Return of the club championships
TYNAN'S TAKE: COLUMN BY STUART TYNAN
IT was certainly a memorable opening weekend of action in the Mayo club championships, with some fantastic games as well as a few surprises along the way.
The game admittedly was played in poor conditions, which was the case for a lot of the games last Saturday evening, but I did feel that Aghamore was a potentially tricky side for the senior champions Ballintubber to play in their opener and that proved to be the case. Along with Davitts drawing with Moy Davitts, that group is all to play for.
Ballina Stephenites and Ballaghaderreen both enjoyed impressive victories while Castlebar Mitchels had to draw on all their experience to see off the stubborn resistance of Charlestown.
The intermediate championship also had a few surprises along the way with Ardnaree, Ballyhaunis, Burrishoole and Louisburgh all falling to defeat. It certainly sets up some very intriguing second round clashes and at this early stage, and there may be some big name casualties this weekend with a number of sides who had championship aspirations at the beginning seeing their dreams dashed so abruptly.
But the weekend belonged to one team and that was The Neale. Their first ever match in the senior championship, and just when you think Garrymore are going to get out of Cong with a victory, Neale substitute Dylan Keane blasts home into the net with the very last kick of the game. Fairytale stuff.
NEW MAYO GAA COMMITTEES
THERE were certainly a lot of information to process following the announcements from Mayo GAA after their first physical county board meeting last week.
From the renewal of Elverys as title sponsor for another five to a number of committees being formed to monitor and support the boards financial operations and support developments.
With all the talk among Mayo GAA circles, and further beyond, over the past year about the relationship between Tim O'Leary and the Mayo GAA county board, the announcement of new audit and risk committee set up by the county board to independently oversee and monitor the financial health of Mayo GAA should be seen as a step in the right direction and as a result, we should hopefully be talking more about matters on the pitch than off it in future.
The credentials of the members of this committee are certainly impressive but a closer look at the chairman of this committee, former member of Seanad Éireann Pádraig O'Ceidigh, and his background certainly raises a few eyebrows.
O'Ceidigh, as well as chairing the audit and risk committee for Mayo GAA, is also on the Croke Park board of directors as well as being a former chairman of the Galway GAA Supporters Club.
Surely there is a conflict of interest in not just Mr. O'Ceidigh being a former chairman of the supporters club of our biggest rivals, but also being on the board for HQ?
*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.