final. Jason Doherty from Burrishoole, who scored 3-3 for NUIG on Sunday, is on the college side while the likes of Niall Douglas, Alan Dillon, Peadar Gardiner and Ciaran Conroy suggest the NUIG boys will be hard to put away.
While Roscommon had only a handful of the Connaught championship winning side in action on Sunday, it was an important win for an experimental Mayo side and winning can only help build up morale and spirit in the camp, which looks pretty good at the moment.
Early days yet but all that can be said is that Horan is heading in the right direction and it is good to see so much enthusiasm in the camp and so many players fighting for their places on the panel, which will be pared back for the start of the national league on February 5.

Life begins at 70
Whoever said life begins at 40 will have to think again. Seventy now seems to be the new age of physical maturity, if we are to judge by Ballina's finest athletes.
Ernie Caffrey and Padraig Maye of Ballina Athletic Club put in some amazing performances at the All-Ireland masters indoor track and field championships in Nenagh at the weekend. Both took home two gold, a silver and a bronze medal each.
Ernie won gold in the masters Over 70 category in the 60m sprint and 200m, silver in the shot putt and bronze in the long jump, with a personal best in same.
Padraig won gold in the masters 70 category in the shot putt and high jump, silver in the long jump and bronze in the 60m.
Ernie made the wise choice of moving away from politics some years ago but is there any chance he might reconsider. You couldn't have a fitter man going for election.

 

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