With one round of group games still to be played, the county’s hurlers were today relegated from Christy Ring Cup level, as they fell to their fourth straight defeat of the campaign. As a result, we’ll be plying our trade back down at Rackard Cup level next year and, given the hurlers’ wretched form all year, we can have no complaints at all about this outcome.
Today’s defeat was away to Sligo, who are relative newcomers at this level, but their win over our lads today at Markievicz Park sees them advance to the Ring Cup final for the first time. They won today’s game by 2-26 to 1-23.
So, on what was a bittersweet day for the Yeats County – whose U20 footballers were contesting the All-Ireland final against Kildare, which sadly they lost by eight points – it’s onwards and upwards for their hurlers.
We’ve one further Ring Cup match to play in this campaign, away to Derry next weekend, and while this will make no difference in the broader scheme of things, it would still be great if we could sign off the year with a long overdue win. Here’s hoping we do just that.
Not a great year for our hurlers, we were over dependent on Keith Higgins for too long and with no talent coming through to replace him, we were always going to struggle. Hurling is gradually expanding in the county and hopefully there’ll be a few other clubs challenging Toreen and Ballyhaunis in the near future, only then will we see standards rising again. I’m sure all involved in Mayo hurling tried their best during the season, le cúnamh Dé you’ll be back fighting for promotion next year.
That was a very disappointing season f9r out hurlers. I don’t think Keith’s loss was the reason as we had many good years without him when he was committed to the football. I’m not too close to the scene to give a reason, but something must b wrong with the current set up. Surely we must have better hurlers in the county or even lads from the stronger counties that could use the parentage rule to make us competitive at this level.