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HANDBALL The regional handball finals involving schools from Mayo, Galway and Roscommon will be held in An Sportlann, Ballinrobe, on Saturday June 13th at 5pm. It will cater for boys and girls in both singles and doubles. The winners go forward to the National Festival in Croke Park on Sunday July 12th.
NEALE GIRLS WIN The Neale N.S. retained their area title by defeating Gortjordan by 3-7 to 2-5.
FACEFIELD AND MAYO ABBEY MEETINGS A meeting to nominate representatives from the Facefield area to the Claremorris I.R.D. will take place in Facefield N.S. at 9pm tonight, Wednesday. And a similar meeting to select representatives from Mayo Abbey will be held in the GAA Centre in Mayo Abbey at 9pm, June 11th.
GEESALA GIRLS ARE MINI-7'S CONNACHT CHAMPS The Geesala N.S. Girls Mini-Sevens Football team travelled to Sligo, last week, for the Connacht finals and swept their way to an historic victory. In the opening match they defeated a Galway team by 2-7 to 0-1 and this win settled their nerves for the remainder of the competition. In the next round they faced Sligo in what was a tough hard competitive game. Natasha Gaughan was outstanding between the uprights, while outfield Breda Donohue and Paula Scanlon played their best football to see the Erris side triumph by 2-1 to 0-3. The Leitrim team was Geesala's next victims. At midfield Rachel Barrett gave a great display of high fielding. Her distribution to the attack left little to be desired, while Breege Coyle and Beatrice Barrett were on song in the Erris team's attack and when time was called Geesala were 4-1 to 0-4 in front. The final match, against Roscommon, was of little significence as the title had already been captured by the Geesala girls. They beat Roscommon by 6-4 to 0-3. That fact that not one goal was conceded by Geesala in all of the games speaks well for the defence. Overall, they scored 12-15 and conceded only 0-11. Afterwards the winners were presented with the Connacht Pennant and trophy. In recognition of this fine victory a number of the players will feature in the Croke Park Mini-Sevens during the interval of the All-Ireland football final in September.
SWINFORD IN SCHOOLS FINAL
SWINFORD 4-8 THE QUAY, BALLINA 1-11. The semi-final of the Cumann na mbunscol Div. 1 championship was decided on Friday evening, June 5th at Scoil Padraig, Ballina. The match was a hard fought contest between the local North Mayo Champions, The Quay N.S., Ballina and East Mayo champions, Swinford N.S. The fine summer evening saw a large turnout of parents and teachers in support of their respective teams. Swinford set the pace in the opening 10 minutes with points from Enda Mc Callion. The Quay responded with a point from play, before Cormac Feeley collected the ball for Swinford on the right wing and delievered a high cross across the face of the Quay goalmouth. Swinford captain Noel Gallagher rose high and fisted the ball beyond the stranded goalkeeper. The teams exchanged points and the scene was set for a fine contest. Then, disaster struck for the Quay, when Brendan Forkan collected the ball on the edge of the square and netted Swinford's second goal. Despite the setback, the Quay battled their way back, winning some good clean possession in midfield and finishing accurately, scoring 4 points to Swinford's 2. But Swinford were to go further ahead with a goal from full forward Eamon Byrne towards the end of the first half. More points followed from both sides leaving the score at 3-6 to 0-7 in Swinford's favour at half time. In the second half the Quay played with great determination, outscoring Swinford and winning the better posession in midfield. Points from Paul Mc Carthy and Gavin Duffy were followed by a great goal from Mc Carthy from 12 yards, as the Quay fought their way back into the game. Then came the turning point, 10 mins from the end as the Quay were awarded a penalty, but it was not to be the Quay's day as a powerful shot rebounded off the crossbar and was cleared by Swinford. Minutes later at the other end, Swinford were relieved by a second goal from Eamon Byrne. The Quay , however continued to launch attack after attack on the Swinford goal, and it took some stout defending by the Swinford backs to keep their lead intact. Intact it remained and Swinford finished the match clear winners by 4-8 to 1-11. The Quay were best served by Mark Sheehan and Gerard Brady in defence, David Sheridan in midfield and Paul Mc Carthy and Gavin Duffy in attack. Swinford: R Rooney, L Lynskey, D Walsh, E Gallagher, V Murtagh, N Gallagher (1-0), C Walsh (0-1), C Feeley, E Murtagh (0-1), R Mc Callion (0-2), B Forkan (1-0), E Byrne (2-3), P Brennan (0-1). The Quay: P Mc Carthy (1-2), G Duffy (0-4), S Mc Loughlin (0-2), L Brady (0-2), C Mc Donagh (0-1)-scorers.
DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINALS.
CLAREMORRIS N.S. 4-17, NEWPORT 1-3. Claremorris powered their way to their first ever County final with a runaway victory over Newport. Claremorris played great stuff in the first half and led by 3-10 to 1-1 at the interval. Newport had no answer to the skills of John Paul Mc Gahon, Niall Whittle, Eimhin Griffith, midfielder Stephen Walsh (1-3) and forwards Greg Mulkerrins (0-5), Gary Gallagher (1-2), Niall Heneghan (1-3), Paul Hennelly (0-2), Kevin Timothy (1-2) and Kevin Gallagher (0-2). Newport's best performers were goalkeeper Edmund Moran, defenders Stephen O Donnell, Derek Leneghan, Enda Moore and forwards Sean O Malley (1-0), Thomas Conway (0-1), Michael Kilroy (0-1) and Jason O Malley (0-1).
Swinford 4-8 Quay, Ballina 1-11. In the second semi-final it was Swinford who got through to meet Claremorris when they defeated the Quay, Ballina.
DIVISION 2 SEMI-FINALS Breaffy N.S., Ballina 6-6, Knock N.S. 1-5, Belmullet 4-6, Ballyvary N.S. 4-2. DIVISION 3 SEMI-FINALS Errew N.S. 5-10, Bofeenaun 0-4, Meelick N.S. 9-11, Barnacarroll 3-10. DIVISION 4 SEMI-FINALS Garracloon 6-10, Cloonlyon 3-4, Facefield 7-7, Drumgallagh 1-4.
SCHOOL BLITZ One of the most successful competitions organised by Cumann na mBunscol was in 1991 , the small school blitz which caters for one and two teacher schools. It was won by Leitir, Islandeady. This years games will feature Glencastle-Belmullet, Derreens-Achill, Glenmore-Crossmolina, Rooskey-Charlestown, Clare Island N.S.-Westport, Tumgesh-Swinford, Logboy-Claremorris, and Glencorrib N.S. Each School will play 3 games with the top two teams in each group contesting the concluding stages. The venue for the blitz next sat. is St Feichins GAA Cong, commencing at 3.00. The blitz co-ordinator is Donal Carey, N.T. the Cumann na mBunscol Development Officer.
CROSS N.S. WIN COUNTY BLITZ Cross N.S. boys football team won their first County Schools title when defeating Clare Island N.S. in a special small schools blitz in Cong on Saturday. The blitz was organised by Cumann na mBunscol Development Officer Donal Carey to cater for small schools. Cross defeated Tumgesh N.S., Swinford, in the first game by 4-4 to 0-4, and then beat Glencastle N.S., Belmullet, by 1-6 to 0-2 in the semi-final. Their opponents in the final, Clare Island, were creating their own bit of history as it was the first time they had competed in any official competition on the mainland. Cross led by 1-3 to nil at half time and eventually won by 1-4 to 0-1. Donal Carey presented the magnificent Tayto Cup to Patrick Lydon, the Cross captain, and winners, and runners-up medals to both teams. The Cross team was Cathal Reddington, Kenneth Holian, Niall Egan, Jerome Varley, Patrick Lydon, Patrick Mc Tigue, Terri Hehir. Subs: Eamon Daveron, Shane Hehir and David Carney.
HURLING CLUB A Meeting of the Belmullet Hurling Club took place in the Western Strands Hotel on Monday night, 5th June. The chairman, David Murphy, said he was delighted with the amount of support and interest in the club. He said the fundraising social held recently in Glencastle was a huge success and thanked every body who supported it and especially those who helped out on the night and sold tickets and also to the people who donated spot prizes. Thanks also to John Murphy for supplying the music and to T.J. Lennon for sponsoring helmets. He said that the helmets are very essential as safety was their top priority for the players. At present the young members of the club are going around with sponsorship cards in aid of a solo run and other skills. The money they collect will go towards the purchase of their own kits. It is hoped to organise challenge matches with other clubs within the County for the different age groups. The next meeting of the club will take place in the Glenside Tavern on Monday night, 6th July at 9pm.
PAUL PLAYS Paul Finnerty, Creagh, was on the Mayo Cumann na mBunscol football panel which played Galway in an exhibition match in Tuam Stadium on Sunday last. Mayo won by 1-3 to 1-2, thereby providing early cheer for Mayo supporters who treckled to the venue in their thousands for the clash of Mayo and Galway in the opening round of the Connacht Senior Championship. Paul, a student at Ballinrobe boys N.S., is a son of Tony and Marie Finnerty. Meanwhile, Peter Ford's debut as captain of the Mayo senior team proved a frustrating afternoon. Mayo led by 7 points entering the final quarter, but a spirited Galway rally pushed the tie to a replay in Mc Hale Park, Castlebar, on Sunday next.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOOTBALL The destiny of the John Mc Hale and Eileen Walsh cups for 1992 will be decided in Kilmaine grounds on Sunday next, June 28th, at 2pm. Two pitches will be utilised to ensure a smooth passage through the afternoon's fare, and the increasing level of interest in girls football was reflected in the organisers having 3 teams too many for the competition, after sending out a public appeal for entries. The teams competing for the John Mc Hale cup-boys football-Kilmaine, Gortjordan, Ballycushion, Cloghan's Hill, Gortskehy, Neale, Roundfort and Lehinch. The girls teams in the Eileen Walsh cup are Kilmaine, Gortjordan, Gortskehy, Neale, Quay-Ballina, Glencorrib, Ballyglass and Ballinrobe.
OTHER CONNACHT SUCCESSES By Peadar O Tuathain, Secretary Cumann Cluiche Corr na hEireann.
In searching statistics to prove the commitment of Western Gaels, the following information should not be overlooked. Cumann Luith Chleas Gaelheal proposes to promote 4 games in the Official Guide, Handball, Rounders, Football and Hurling. The 1992 Mayo Handball success in the All Ireland U 15 female singles points to a broader based Association throughout Connacht. But more impressive statistics are available for Mayo and Galway in Rounders. The recent revival of Rounders has brought 2 All Ireland Championships and two National league titles to Galway, and 12 All Irelands to Mayo. The introduction of the game to Breaffy, Castlebar, Oranmore, Renmore and Mervue/Ballybane in Galway has brought tremendous excitement and enjoyment to young and old in those areas. This success has led to the development of Rounders in Westport, Cloontuskert, Ballina, Swinford and Ballinrobe.
APPEARED IN 4 FINALS Breaffy brought 2 titles to Mayo, in U 18 and U 15 male All Ireland GAA Rounders Championships in 1989 and 1990, having appeared in 4 finals. Castlebar ladies Rounders team became invincible in 1988, winning all available championship titles for female teams. A year earlier they won U 15 and U 18 titles, and in 1990 became ALL Ireland U 15 and U 18, and senior ladies champions. In the process they won the C. J. Haughey cup, Corn Betsie Gre and U 15 cup for the third time in succession, with several visits to Croke Park. 3 Castlebar girls have been honoured for their performances on the GAA Field in Rounders by the Western People as Mayo Sports stars of the year, Fiona Golden-1989, Claire Conlon, 1990, and Mary Lydon in 1991.
BEST TEAMS IN CONNACHT Galway's Mervue/Ballybane won both men's and ladies' national leagues in 1987 and since then have built up one of the best teams in Connacht to win U 15 All-Ireland finals. They appeared in Pairc an Chrocaigh in 1990 in the first ever mixed seniors final, losing narrowly to a new Clara affiliation. Rounders, the fastest growing game in Ireland, is the GAA'S most genuine chance of international action, after handball, of course. There are good contacts in both Mayo's John Golden Castlebar-is national Treasurer, and Mayo is well served by Tommy Cusack and Adrian Gavin, Castlebar, Donal O Leary, Westport and Tom Higgins, Breaffy, Castlebar. Bord na mBunscol in Mayo has one of the biggest rounders programmes in Ireland, second only after Meath. The national effort is serviced by runai Peadar O Tuathain from whom rule books, Coaching material, scoresheets, advice and statistics are available.
V E C SPORTS GRANTS The Mayo V E C Youth and Sport Grants for 1992 are as follows: SPORTS SECTION: Achill Atheltic club £200 Ballycroy Tug-a War club £200 Castlebar Swimming club £300 County Mayo Athelics £800 B.L.E/B.L.O.E. Cumann na mBunscol £400 Irishtown Community Council £200 Mayo Boxing Board £300 Mayo Community Games £800 Mayo Juvenile Basketball £500 Mayo Triathlon club £300 Mayo Canoe club, Ballina £300 Rakestreet Sports club £200 St Colman's Tug-o-war £200 Connacht Youth Golf Circle £300 Mayo Association Football £800 league-youth&school boys C.L.G. Coisde na nOg Mhaigh Eo £800 Irish Technical Colleges Football £400 association TOTAL: £7,600 YOUTH SECTION: Achill Order of Malta Cadet Corps £200 Mayo Macra na Feirme £200 Mhaigheo district Scouting S.A.I. £400 Mayo Foroige £800 Westport Youth Activites £200 Westport Youth Band £200 TOTAL: £2,000
LADIES G.A.A. CONGRESS IN WESTPORT by Ivan Neill MAYO G.A.A CHAIRMAN WARNS AGAINST GETTING TOO TECHNICAL Mayo G.A.A Chairman Mr Christy Loftus, addressing the 18th annual ladies G.A.A. Congress at Hotel Westport, over the weekend, warned the delegates about getting too technical. He said the GAA were noted for playing too many games in the the boardrooms. "Let victory be your goal but let enjoyment of playing be a priority", he stressed. In praising their efforts, he hoped that Mayo would always have a healthy attitude towards ladies GAA. The congress opened on Sat. morning with delegates from 20 counties present as well as from England. At the outset Mayo Ladies GAA Board Chairman, Shane Campbell, Swinford, welcomed the delegates and hoped that their stay in Mayo would be a happy one. The Mayo delegates at congress were Kathleen Canning, John Hopkins, Shane Campbell and Naula Egan, the County P.R.O. Most of the saturday morning session was taken up with the reading of the minutes of the Congress last year in Clare and reports from the Provincial secretaries. Through her press secretary, President Mary Robinson wished congress every success. During the morning session Congress was also addressed by the President of the Connacht Ladies GAA Council, Mr Pat Byrne-Mayo. He said it was a great honour to host the National Congress in Mayo and that it would boost the promotion of the game in Connacht. Stating that he would be looking for an even greater participation in competitions this year, he praised the efforts of Cumann na mBunscol for their hard work in the promotion of the game in schools. " I can safely say that through this organisation more girls were playing the game in many areas through-out the County and province", he added He asked for more participation from secondary schools even though there had been a big increase over the past few years. The standard of playing had also increased dramatically. Congress mass was celebrated on Saturday evening by Fr Gerry Gillespie, Belmullet, who was one of the founders of ladies football in the County. Later that night the congress banquet was held at the hotel. When it resumed on Sunday morning it was addressed by Mr Paddy Muldoon, Mayo GAA Central Council delegate, and Mr Dermot Keane, Cumann na mBunscol, Mayo. Dermot Keane spoke of the great efforts being done in Mayo in the promotion of the game. Mr Muldoon said that he would give every assistance to help the spread of ladies football. Mr Peter Rice, President Ladies GAA also addressed Congress at length. He was critical over the coverage that ladies football was getting in the national media and that they would be looking for increased coverage this year. He praised the Mayo ladies GAA Board for their excellent arrangements for congress. |
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