High five for championship

Thursday, 04 August 2011 13:29

Written by Stephen

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Tom Cunniffe and Kevin McLoughlin celebrate Mayo's win over Cork. Photo: SportsfileAND then there were five. Who would have thought Mayo, quoted at 33/1 for the All-Ireland not too long ago, would be one of the last five standing in this year’s championship.

Only the brave put the money down on Mayo, who were 5/1, and well done to those, and there were a good few around, who had the courage to back them. I wasn’t one of them.

One thing James Horan must be credited with, that is outside his ability to prepare and motivate a team, is his unwillingness to be embroiled in controversy.

The same, indeed, goes for Cork manager Conor Counihan, who was magnanimous in defeat and wished Mayo well in the semi-final.

As Kildare and Donegal broke into a war of words after their game over alleged cynical tactics made by Kildare against Donegal, Horan was not being drawn about the remarks being made about Connaught and Mayo football by some of the national ‘experts’. He just laughs it off and says he has more important things on his mind.

Anyway, we are well used to it but even Kerry wing-back Tomás O’Sé, when interviewed after his side beat Limerick, spoke about their next big challenge being against Cork.

I am the first to put my own hand up to say I did not see this coming, unlike my much older and wiser colleague, Aiden Henry, whose heading last week ran ‘Mayo can cause massive upset’.

But there is a small problem called Kerry in Mayo’s way now for the semi-final and while I’d be slow to write Mayo off totally given the hunger and passion shown last Sunday, this is another big step up in class for what is effectively a fledgling side.

Dublin and Tyrone go at it next Saturday and I still have a feeling there is a kick left in the Dubs.

Mad Hatters Day in Ballinrobe

BALLINROBE racecourse will be celebrating their 90^th anniversary with a special race meeting this Monday, August 8.

Course manager John Flannelly has left no stone unturned to ensure it is a race meeting to surpass all others and it is shaping up to be a real family day out, so do come along. The first 90 to go through the turnstiles will receive a €10 free bet courtesy of the on-course bookmakers.

It will be a special day for the ladies and has been designated Mad Hatters Day, which has a prize fund of €1,000 sponsored by www.thefashionshed.com. Paula Rabbitte of www.thefashionshed.com and Alan Murphy of Galway Bay FM will be judging the most quirky and creative hats and outfits on display.

The €1,000 prize fund includes vouchers from Shine Boutique in Claremorris, thefashionshed.com and a headpiece by Fiona Mangan Millinery.

And if you don’t back a winner well you can always have your cake and eat it as a massive celebratory cake will be cut to mark the occasion.

There is a special Ballinrobe Races 90th Anniversary Hurdle, with €16,000 in prize money sponsored by the race committee.

Now, all we need is the weather and a few winners. The weather, I can predict, will be good, but as for winners, well, I’m afraid that’s in the lap of the gods.

Feeling poetic

IF you are in a poetic mood you could do worse than write an ode in honour of the All-Ireland football final.

SuperValu, who are co-sponsors of the All-Ireland championship, are promoting the ode to the Third Sunday in September.

If you can capture the mood in 120 lines or less they will publish your masterpiece in the match programme, while GAA legend Michael O’Muiraheartaigh will read it out on the day.

Submit it by logging on to www.SuperValu.ie, where you will also find the full terms and conditions for the competition. A shortlist of odes will be judged by broadcasting legend Micheál O’Muiraheartaigh along with a panel from SuperValu and 2FM.

So get the quill out and start writing that ode to Mayo’s march to Croke Park!

Diplomatic incident

DIPLOMATIC incidents seemed to be the order of the day, and I’m not referring to David Norris, the president hopeful.

This one is much closer to home and involved one of the hot favourites for Tolster’s captain’s prize 2011.

It seems while holidaying in Edinburgh he decided to park his van (not a Hiace I’m told) outside the Ukrainian Embassy. Couldn’t have picked a better spot.

You can imagine his shock when he returned to find his vehicle gone. And he was lucky it was only impounded as the explosive experts were on the way when he got there in the nick of time.

Fortunately, this man has big political connections so after a few international calls were made the van was returned.

The delay, however, meant he missed his ferry home and worse was to befall the poor bugger as due to a faulty sat nav he found himself in Ballybofey instead of Strandhill, where he intended to stay.

He could handle all that without a problem but what has really pissed Ger Shields off is the boys from Wexford losing to Limerick in the championship.

Now that is hard to take!