The Senior and Intermediate club football championships came to a conclusion under the lights at MacHale Park on Saturday night. The Sweeney and Moclair Cups double-header drew a big attendance to the Castlebar venue and the Mayo News football podcast was there too to take you into the heart of the action.
In Rob Murphy’s absence, I stepped into the hot seat to host the club finals edition of the podcast in the company of Edwin McGreal of the Mayo News and RTÉ analyst and former Mayo star John Casey. Ed and I talk you through what turned out to be a lopsided Intermediate decider between Belmullet and Burrishoole, following which we hear the elated post-game reaction from Belmullet player Shane Nallen and manager Damien Mulligan.
For the night’s main event, John Casey and I describe how the tense and tight Senior final between Ballintubber and Breaffy played out. After Ballintubber had taken possession of the Moclair Cup I get post-match thoughts from Ballintubber captain Damian Coleman and from their leading marksman Cillian O’Connor.
Wrapping up the episode, disconsolate Breaffyman Ed McGreal and I are joined by Mike Finnerty of the Mayo News to reflect on where the two finals were won and lost. We also look ahead to what now faces Belmullet and Ballintubber as they prepare to embark on their respective provincial campaigns.
This latest episode of the Mayo News football podcast is now online and is available to listen to on iTunes and SoundCloud. You can also listen to it via SoundCloud (if prompted, choose the ‘Listen in browser’ option) on both the Mayo News website as well as here on the blog.
The Mayo News football podcast is brought to you in association with the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. Support the Hospice’s ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign to help build a Hospice unit in Mayo -details here.
Nice one Willie Joe. Something for work tomorrow 😉
Anyone know who the Mayo-East Mayo amalgamation is that hammered Balla in U21?
gizmobobs mix between ballagh and kilmovee akram and cathal horan too big players for them
Mayo-East Mayo is Ballaghadereen and Kilmovee Shamrocks combined.
Cheers guys. That’s a strong combination.
Damien Mulligan has done an excellent job with Belmullet in his first season.He’s got them playing a nice brand of football. In the past he managed Breaffy to a county final.He’s got a good track record.James Horan may look at this guy for his backroom team.
Watched it on MayogaaTV which I have to say for those of us outside of the County is a fantastic service that we’re fortunate to avail of.
Thought Belmullet were excellent, did all the damage in the first half and you could see they were tiring toward the end but they were smart with the substitutions and they knew they just needed to keep Burrishoole at arms length. There’s a few lads on that team Belmullet team that I think we’ll be seeing more of in time to come. Thought Eoin O’D did very well on Jason Doc. Here’s hoping they do well for the rest of the Intermediate Championship.
I certainly think they’ll be able to hold their own at Senior next year.
I don’t know who thought taking Aido out from the square was a good idea but he should have been left in there and I think they’d have made hay, but the quality of ball going in that direction from Breaffy was poor enough. Was it just me or did anyone else feel that Breaffy were getting no joy from the Ref all evening?. Thought there was a few decisions there that certainly went in Tubbers favour. That said – Breaffy will have enough regrets to know they had their chances and missed them too.
Best of luck to Tubber in the Nationals – they’ll certainly fancy their chances against Tourlestrane, however if Corofin come out of Galway they’d have to be considered as favourites for Connacht again.
big problem for Belmullet is the fact that almost all of their players dont live around the area Monday to Friday, I think there are only 2 to 3 based local. that could mean they either light up the senior championship next season or fall away as lads cant give the travel commitment anymore.
Right folks,going to rightly jump the gun here ! But, should it end up a Ballintubber v Corofin final, does anyone where that final may be played. In Galway , Mayo or even a neutral venue ? Answers on a postcard please.
I’m fairly sure it would be in MacHale Park since Castlebar had to go to Tuam last year.
Thanks Wide Ball, yes that sounds right.
Any more information/reports on the u-21 games and the talent on show??
East Cork Exile – I was afraid that might be the case alright. It’s always been an issue, if not an accepted part of life in Erris, unfortunately.
Gizmobobs and Blondie
That East Mayo team is now going under the banner of St Nathys, looking at their team might cause a few upsets. The match report for he Balla game ins in the western people this week. Balla has quiet a few players missing Barry Duffy Pat Harte for starters. Ballaghaderreen had the core of the team that won last years U21B against Davitts. Darragh Kelly the senior midfielder and Luke o Grady another senior player are two big men in the middle, Akram and Kuba Callaghan and Kane Phillip are the other senior players.With the addition of Cathal Horan Horan Liam Moffat and Ciaran Sweeney from Kilmovee make this a solid team. All 3 kilmovee lads made the minor A final under the banner Sarfields Shamrocks an amalgamation with Charlestown in 2016 beaten by Castlebar.
Another teams to watch out for will be Westport as usual, Knockmore Belmullet Castlebar And Aghamore
@Mayomessi, Thanks for that update. I was disappointed not to have a single match report from the U21 games in todays Mayo news. It’s a very interesting age grade and I think the clubs/lads who tog out deserve a lot of respect as they are all doing secondary school, university, first job, breaking onto senior team. So they are generally dealing with a lot and they make time to fit in the U21 grade.
That Ballaghadereen St. Nathys team can go far, I didn’t realize they still have Darragh Kelly and Luke O’Grady U21. I would be confident in those two outfielding all of the other U21 midfields in the A grade. If you have such height and strength around the middle it can go a long way towards winning a game, especially now with the mark rule.
They would have Dean Darcy as well I am sure, athletic minor, decent around midfield.
I am not sure Belmullet will be togging their strongest 15 now that they progress in Intermediate.
Knockmore beat Aghamore convincingly 13 – 6, so you would pencil in Knockmore to be strong as Aghamore are a decent outfit.
Westport hammered Ballina, tremendous squad depth of course.
Jp add kiktimagh too that group very strong under 20 beat balla very convincingly als
Kiltimagh beat a shadow Balla team by 5pts. St. Nathys beat a similar Balla team by 30 pts.
Kiltimagh are decent but not ‘very strong’.
Great podcast WJ well done to all who took part.
I suppose a lot of the 21 years old got forgotten About this year with the change over in grade. Maybe there maybe more potential in the younger group but still a few names worth watching out for. The 21year olds that played minor in 2015
James Lyons Aghamore
James Carr Armagh
Barry Duffy Balla
Shairoze Akram Ballaghaderreen
Dylan Cannon Breaffy
David Hanley Burrishoole
Kevin Quinn Ballinrobe
Jack Irwin Ballina,
Rhyme Collin Castlebar
Darran Quinn Garrymore
Cormac Reape Knockmore
Liam Byrne Moy Davitts
Gerry canavan Mayo Gaels
Tommie Keane Mayo Gaels
Jonathon Burke Swinford
Was at the garrymore eastern gaels game good quality game. Enda Hession from Garrymore this years minor captain was very impressive looks like a real prospect. Michael Mcgarry from gaels was also very impressive has serious pace and gave garrymore all sorts of bother.
fionan Duffy from crossmolina should be given a chance ………he is excellent at frees , he has has the pace and power for Intercounty football
I see Ballina and Knockmore are in the U15 A final in two weeks. I know its a young age level and might not mean a lot in years to come but shows that there is good players/teams coming through in North mayo again. Good to see a change from Westport/Castlebar /Claremorris . Can only be a good thing for future county minor teams if every area of the county is strong.
Some good late bloomers for U21 who didn’t play minor.
Fionn McDonagh Westport, half forward
Niall McManamon Wesport, pacey man marker
Darragh Kelly Ballaghadereen, midfielder
Peter Naughton Knockmore, full forward
Actually I would say the above four are some of the stronger players we have at U21.
What’s goin on with the sheep stealers. There taking a leaf out of our book. Seems like a right mess on there hands
Good lists there Mayo Messi and JP.
Based in Dublin, I tend to follow the headline acts and it’s good to be reminded of players who missed out because of the change from U21 to U20.
I see Ballintubber manager Kevin Johnson has been nominated for the Galway u20 job.Other big names nominated Padraic Joyce,Val Daly and Stephen Joyce. Interesting to see how Johnson will fare in that process.
Size 5 that’s correct. Minor division 1 league final is Knockmore v Westport also
Who did well in Knockmore’s u21 match v Aghamore if by chance you were at it Gizmo?
Jp no team in division 1 a of a very well competitive championship are just decent kiktimagh can and will go far in it in my honest opinion maybe I’m wrong
I have to say I will be glad to see new rules giving a chance. Breaffy in particular, once they won possession took about 50 handpasses to get the ball to the half way line. Dreadful emphasis on keeping possession not helping younger players in particular. Too much shifting the ball to player in worse position rather than take on the shot when the chance opens up.
I was impressed with belmullet and Damien Mulligan deserves special mention. A bit of physicality about them, their season is certainly not over.
My original question was to Gizmobobs regarding Knockmore u21s 🙂
I see there is also Gizmo.
@Gizmo, just the interpretation of what ‘decent means. There are I believe two ‘very strong’ teams in U21A, Westport and St. Nathys.
We’ll have to see how Knockmore go yet, but I believe Knockmore will be strong, but I struggle to see them beating Westport or Nathys.
Claremorris, strong side but again it comes down to depth in comparison to the top two.
Kiltimagh some good players, but again they’re simply not going to have the depth that Westport and Nathys have. Nathys have a particular advantage on most sides in being able to tog 6’4″/6’5″ Darragh Kelly and he’s going to win a lot of ball at this level.
So, plenty of decent sides, and I would think two very strong sides.
jp so bassically st nathys are going too beat kiltimagh off the field and there is no two ways about it?
Surely to God the Rossies can get someone from Mayo to manage. We’re giving digs out to so many counties, next door shouldn’t be a problem.
JP afraid wasn’t at game as went to support ladies in county A final (both games clashed naturally).
from what I heard Naughton, Holmes, Parke, O’Neill played well. King and Reape did not play. Agree with you JP in your smmarisation. Physical size and build of knockmore lads many of which 17/18 could be issue for them v the larger units. Some lovely footballers in that team though. They won Connacht minor B championship 3 years ago.
Nathys sound like they be very strong. Is it not unusual amalgamation that strong? Would Kilmovee not have been better staying with Charlestown as they did minor last year? Or what was rational for that switch does anyone know.
Claremorris have Macken, McGreal & Diskin current U20. McCormack, Gill, Sainders & Gannon all underage Mayo players. Taccos & Quinn played Senior Championship. Good sprinkling of the rest have Connacht Colleges A & Minor A Titles
Future looks unbelieveably bright with this under 20 championship or is it just me dreaming
Under 20 championship in Connacht in 2019 is going to be highly competitive with Roscommon,Galway and Mayo all strong and the winner good enough to reach AI final at least. Sligo will be decent also and capable of catching any team in Connacht on the hop.
Maybe it’s a good thing we have been under the radar at underage level in recent seasons. Derry have lost anton tohill to Collingwood and even more of a loss – Callum brown has just signed for the GWS giants. What a huge loss he is to Derry football. They Already have Conor glass with hawthorn who is going well. Apparently another Derry player is very close to moving to the AFL too.
In addition, it appears Red Og Murphy is about to sign for North Melbourne. Hammer blow for Sligo – by all accounts one of the best young players they produced in recent years.
Claremorris will be decent but have to have McCormack on the field different team without him, not sure what’s up with Gill as he didn’t appear with the seniors the last couple of months but they do have have Barry, Gannon Macken Higgins Takkos McGreal and Diskin who have togged and played with seniors also Brian Quinn. For younger contingent Harry Burke played midfield for Mayo U17s should well be able to handle himself at this age group.
Thanks for that Mayomessi,
James McCormack I suppose will take a run of games to find last years form. I actually thought he was much more confident last year, but I guess he got interrupted by injuries. I don’t know what has happened Colin Gill, haven’t seen him in teamsheets or bench recently.
@Gizmo, Missed your earlier post.
In my view St. Nathys will beat Kiltimagh by 5pts or more. No, I don’t believe it’s set to be a hammering.
U21 always hard judge as some players may not have trained in weeks etc. But nice see players on action either way. If Anyone at trial Mayo games tomorrow keep us posted.
And congrats to Knockmore minors on winning div 1 league final tonight.
Brilliant result for Knockmore Gizmobobs.
Who is the big powerful number 14 for Knockmore?
JP Caolan Hopkins. Will be minor again next year.
Gizmobob
I believe Caolan Hopkins is a Connacht U18 Rugby player as well, he didn’t get a run with Mayo U17s this year I think Sean Holmes was the only lad to have made it. But it wouldn’t be a first that a few missed the net.
Correct Mayomessi Sean Holmes was only one make Mayo squad/team. was surprised when heard Hopkins hadn’t made cut as he’s so strong and big yet deceptively quick he’s hard managed. If recall rugby wanted him gain weight GAA lose weight. He lost weight but still culled. Adam Naughton another very good player who didn’t get run county (brother of Peter), was not playing last night as away.