Photo: @Elverys
The tail-end of the last day of Christmas it may still be but, after the long closed season at inter-county level, the on-field action has already resumed with a vengeance. This coming weekend sees another round of games for both the senior and U21 teams and match details for both were confirmed by the County Board earlier on this evening.
The seniors are in action against IT Sligo on Sunday at James Stephens Park, Ballina, where throw-in is scheduled for 2pm. The students took a bit of a battering from Roscommon in the opening round last weekend and so they’ll no doubt be looking to make amends this coming Sunday, though our lads will equally be keen to preserve the new management’s 100% winning record for a while longer.
The U21s, meanwhile, are down to face Sligo on Saturday. This match was supposed to be played in Ballina as well but it has now been switched to nearby Knockmore. Throw-in on Saturday is 12pm.
There’s no word on teams or anything like that for these matches but, hey, it is only January football after all.
In separate news, I know Christmas is ending but I think I may have to get on to the portly lad in the red suit to get me one of those Mayo GAA cycling jerseys that Elverys have just released. Full info on this sensational sartorial development is here and that’s the jersey in question in the photo above. Nice, huh?
WJ Thanks for the info re the new Elverys gear. Just woundering if you have a mobile number for the man in the red suit.
Class geansai. Will we see one on this years Tour de France?
Whatever about seeing the jersey in the Tour, I’ve no doubt you’ll see some bearded hipster rocking up to Croker in a pair of skinny jeans wearing this jersey.
Good chance he’ll get a few digs in the toilets at half time though.
Is there any buses travelling to Cork for the Match at end of the Month that anybody here is aware of.
What has happened to Charlestown’s O’Hara Park that it seems to have completely slipped off the radar for Mayo fixtures? Time was it was an almost automatic venue for Mayo Sligo fixtures. It has always been one of the best winter surfaces in the country so once a match was fixed for Charlestown you could be pretty certain it would go ahead.
Ohh, I want me one of those!
That’s a home venue for Sligo. Sligo and Roscommon should be brought to Belmullet at the very least.
AndyD, it might be the fact that it has a stand that could possibly hold 200 and the rest is a bank / broken concrete benches – now would that be adequate for the Mayo fans that found Hyde park a little shoddy for them last year? Me included 🙂
Ros game changed to the Hyde .
Very likely there will be a bus from Shrule
The panel for Sunday’s game has been named:
Mayo take on IT Sligo in round two of the FBD Insurance League this Sunday January 10th in Ballina. Manager Stephen Rochford has named a squad of 24 players which shows three changes from last weekend’s win on NUI Galway. In come Lee Keegan, Evan Regan and Donal Vaughan with James Stretton & Mike Sweeney(injured) making way.
The Mayo panel for Sunday’s round two FBD Insurance League clash with IT Sligo, in James Stephens Park, Ballina, at 2pm is:
Colm Boyle (Davitts);
Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites);
Caolan Crowe (Garrymore);
Jason Doherty (Burrishoole);
Andrew Farrell (Killala);
Matthew Flanagan (Balla);
Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber);
Brendan Harrison (Aghamore);
Robert Hennelly (Breaffy);
Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis);
Kevin Keane (Westport);
Lee Keegan (Westport);
David Kenny (Aghamore);
Conor Loftus (Crossmolina);
Darren McHale (Knockmore);
Shane McHale (Knockmore);
Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore);
Shane Nally (Garrymore);
Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites);
Tom Parsons (Charlestown);
Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites);
Mark Ronaldson (Shrule-Glencorrib);
Keith Ruttledge (Knockmore);
Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe).
Team Manager: Stephen Rochford
Selectors: Donie Buckley, Tony McEntee & Sean Carey.
Did Regan not play for UUJ last week? Seems a bit odd he’s named in the Mayo squad this week. Rochford must be checking out what he can do from early on.That’s a very decent squad for an FBD game.
Yeah I’m not sure how it works, maybe an agreement was reached with UUJ that he would play the first game for them and then the next one for Mayo. With the game taking place in Ballina that might be another reason why Stephen Rockford wanted to have him in his panel for this match. I hope that he has more luck than the last time he played for us anyway.
The decision to switch the Roscommon match to Hyde Park, could be an indication that a decent sized crowd is expected.
In regards to Regan. Ulster colleges don’t have first pick on county players like they do in Leinster Connacht.
KL,
You have probably answered my question about Charlestown. Mind you the 200 capacity stand would have no problem with the crowd in Belleek last Saturday. But with Mayo at home a bigger crowd is probably expected. But at 12 noon maybe not.
Baconfactoryend,
I appreciate your desire to inconvenience Roscommon/Sligo supporters. I often felt that way myself. But, while Belmullet is a lovely part of the country, as a venue it would not be a help to most Mayo supporters either. I hope to be in Knockmore on Saturday, as I was in Belleek last Sat, but an extra 50/60 km one way would probably be outside my range.
Incidentally, what are the odds on a late switch to the afternoon on Saturday as last week?
Erris Head,
UUJ, which I think is Evan Regan’s college, is paying on Saturday night so I expect that would make him available for Mayo on Sunday. After last year I expect he is anxious to get a Mayo Jersey on his back, esp in Ballina. The advisability of two games in such quick succession is another thing though.
Interesting to note that Belmullet is a lovely part of the “country” , it’s also a lovely part of our county. Woe we ask east or south Mayo fans to get of their holes and comfort zone of McHale Park and head to Erris, no wonder they have left the Castlebar Corrick road a dirt track. Reverse it, Mayo followers also live in the villages of Glosh, Falmore, Elly, Drum, Binghamstown, Corclough, Shraigh, Doohoma not just Belmullet. Don’t think a crumb from the laden table might go astray, play a county match back there, the pitch is better than some of the dumps I have stood in following Mayo.
Have to agree with you John,I remember over fifty years ago standing with my thumb out I line of cars from Bellmullet and surrounding areas, all for the connaught final,we always got a lift two,god be good to all who followed Mayo then and since, and the road has not improved either