The dust is settling after a hectic weekend of club Championship activity, which has seen both the Senior and Intermediate title races whittled down to the final four. The finalists have also been decided in the Junior A Championship, as well as in the scramble to avoid relegation at SFC, IFC and JFCA levels.
Starting at Senior level, here are the results from this weekend’s games.
In the race for the Moclair Cup, three out of the four quarter-finals went as expected. Ballaghaderreen were far too strong for Davitts yesterday, while Ballintubber played within themselves to see off Belmullet by four points. Knockmore, though, pushed Castlebar Mitchels all the way this afternoon at MacHale Park. They led by five points early in the second half before a determined Mitchels fightback saw them prevail by two points.
The weekend’s main surprise came in yesterday evening’s clash between last year’s finalists Breaffy and Ballina Stephenites. Although they’re the most successful club within the county – with 36 titles – Stephenites last won the Moclair Cup way back in 2007 and they haven’t even made the final since then.
Breaffy would have been fancied to advance but there’s much to like about this upcoming Ballina side and they showed admirable battling qualities at MacHale Park last night to seal their place in the final four. The tie was level at half-time but a goal soon after the resumption put Ballina in charge and they stretched that lead to six points at one stage. Breaffy clawed back to level the match but Ballina surged clear in extra-time to win by five.
Ballina now face Ballintubber in the semi-finals in a fortnight’s time, while Castlebar Mitchels take on Ballaghaderreen in the other penultimate round tie.
It was one-way traffic, meanwhile, in the two SFC relegation play-offs. Claremorris hosed Hollymount/Carramore by 18 points yesterday while Westport had a whopping 22 points to spare over Bohola Moy Davitts this afternoon.
Onto the Intermediate Championship where these were the weekend’s results.
Following the weekend’s action the battle for the Sweeney Cup is now a four-cornered one between The Neale, Burrishoole, Louisburgh and Ballyhaunis. Last year’s finalists Burrishoole – minus the injured Jason Doherty – looked to be heading out against Crossmolina this afternoon until a dramatic last-second goal secured a one-point win for them, thus ending Deel Rovers’ hopes of a quick return to the Senior ranks.
It’s Burrishoole v Ballyhaunis and The Neale v Louisburgh in the IFC semi-finals the weekend after next.
Swinford and Islandeady came out on top in the two relegation play-off matches. This means that it’s a South Mayo play-off final with the losers of Ballinrobe and Shrule/Glencorrib – both of whom were operating at Senior level not that awfully long ago – dropping to Junior next year.
Speaking of Junior, Castlebar Mitchels B beat Ardagh 1-9 to 0-7 in the JFCA semi-final yesterday while today Kilmaine got the better of Kilmeena by 1-16 to 0-17 in the other semi-final. In the relegation play-offs, Killala beat Achill (last year’s finalists) by 2-7 to 0-12 while Ballina Stephenites B beat Charlestown B by 4-15 to 2-5.
Great job w.j.great to see the north mayo guys pushing this year.went to the belmullet game give them another year and they will be ready.as for ballina the team effort was unreal.no disrespect to knockmore but any team with paddy durcan in it is hard bet,k Mac what a player.r.i.p Michael Forde senior, good GAA man
For club and county.
Players outside current mayo squad who impressed me over the weekend.
S Akram.
Cian Hanley.His skills are starting to improve (both ballaghaderreen).
Padraig O Hora.Tigerish man marker.Has marked A O Shea & Fionn McDonagh in last two games.
Jack Irwin (both ballina).
Robbie Fadden (breaffy).
Jordan Flynn.Showed glimpses of potential.
Fionan Duffy (both crossmolina)
Peter Naughton (knockmore).
Others to impress going by media reports.
Padraig Walsh (neale midfielder).
Colm Moran (westport).
Liam Moran (swinford forward).
Eamonn Phillips (ballyhaunis forward).
As regards to the debate about goalkeepers within the county.Having watched a lot of underage and adult club football over a number of years they’re isn’t too many standout candidates but here’s my shortlist for intercounty potential.
Matthew Flanagan (Balla) currently recovering from surgery.
Jamie McNicholas (Kiltimagh).Keeping Schlingermann out of team.
Rory Byrne (Castlebar).
Scott Kilker (Belmullet).
Patrick Sharkey (Ballaghaderreen).Has impressed me in 3 games I’ve seen him in this year.
Jason Corrigan (Louisburgh).Possible U20 goalie next year.
Monicker and punctuation worthy of James Joyce All41!
Catcol. Who did he play for, was he anything to Pádraic Joyce.
Just got a fixed penalty notice in the door for June 29th at McHale Park. Parked in an estate I have parked in for years. No ticket on the car at the time. Anyone have a similar experience!
Thanks Mayo Gooch – Always really interesting to hear these reports.
Just curious of those players – who would you say has real searing pace? The way the game as gone in last 5 years especially, real pace is now really essential for IC players in Div 1 for all 14 outfield positions
Stamina and fitness can be built. Physical conditioning and strength can be worked on. Real ppeed though, seems to be innate – you either have it or you dont. (
I have seen some of those guys in the flesh – Akram an obvious speedster, but any other obvious speedstart in that group??
Mike as you said Akram an obvious speedster.Padraig O Hora seems pacey to me.Cian Hanley & Colm Moran both quick.Jack Irwin,Robbie Fadden &Jordan Flynn all midfield type players and all three made good attacking runs over the weekend.All three probably about average or slightly above pace wise.
Sorry to hear that justoutsideballagh.
Took a long time coming don’t know if you can appeal it on that basis?.
At least it’s not speeding…..that’s a right pain in the nuts!!
Ah Ref Senior Power Rankings
1. Ballintubber
2. Ballina
3. Castlebar
4. Ballagh
Ah Ref Intermediate Power Rankings
1. The Neale
2. Ballyhaunis
3. Louisburgh
4. Burrishoole
The standout player for me the weekend again is a Ballina man, Padraig O Hora kept Aidan O Shea scoreless the weekend and also took another Mayo player out of the game the game before in Fionn McDonagh.
26 years old , Defenders tend to mature later than forwards so loads of potential.
Not bad for a man that has been training 7 weeks. Get him on the plane Jimmy.
Anybody able to tell me the arrangements for the Co semifinals. Surely they must, in fairness to the players, be already made but I can find no mention on the Mayo Gaa website. For a supporter living outside the county it doesn’t help in making plans to attend.
Think ballintubber are still the team to beat. Ballina teamwork and fitness was very noticeable against a sluggish Breaffy. Should be a great semi but I think ballintubber will match their work rate and will defend better. Could o Hora keep one of the o Connors scoreless?? Castlebar got out of jail on Sunday. Showed good experience and didn’t panic but took a lucky goal to win it. I thought knockmore sat back too much in the second half when they should have had a right go at cbar. Cbar very strong around the middle, some great fielding from kickouts but they are not putting up the big scores like before, very beatable at the moment. Ballagh are the dark horses, have had some good results but against some of the weaker sides. They looked great against Davitts but Davitts never got going. If they sit back cbar will grind it out ,if they go for it they might make a county final! What would the odds on a ballina vBallagh final have been at the start of the season? Might still be worth a look.
Re: Ah ref
O’Hora wud be a perfect man to mark Sean O’Shea or Con O’Callaghan.A pure pest , in there face touch tight,from the first minute.Do you think Jack Reilly is good enough for Mayo?? he was very good against Claremorris in the Championship.
Would like to see Jack Reilly, Gary Boylan,Peter Naughton, Ryan O’Donoghue, Liam Irwin ,and Conor Diskin line out in the forwards against the Underdogs!!
AndyD – they’re on the weekend of the 5th/6th October in MacHale Park. Probably a double header of the 2 senior games on Saturday with the intermediate on Sunday or vice versa.
O’Hora was good but I wouldn’t be sticking him on Sean O’Shea just yet. I think Jack Irwin was the best of the lads that are currently outside the panel. Liam Irwin was good also but I fear his lack of athleticism will hinder his Mayo career.
Wide ball – is that definite? Where did you see that?
Yes they are in two weeks. Round of league this week then both senior and intermediate semi finals on the following weekend. If it’s the same as last year, the two senior games will be on Saturday evening, the two intermediates on Sunday afternoon all in Castlebar.
Anyone stand out in goal during the weekend?
David clarke……
Hi All,
I am sorry to be interfering in the middle of your Club season but I just need to ask a question if that’s ok? I don’t usually listen to the Joe Duffy show but it was brought to my attention by a colleague of mine today. I’m not going into detail but would anyone object if we welcomed the lads and ladies on Sunday in Croker? This was knocked down by Dublin City Council as it’s a neutral venue….would it offend people from outside of Dublin that much? Only 15000 tickets available for Merrion Squarewhich were gone in seconds.
Kind Regards
Martin the Dub
Martin – why don’t you have it in Parnell Park isn’t that your home ground.
Brian McGuinness was impressive in goal for Claremorris against Hollymount. A future Mayo Number 1!!
Martin,
Dublin councillors must not be GAA followers if they think that Croke Park is not Dublin’s home venue. When did they last play a match of consequence in Parnell Park, which is their nominal home ground? Of course we would not object to Dublin’s teams having their homecoming in Croker. Maybe though Dublin’s council might not fancy paying the rent on Croke Park for the occasion.
If it was a health and safety issue I’d have no problem with the Dubs using Croke Park for the homecoming so their supporters can enjoy it safely. However Croke Park isn’t Dublin’s home venue the Dubs don’t own the hill everyone has a right to stand on the hill at all matches no matter who is playing not just the Dubs. Also the Dubs shouldn’t have first say on changing rooms I understand Dublin use the same dressing room every time they play in Croke Park. That might seem a bit of a rant but when Bertie was playing Santa with the GAA giving them millions to re develop he wasn’t just using Dublin tax payers money he was using taxpayers money from Donegal Mayo Cork Kerry etc all over the country. There are other options available to the Dubs such as their home ground Parnell Park, the Phoinex Park, maybe Smithfield or college green on even the Aviva. Anyway Martin the Dub and all Dublin supporters enjoy the celebrations
@ th regarding the claremorris keeper I was at the game and kept a close eye on him as I have read here about his potential. However just based on this game was not impressed at all think he looked nervous and unsure at times when he tried to go short with kickouts think he put 2 out over the sideline in the first half and made no saves of note. Just my opinion and we all differ.
AhRef, re Pádraig O’Hora, if I’m not mistaken, did he not play against Cork in Páirc UI Rinn on Rochy’s managerial debut? I remember being very impressed, on a day when we were awful. Tigerish. Is he a bit small?
Martin the Dub, as the spotlight is on Dublin more and more regarding their use of Croke Park in general and in particular in the super 8s for which several high profile ex players continually maintain Croke Park is NOT Dublins home ground (sure we don’t even train there), imo it is unbelievably arrogant to then look for a “homecoming” in Croke Park. As backdoorsam says, there are ample locations to hold a homecoming, Phoenix Park for example is ideal to hold the crowds expected. So to answer your question, yes people will be offended by Dublins use of Croke Park for a homecoming. If Dublin continue to maintain the line that Croke Park is not their home ground then they cant possibly expect to have a homecoming there. Either its their home ground or not, cant have it both ways.
Catcol… how small is the guy who scored the goal in the Alireland replay
you’re right there Catcol, he played in Rochy’s first 4 games in charge, all 3 FBD and came on as a sub for Keegan against Cork.
Just to confirm, Catcol, Padraig O’Hora made one substitute appearance for us in the National League in 2016, which was, as you say, that Round 1 match (what a godawful one it was from our perspective) against Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn. He came on for Lee Keegan who suffered a nasty clash of heads with Eoin Cadogan that day. I was always a bit surprised that Padraig O’Hora didn’t get more of a chance that year. He played in the FBD that year and did, I felt, enough then to be given a run in the League.
On the Dublin homecoming – does this really merit debate here? I know it’s the off-season but that issue surely is one that’s of no concern for us whatsoever.
Willie Joe do you think the that David Kenny is worth another look ..I think he may have something to offer..
We are all aware that new blood is required in areas of the team..Interesting times ahead.. did you say that you were putting up the FBD fixture list latter …. heee heee
Roll on 2020
I couldn’t honestly say, Raz – I haven’t seen any club action of late so I’m in no position to give an opinion on who might be worth a look now. On that I’ll happily defer to Mike and Ger on the podcast with their ‘Bring Him In’ slot!
Rochy may have been operating the Bobby Robson principle: a good bigun is better than a good littleun.
Hi Willie Joe…apologies if I offended anybody…that was never my intention.
Kind Regards
Martin the Dub
Not at all, Martin, no offence taken but this is clearly an issue for Dublin GAA, Dublin City Council and everyone else up here in the capital, not least Dublin GAA fans who want to go to the event. It’s not one that really has any relevance for Mayo GAA supporters.
Well done to the Neale. They played with a fluidity and a selflessness that we have lacked most of the year.
Btw, has anyone seen the press release from the Mayo Supporters Foundation and would anyone care to comment?
As I understand it has been circulated to the club delegates in advance of tonight’s County Board meeting where it will be read into the record.
Saw Padraig O’Hora score an absolute cracking point from the wing in Bekan against Garrymore (I think it was) a year or two ago. Have a lot of time for him and hope to see more.
Also Gary O’Donnell, Charlestown, but haven’t seen any of their matches this year. A real box-to-box player that has that knack of always influencing a game in a big way and rarely gets the plaudits.
New podcast episode is up, Mike and Ger hosting it to review all the weekend’s club championship action. Ciaran Treacy and Ger McDonagh feature on it too.
Willie Joe is there any reason my recent posts have not appeared?
Yes there is, Cynical Cynthia – you’re attempting to post information which I know not to be correct and I’d be grateful if you’d desist from doing so again.
The statement was NOT read out at the county board meeting tonight. It appears the CB have cut all ties to a professional fundraising machine…back to the biscuit tin?
Mayo God Help Us
Biscuit Tin !!!!!
2015 Sponsorship €239,630.00 & Fundraising Income €809,668.00
2016 Sponsorship €533,141.00 & Fundraising Income €1,100,819.00
2017 Sponsorship €549,705.00 & Fundraising Income €1,273,239.00
2018 Sponsorship €606,338.00 & Fundraising Income €964,414.00
Is it a gold biscuit tin !!!
Yew Tree…There’s a trend you see. The strategic plan was binned 8 yrs ago; something which if implemented woukd have been huge for Mayo football.
I’ll just say this (and I’ve no affiliation to any parties) but a body like the Mayo GAA Foundation are crucial to any hope of future success. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just plain dumb. Whoever is in charge of Mayo football needs money. Big money. Here are a group of highly financially successful people wanting to back Mayo. They should be welcomed with open arms
Disappointing is an understatement.
@Martin the Dub…. Personally I’m not bothered if Dublin Supporter’s and Team (Homecoming, from where exactly?) takes place in Croke Park…it not in use until next year anyhow, can’t think of a logical reason why not?….Now while Mayo have not won the All Ireland, at least we get to see All of Ireland in our endeavors to do so, even England and the USA…Now I know Dublin went to Navan x 1,to play Wicklow, Omagh x 2, v Tyrone, Portlaois x 2, but never to play Laois, Nolan Park, Kilkenny to play Laois x 1, and All of the other 30 out of a total of 37 Championship match’s in a Magnificent 5 in a Row, at home in Croke Park…. so why break the habit, of course they should be allowed a ‘*Homecoming’ in Croke Park, but it shouldn’t be called a ‘*Homecoming’ it should be called what it is a continuation of the expected ‘Homecomforts’ the chosen people of Gaeldom!…on the other hand Parnell Park, the Home of Dublin GAA must be feeling just that little bit left out, on Absolutely Zero occasion was it used in the 37 unbeaten match’s on route to the Amazing and Absolutely fair Championship run of game’s, ending up with a deserved 5 in a Row. .Ye could even use the Aviva, while the Rugby Team is Big in Japan, now Imagine this that the Multitude of Dublin fan’s had to even go to Maynooth or Leixlip and come back to Dublin, for where ever they like, I know that’s a scary taught but at least they could say that they were away from home and then have something to come home to!
Bangor forever – team was going very well those years. Let’s see if that financial support continues if as it appears we enter a few years of transition…will the cash keep flowing? Will be support levels stay the same?
We front page news this morning. It a crisis. All national papers carrying story of email not read out. We need this funding from USA. Seems it past sorting now.
Words fail me, can we not have one calm and productive winter in the world of Mayo GAA? Front page stuff again, do we ever learn.
Yew Tree, as I understand it the Foundation’s commitment is to the long term health of Gaelic Games in the County not just the success of the Senior Team as it rides the crest of the wave.
Thus the commitment to developing the county and improving the quality of coaching at the youth level.
[Deleted].
Reaftearai – that cut at a named individual was uncalled for and was extremely unfair so I’ve deleted it.
On the wider issue, it’s clear that only one side to this story has been put out there. While it’s easy to rush to judgment based on this – and I see that some have been quick to do so – I think it’d be far better to wait until both sides have had their say on the issue.
I was very dubious of this Foundation when the news initially broke a few weeks ago, this was mainly due to their method of communication (posting on Instagram, a cesspool of egotism) and a lack of clarity in their reasoning. Now they finally have make a proper statement which is welcome and if the allegations are true then the County Board do have questions to answer. I am still cautious on their reasoning, for example they will assess each business proposal to see if it is the most cost effective, who is to say their analysis is correct or if a group of people in the US can effectively assess a project built in the West of Ireland.
Anyway I think people should hold judgment until the County Board makes their own statement regarding the points raised in this email (No GAA organisation turns their back on money without reason). We don’t know all the facts yet (National media and certainly social media are not fact) so we should reserve judgment until then.
Mayomad as I understand it the foundation has been setup as a Charitable foundation and as such, is subject to scrutiny from the IRS in the US as well as any other regulatory body (and there would not doubt be many) that needs to be satisfied that it is conducting itself in a manner appropriate to something that has that particular legal and taxable status.
I doubt very much that the US regulatory or tax authorities would accept an explanation of monies simply being handed over to the county board without some form of explanation as to what the cash was used for.
Uncle Sam is very particular about checking how and where monies are paid to and every single payment no matter how big or small that goes through the US and any US Bank anywhere in the world goes through a stringent set of checks and is matched off against lists to ensure it is not going to places Uncle Sam doesn’t want it to go.
Biscuit tins won’t wash with these lads and neither would it work for the trustees of a Charitable foundation who are answerable to the regulatory bodies.
As Willie Joe has stated we don’t have the CB side of the story but they’ve not said much on this at all, but if what the foundation has said in it’s statement is accurate then it really is quite disappointing that this is how things are handled at that level.
Either ways, it seems we are in the press again for the wrong reasons. Personally I find it hard to fathom how we manage to keep setting fire to the sitting room at every opportunity. I’m not a religious person but Proverbs 17:10 seems quite appropriate here.
Mayomad, the Foundation is Incorporated in New York State to facilitate fundraising in the US but the Trustees are resident in Ireland and the UK, in addition to the US, so they can most definitely provide the necessary oversight for projects at home.
The reason we’re only hearing one side of the story is the county board won’t give us theirs! This story has been around for weeks and they seem to have stuck their heads in the sand. Mike Connelly said yesterday he hadn’t reviewed the letter yet!!! What the hell has be been doing? I read it on Tuesday! The CB held a meeting last night and the next one won’t be until October. You’d hope that they release some sort of a statement in the meantime.
NiallMc1983………….. EXACTLY. As I see it, the Foundation are looking for a fair exchange of views in a public forum and the only reason we have been denied that is because the County Board have yet to engage.
I find it ironic that a few weeks ago some on this blog took issue with the Foundation’s use of Social Media to raise the matters contained within this week’s letter. At the time it was said that Social Media was too informal to give voice to such matters but when the Foundation sought to assuage these concerns, by furnishing the delegates with a letter outlining their concerns, they were given short shrift by the County Board. So, what gives?
According to this piece by Mike Finnerty in the Mayo News, the issue is due for discussion at the next County Board meeting on 16th October. I guess after that there should be information from both sides in the public domain, which should help to ensure a more informed debate on the issue.
At the minimum there’s gross incompetence at play here and Croke Park will need to get involved. At the other end of the spectrum the Gardaì could well be involved. Either way we face into another winter with our county board providing fodder for the newspapers. There’s a reckoning coming at convention and a long overdue clear out of the top table will happen. We really have reached a new level of double speak and shithousery worthy of Trump or Boris if the secretary of the county board thinks he can tell us they never received an email the whole country had seen.
Maybe wait until after the next meeting, Liam? There’s nothing really to be gained at this stage making incendiary remarks about the Guards, clear-outs and the like. As I’m getting tired of saying, only one side has been heard as yet and it’s only fair to hear the other side before any conclusions may be drawn on the issue.
Willie Joe, while Liam’s post may be hyperbolic there is much in it that hits home.
You say that we have only heard one side but the County Board have had ample time to reply since the Foundation released its initial statement through Social Media last month.
At the time of that release, we were told that the forum was inappropriate but what I find inappropriate is the County Board’s failure to respond, last night, to the Foundation’s letter which was sent earlier this week.
At the least, they could have acknowledged the letters receipt even if they found the weight of its contents too much to handle.
Instead, they did nothing.
It makes me wonder……
Liam are there people in the county putting themselves forward for the big positions in the county board. There must be if there is a “clear out” of the top table on the way. Who are these people. I presume they have there names out there if the are going forward. As I am living outside the county I am out of the loop – you might enlighten us as to who those people are.
South mayo exile, it’s not a case that you can just put yourself forward and you’ll get your chance, Seamus Tuohy is coming to the end of his 5 year tenure at vice chairman and will take the role as chairman as is tradition, Paul culinhane is coming to the end of his tenure as mayo PRO where he is expected to take the role as vice chairman hence will be chairman in another 5 years. That’s essentially the top job tied up for the next 10 years.
It’s hard to know where to start with that comment, NiallMc.
Maybe easiest to deal with the PRO’s name, which isn’t ‘Paul culinhane’, it’s Paul Cunnane, who, by the way, put his name forward and won an election for PRO. It’s open to him to stand for Vice-Chairman but it’s equally open to anyone else who gets nominated by their club to do so as well. Whatever you say about what’s “expected” to happen (by whom, by the way?), it’s perfectly possible that there might be an election for that position as well as any other ones that come vacant.
Also, it simply isn’t true to say that the Chairman’s position is tied up for the next ten years. All Officer roles are up for grabs at Convention and, where there are elections, it’s the votes of club delegates that decides who gets these positions.
It’s true that there isn’t a big queue for Officer positions but are you surprised? These are unpaid roles which take up a huge amount of time, with precious little thanks from anyone. It’s far easier to take up a hurler on the ditch role instead.
You hit the nail on the head there Willie Joe – the time involved in these roles at county board level is unreal. Very few are in a position to even consider these jobs. I have great respect for the people who put their hands up for these jobs – despite what some people think there is no queue of people waiting to replace them.
We are at a level now where we need at least two full time administrators to handle money and all other activities associated with running a county board the size of Mayo. It is more than a volunteer role at this stage.