Comparisions between Willie 'Big Bang' Casey and Mayo's opening 20 minutes in Croke Park on Sunday were inevitable.
Unlike Casey, who was dazed after just two minutes, Mayo managed to hold on to the ropes long enough to hear the sound of the half time bell and, in the end, it was Dublin who were beginning to hear rigging in their ears when Mayo hit them with a goal barrage of their own in the second half.
It was an amazing game but in truth had it been a boxing contest the referee would have stepped in after 22 minutes and counted Mayo out. They were 14 points behind, the defence was being ripped apart and there simply was nowhere to hide.
The man who brought them back from the dead, and not for the first time this year, was Jason Doherty. It was his goal that revived their ailing fortunes against Armagh where another tardy start had left Mayo in trouble.

Cork are next on the list for Mayo in two weeks' time and we certainly owe the Rebels some payback after that hammering last year in the league final.
It is a game we need to get something from before Mayo make the long trek to Monaghan for the final game, where their fate in division one of the league is likely to be decided

Clear round for Felle

Not living up to his name, Padraic Felle put in a clear round to scoop the first prize in Mick Byrne's Cheltenham Naps competition.
The former Galway hurler and current Dunnes Stores manager beat off some very strong opposition to pip Kieran Joyce in a photo-finish.
However, the unluckiest punter had to be third-placed Dom Dempsey who, on top weight for the four days, was tipping along nicely but just coming to last he got in a bit too close and a slight jolt on landing may well have cost him the number one slot, as he was caught for speed on the short run-in.
Meanwhile, the Castle Inn saw a huge field go to post and fortunes change over and back.

This went down to the very wire, with a young apprentice, Mary McGovern, putting in a strong finish on the last day only to take the wrong course and, a bit like The Melvine, got caught for pace when the going got tough.
Coming into the straight it was Fintan McHale who took up the running to take first place on 144 points.
Declan Davoren was a close second, with Noel Coll producing a late burst to clinch third spot.
Stack's also reported a big field in their popular naps table, which was eventually topped by racing legend himself Willie O'Brien, with Shane Flynn second, Dwayne Flynn third and joint fourth shared by Frank McHale and Anthony Vesey.

Bosh and Rocky's to take it to the wire

Let's hope neither of the finalists in the Castelbar Town Darts League will be saying they should have gone to Specsavers after Friday night's final, which is sponsored by Deeley Opticians.
Life will hopefully return to a more sedate pace after a hectic four days of Cheltenham when the men from Rocky's and Bosh step up to the ockey for what is always a great night in the Welcome Inn.
A few of the darts veterans popped into Mark Deeley during the week to see if they could have their spectacles adjusted for what should be an interesting night of darts.

The money is on the Rockys boys, who have so much experience on board, to retain their title.
James Quigley, John Joe Ormsby, John Moran, Paul Daly and Philip Quigley have a barrowful of town league medals not to mention countless other trophies won over the years playing darts in every corner of the globe.
But, as Tom 'you can quote me on that' Power will tell you after that epic battle many years ago in the Harp (it lasted three days) with Dave Murphy, 'it's all about finishing'.

The boys from Bosh also have a few experienced heads who can more than hold their own. Keep an eye on the in-from Michael Hession and the legendary Joe Malone, while in Richard Staunton you have the old dog for the long road and if Dick hits form then stand back.
When you need a man to deliver on the big occasion then look no further than Ed Barrett. Thow in the deadliest finisher of them all, Dwayne Flynn, and add the ice cool blue suede shoes himself, Michael 'Elvis' Chambers, and you have a lethal combination.
It should be a cracker, and do also support the shield final, which will be the curtain raiser, between Ray's team consisting of Philip Prendergast, Rory Courell, Wayne Hurst, Paddy Durkan, Dave Flannelly, Danny Cunningham and Lance Flannelly, and the Castle Inn, whose line-up features Ger Whyte, Frank McHugh, Andy Morris, John Gibbons, Ger Staunton, Martin Roache, Marty Ruane and Jimmy Canning.

 

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