Fiona McHale, Mayo, scores her third goal despite the efforts of Galway goalkeeper Lisa Murphy in the Boird Gais Energy national Football Division 2 final on SaturdayAFTER years of turmoil in Mayo Ladies GAA, it was a return to the glory day’s on Saturday when they defeated neighbours and arch rivals Galway to win division two of the national league in Parnell Park, Dublin.

The bigger prize on offer for the two Connaught teams in this decider was the winners would get promoted to the flight for next season.

With off the field matters having been resolved at the end of the year there was the new hope Mayo senior team could be a force in ladies Gaelic football again.

Under the new management of Fr. Michael Murphy and Jimmy Corbett, the senior team have been steadily growing in statue and they reached new heights on Saturday by handing Galway a massive 16-point beating.

With a mixture of youth and experience in the team they gave an exhibition of football which had only been matched during their glory years at the turn of the century.

They have come a long way in a short space of time and now seem to be gelling into a top class side.

John Byrne being presented with the title by Anthony Lee, event orgainiser, at DondeaMAYO Athletic Club’s John Byrne wrote another exciting chapter in his sporting career on Saturday when he was crowned Irish 50k champion.

The Straide runner saw off the challenge of 64 other brave souls at the Donadea 50k in Co. Kildare, which also doubled as the Irish 50k championship.

The event, raced along forest trails within Donadea Forest Park, saw a top class field from Irish ultra running on the start line, and from the off the main contenders pushed the pace along at the head of the field.

John Byrne and Daniel Doherty were together in front, with Keith Whyte, John O’Regan, Paul Tierney, Eoin Keith, Jim McCormack and a couple of late entries, Barry Minnock (a 2.20 marathoner) and Dave Simpson all well in touch.

It was soon evident that Byrne was going well in the lead, consistently ticking off laps at six-minute mile pace.

Athenry FC 0 Westport United 0, (after extra time; United won 4-2 on penalties).

ONLY sport can deliver those moments. Only in sport could a 25-year wait for the most special of trophies be decided in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Both sides had given their all in the most trying of conditions and all of a sudden it was a shootout at Terryland Park.

Enter Gary Cunningham. Athenry had the advantage of going second in the penalty shootout after Westport’s Pat Fitzgerald had his effort saved and then they scored to go one up. David Hoban drew it level for United but then Cunningham made one of the great penalty saves. It was the textbook penalty kick by Gary Delaney, low and hard to the ‘keeper’s right-hand side, but the textbook hadn’t factored in the athleticism and determination of the Westport ‘keeper. He sprung to his right and somehow got a hand on the ball and kept it out of the net.

It was an amazing save and there and then, everyone in Terryland (now Deacy Park) knew that the cup was on its way back to Westport for the first time since 1987.

LADIES BORD GAIS NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL DIVISION 2

Mayo 4-17

Galway 2-7

 

MAYO ladies senior footballers produced one of their best displays for along time when they inflicted a very heavy defeat on arch rivals Galway in the division two national league final played in Parnell Park, Dublin, on Saturday.

After a number of years in the wilderness due to many problems with ladies GAA in the county, this Mayo senior side is back in the big time and such was their five-star display against Galway, that the glory days are back and it looks like it is onwards and upwards for this side.

While all the talk afterwards was the display of Cora Staunton (truly magnificent and showed why she is still the best forward in the country by scoring 2-11), what was most pleasing from a Mayo point of view was the overall team performance. From one to 15 they were brilliant, and while it was a team of experience and youth, you couldn’t be faulted for thinking they had been playing together for several years. Their passing movements up the field were a delight to watch as was their workrate and general play.

Competitors in the Irish Kayaking championships pictured at the launch of Sunday's long distance race at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar, as competitors moved off to the starting point at IslandeadyGMIT Castlebar scored on the double at the Irish intervarsity kayaking championship held at Lough Lannagh at the weekend amid a blaze of colour and intrigue.

Not only did the institute host the event with notable distinction, but its nine-strong squad lifted the kayak polo competition.

The side overpowered Dublin City University in the decider by three goals to one in a thrilling encounter.

The members of the triumphant squad were Keith Byrne, Feidhlim Dignan, Eric Conway,

Shona O'Dowd, Mark Brogan, Ken Hynes, Carol Dunphy, Kevin Pierce and Gavin Porter.

They had got off to a splendid start to the series with a 7-4 victory over NUI, Maynooth. Castlebar registered seven more goals, this time without reply, in their quarterfinal success of University of Limerick.

The penultimate round clash against Dublin Institute of Technology proved very demanding before the home side emerged victorious by four goals to two.

Nigel Jennings, the sports officer at GMIT, praised the squad on its outstanding achievement.

He said the players had prepared extremely hard over the winter months and showed promising form on the run-up to the championships.

There was a big turnout of spectators for the long-distance race on Sunday with a carnival atmosphere in the vicinity of the diving board.

Over 500 students from 18 third level colleagues across the country travelled to Castlebar for the championships which included events such as whitewater and freestyle.

The whitewater event was staged on Clydagh River, Castlebar, with the freestyle event taking place along the Clare River in Tuam.

The closing awards ceremony and presentation of prizes took place GMIT Castlebar in the afternoon.

The event gave members of the public an opportunity to view a sport at which Ireland has been represented in every Olympics since Munich in 1972.

The students at GMIT Castlebar have been widely praised in the community for meeting the challenge of organising such a large event with great energy and ability.

RONAN McGarrity is on the verge of a return to the Mayo senior GAA panel, the Connaught Telegraph has learned.

The Ballina midfielder who has been training hard and playing well for his club has not been part of the Mayo squad since their defeat by Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final last August.

However, he has been putting in a lot of training since the turn of the year and with impressive club performances over the past number of weeks it is expected he will rejoin the Mayo panel in the near future, if not this week.

Mayo’s major problem over the recent national campaign was in centre field where they struggled in most games. With the O’Shea brothers sidelined through injury, this vital area was a cause for much concern. As a result McGarrity’s recall will come as no surprise as on his day he is one of the best in the country.

Castlebar CelticCASTLEBAR Celtic FC has succeeded in thwarting a misguided proposal by the Mayo League to shut down the club’s €600,000 artificial pitch, the Rival Arena, to football.

They won their appeal to the Connaught Football Association against the shock ruling by the league last month to deem the facility ‘unsuitable for adult competitive football’.

Announcing the findings of provincial body’s appeals body, Art Friel, Connaught administrator, stated: “After considering all documentation produced and evidence given to the hearing, the disciplinary committee of the Connaught Football Association unanimously agreed to uphold the appeal by Castlebar Celtic.

“The disciplinary committee is satisfied that the Rival Arena is Football Association of Ireland approved and complies with FIFA.”