Tom Parsons, Charlestown, jumps highest against his Gortletteragh opponent in the Connaught intermediate club championship football final. Pic Michael DonnellyWITH Mayo showing no great interest in winning the FBD League judging by their failure to travel to New York for the grand final last month it might be the right time and opportunity for James Horan to use it to try and find new talent.

Last January Mayo won the home final of the FBD League. As a result they were to travel to New York to play them in the home final. However, following their exploits in the championship where they reached the All-Ireland final only to lose to Donegal, Mayo decided to pull out of the New York trip which didn’t go down too well with the Connaught GAA Council or the new York County Board.

While it was understandable the New York had to be cancelled it should have been done a lot earlier. Immediately after Mayo defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final the county board should have informed the Connaught Council they would not be fulfilling the fixture.

It was little wonder the Connaught Council took a dim view of the late withdrawal. Last week they handed Mayo a fine of €10,000.

Mayo county secretary, Kevin O’Toole, told The Connaught Telegraph they wouldn’t be appealing the fine but they were in discussions with the Connaught Council.

Said Mr. O’Toole: “We will not be appealing the fine. But we are in discussions with Connaught Council and we hope we will be able to come to some sort of agreement.”

GAA GPA All-Star football awards recipients from Mayo, from left, Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Ger Cafferkey, GAA GPA All-Star Young Footballer of the Year Cillian O’Connor and Alan Dillon.THE omission of Mayo’s Kevin McLoughlin in the All-Stars list was nothing short of a disgrace.

Long before the 2012 award winners were announced last Thursday morning it was generally felt the Knockmore clubman was the banker bet to be one of the 15 winners.

He was without doubt Mayo’s best footballer throughout the entire championship. How he was omitted from the All-Stars list is amazing.

It was a pity those responsible for selecting the award winners couldn’t recognise McLoughlin’s wonderful contribution  to this year’s championship.

He was to the fore in every Mayo game and was highly acclaimed for his exploits by most commentators.

Why this Mayo footballer of the year was not selected for an All-Star is a real mystery. Was he not streets ahead of

Donegal’s Mark McHugh, son of well known GAA analyst Martin McHugh?

Just picture the situation as this junior final replay went into the fourth and final minute of injury time in extra-time last Saturday in Elverys McHale Park. Ardnaree held a three-point lead, as The Neale were awarded a 21-yards free which was right of centre. After checking with the match referee Sean Cosgrove who had been deadly all afternoon for The Neale knew that he had to go for goal in order to save his side as time was almost up. Ardnaree also knew it was going to be a goal attempt from Cosgrove so they lined the goal. As McHale Park drew to a silence Cosgrove moved forward and unleashed a powerful shot which ended in the top corner of the net. It was a score that drew The Neale level and sent the game into extra-time.

It was a score which will be long talked about, no alone in The Neale, but by everyone who witnessed it for a long time. Indeed, it was score that left both sets of supporters shell shocked as The Neale’s couldn’t believe they were still in the championship and Ardnaree couldn’t believe they had the cup taken from them.

In extra-time The Neale took complete control where they outscored their opponents by eight points to three to claim their first ever Mayo junior title.

This victory sparked off great celebrations among the huge Neale following and I am sure these celebrations will go on for some time to come. The wait was long but in the end it was well worth it as they won the title with a performance that will be long remembered in Cross, Cong, The Neale and surrounding area..