Hard luck to Charlestown Sarsfields who today came unstuck in extra-time in their All-Ireland Intermediate football semi-final against Cookstown Fr Rocks of Tyrone. The match was played in truly horrendous conditions at Pearse Park in Longford (never a happy hunting ground for Mayo teams, it must be said) and for long stretches it looked as if it would be Charlestown’s day.
A first half goal by Tony Mulligan helped the Mayo lads to build a substantial 1-5 to 0-3 lead at half-time and with the heavy pitch and the howling wind and rain that five-point lead looked a commanding one. The lead was down to three points with just over ten minutes to go but then a somewhat fortunate goal for the Northerners (which Mike Finnerty on Midwest said was a shot for a point that dipped wickedly in the wind and ended up in the net) levelled it up. Richie Haran fired Charlestown back in front but this point was cancelled out by Cookstown shortly before the end of normal time.
There was only one further score in the game over the course of extra-time but this priceless point was scored by Cookstown, as they claimed a 1-8 to 1-7 win. The Tyrone lads now go on to face Kerry’s Finuge in the decider at Croke Park next month.
Over in Markievicz Park today, meanwhile, Leitrim carved out a bit of history for themselves by winning their first ever FBD League title. Ceding home advantage to Sligo, Leitrim were always to the fore in this afternoon’s decider and ran out deserved three-point winners over the Magpies, on a scoreline of 0-8 to 0-5 (match report from Connacht GAA – here). The photo below sums up nicely what kind of afternoon it was for the Ridge County:
Image: GAA.ie/Sportsfile
Heartwarming and all as that image is, it doesn’t even come close to capturing the title of most extraordinary GAA-related photo of the weekend. This accolade surely belongs to the amazing photo below, snapped in Ballina on Saturday by the redoubtable @Maigheoforsam, of county All-Star full-back Ger Cafferkey out fundraising in the pissing rain for his local club. Star man, for sure.
Image: @Maigheoforsam via Twitter
It’s his local hurling club Willie Joe that he’s fundraising for. Many Mayo fans mightn’t know Ger and his brother Declan are fairly handy Hurlers and Ger still turns out for James Stephens whenever he can? I doubt many of the men in control of the Stephenites are too happy about Ger’s love of hurling but there is a hardcore of hurling men in Ballina and the surrounding areas keeping the small ball tradition alive and doing a trojan amount of work at underage too. It would be nice for Ballina to do the county double that was achieved back in 2007 again.
Thanks for that, Crete Boom – I could see from the photo that it was the hurling club he was collecting for alright but obviously knew nothing of the local context involved.
No worries Williw Joe. The reason for a seperate Hurling club in Ballina to the football is the hurling club has and still does take players from other parishes around Ballina like Ardnaree , Knockmore , Crossmolina and Bonniconlon. Also unfortunately like most footballing strongholds there is a few (who are in the minority) involved with the Stephenites who are anti anything that isn’t football ie. hurling , soccer , rugby etc……
It just goes to show how in sporting terms Ballina is a good town for young poeple with the choice of sports available.In my youth it could boast having the county champions in football , an AIL div 2 rugby club , the sprite cup champions in basketball , thriving soccer and hurling clubs , all ireland champion boxers from 2 boxing clubs and an athletics club. Mayo really is a sports mad county as Ballina was not alone on supporting so many clubs and I was lucky to try my hand ( albeit badly) at all these sports when growing up.