Ballaghaderreen’s gallop in the Connacht club championship proved to be a short and unhappy one as they came crashing down yesterday at the first hurdle.  Their three-point defeat to Sligo’s Eastern Harps was a bit of a surprise and, from what I can see in the match reports (here’s the one in the Times and here’s the Indo’s take on proceedings), Ballagh were well in control of this game at a wet and windy Markievicz for much of the hour.  Indeed, the Sligo lads only edged ahead for the first time in the game with just three minutes to go but, once they’d got their snouts in front, they weren’t going to be denied.  Paul Taylor did well for the Harps with eight points (six from frees), while Barry Regan was the top scorer for Ballagh with four.  Unusually for a club match, Andy Moran failed to register a score yesterday.

The Sligo lads now take on Galway champions Corofin who easily saw off the challenge of Castlerea yesterday at a very wintry-looking Kiltoom.  That one was live on TG4 and it was one I was glad to be watching from the comfort of the sofa.  I do hope Santie brings me those thermals this year – if McHale Park is going to be the venue for the home league matches next year and the weather is anything like it is at the moment, they’ll be needed.