GAA
8 July 1998

Welcome Inn League snippets

Nine rounds of the League have been played and Ballaghaderreen looked doomed, by all accounts. A twelve point defeat at the hands of Hollymount on Saturday did nothing to help their cause. Meanwhile Frank Noone's ever-improving Holly' take over at the top as Crossmolina v Castlebar is postponed due to the Mitchels involvement in the Championship (a brief involvement as it turned out).

Who'll go down? In division one Ballagh' are hot favourites, near-neighbours Swinford have alot of work to do and Kiltane will be looking for a return to form in the League after their excellent Championship victory at the weekend.

In division two, it pains me to write that Kilmaine looked set for a snappy enough return to Division Three; Kilmeena will be watching their backs and Louisburgh will be hoping that a sustained run in the Championship will inspire them to greater efforts in the League.

And while on the issue of the league and the championship, the yawning gap between the two was illustrated yet again at the weekend when Breaffy, my fancies for the Intermediate Championship, who were comprehensively defeated (2-10 to 0-8) by Louisburgh in the preliminary round on Sunday week, proceeded to turn that result around at the weekend to record a revenging seven point defeat over coastline counterparts. The 'if's, buts and what might have beens' must have been reverberating until the early hours of Sunday morning. . . . .

Referees

Most other talk about the Championship so far has been the poor form of the referees. Personally, from both the Intermediate & Senior Championship games I attended on the weekend before last, both Charlie Collins (Mayo Gaels v Davitts) and Willie Feeley (Kiltimagh v Hollymount), handled the games quite well, Willie defusing a potentially volatile encounter in Gilamartin Park with some sensible refereeing.

But, as reports intimate, it seems that the standard of refereeing to date in the Championship has not been up to scratch. Criticism from both sides you understand, nobody claiming partiality, just bad performances.

This is a time bomb waiting to explode. With the championship, there is a hell of a lot at stake, and if referees make poor decisions, players will get frustrated and will vent their fury and anger at each other. Someone will get seriously injured, and the G.A.A will have a lawsuit on their hands. The Bank of Ireland will withdraw their sponsorship. Barry Shakh (him of O.J. and Louise Woodward fame) will be called over from the States, charge the Association $1,000 per hour, the G.A.A. will go underground and the trial will be live on t.v.

Seriously though, the problem will have to be addressed. Like the priesthood, joining the brood of referees is becoming a very unattractive proposition. New vocations are few-and-far-between. This is worrying and all teams still with an active interest in the Championship will wait with wonder to see who'll be appointed to their respective matches in the next round. Waiting with trepidation almost. The focus will be on the referees in the next round and, like the players, they will have to perform.

Pride of place goes to the hurlers With all our 'mainstream' county selections out of their respective championships, the focus has turned to the other 'unconventional' county teams, if you like: the hurlers, the Masters footballers and the Lady footballers.

The hurlers are going great guns this year and last Saturday evening they beat Leitrim to qualify for the All-Ireland Junior 'B' Final, playing the winners of Meath and Louth, who play this week. Additionally, next Saturday evening, at 5 p.m., as a curtain-raiser to the Connaught Senior Hurling Final, Mayo play Sligo in the Connaught Junior League final.

It's a tribute to manager Joe Henry and selector Seosamh Mulchrone that the senior players are following in the footsteps of their underage colleagues and hopefully we can have some form of success on the hurling field this year.

Ollie Bolton and the Masters have three wins from four and take on Roscommon at 6 p.m. in Kiltimagh on Saturday evening. Finian Joyce (Castlebar Mitchels) and Johnny Jordan (Moy Davitts) are two welcome additions to the team and with the likes of Cavan and Fermanagh yet to come, victory for the lads on Saturday evening is vital, should they wish to qualify for the knock-out stages.

The Ladies face the Munster champions in the All-Ireland Senior semi-final on Sunday September 6th and the panel for July has been announced. It contains the following: Denise Horan, Edel Biggins, Marcella Heffernan, Edel Mullin, Sandra Malee, Kathleen Ann Heneghan, Imelda Mullarkey, Fionnuala Ruane, Christina Heffernan, Aoife O'Malley, Sinead Costello, Maria Hayes, Aisling Donoghue, Martha O'Malley, Cora Staunton, Rachel Barrett, Colleen Mullaney, Sabrina Julian, Maria Staunton, Claire Egan, Orla Casby, Diane O'Hora, Marie Gallagher, Denise McDonagh, Helena Lohan, Georgina Carey and Shelley Gibbons.

CONNAUGHT UNDER-16 LADIES FOOTBALL

Mayo on course to retain Ladies under-16 title

Mayo . . . 6-16 Leitrim . . .2-1

Despite a shock first minute goal from a Tara McCabe free that went in off the angle, Leitrim never really posed a threat to the home side in their first defence of the Connaught under-16 title, in Swinford on Friday evening last.

Coach Denise Horan, and selector Jimmy Corbett have a wealth of talent and experience at their disposal with Claire Egan, Aoife O'Malley, Charleen Kilroy, Denise McIntyre, Sharon McGing, Helena Lohan, Sabrina Bailey and Niamh Lally, all eligible once again this year.

The inclement conditions did nothing to seduce an entertaining game from both sides but they didn't disappoint and, although Leitrim were clearly outplayed, they should some nice touches at intervening stages of the game.

Mayo led 2-10 to 2-0 at the interval break and proceeded to only pile on the agony for the Leitrim representatives. Denise McIntyre and Martha Carter grabbed a brace of goals each while midfielder Charleen Kilroy chipped in with a goal with the Neale's Sabrina Bailey also raising a green flag.

Mayo: Louise Byrne (Knock), Jenny Shaughnessy (Hollymount), Helena Lohan (the Neale), Sharon McGing (Carnacon), Orla Casby (Knock), Carmel Bourke (Knock), Niamh Lally (Carncaon), Charleen Kilroy (Belmullet) (1-2), Claire Egan (Carnacon), Michelle Gibbons (Tourmakeady) (0-3), Aoife O'Malley (Tourmakeady) (0-2), Martha Carter (Carnacon) (2-3), Sabrina Bailey (the Neale) (1-2), Anne Marie Conroy (Hollymount) (0-2) and Denise McIntyre (Carncaon) (2-2).

NEALE GIRLS QUALIFY FOR FINAL

UNDER-14 COUNTY SEMI-FINAL

The Neale . . .7-14 Belmullet . . .3-7

After a series of comprehensive wins over teams such as Ballinrobe, Hollymount, Carncaon, Achill and Knock/Claremorris, the Neale under-14 girls continued a marvellous run of success when they defeated a very game Belmullet side at Foxford on Sunday last, to reach the County final for the second successive year.

Playing with a strong breeze, the Neale girls got off to an early scoring spree with Cathriona O'Toole, Michelle Biggins and Annette Hopkins putting 2-8 on the board without reply.

With ten minutes to remaining in the first half, Belmullet began to re-assert themselves. With Isabelle Noone and Michelle Healy getting a grip on midfield, they began to cause a shaky Neale defence many problems, leaving the score at half-time - the Neale 3-10, Belmullet 2-2.

Belmullet started where they left off, laying siege to the Neale goal. With greater accuracy, they would surely have narrowed the gap during this period but had to be satisfied with a total 2-3 at a time when the Neale's defence looked extremely uncomfortable.

With Theresa Mylotte moving to midfield and Jackie Moran moving to keep tabs on a lively Cathy Reilly. The Neale lifted the siege with their forwards working more as a unit and slowly but surely they began to draw away with half-forwards Jemma Naughton and Triona O'Toole tormenting the Belmullet half-back line.

The Neale: Caroline Gibbons, Elaine Hughes, Laura Walshe, Aoife Kearney, Laura Murphy, Ger Coakley, Michelle Hennelly, Caroline O'Malley, Jackie Moran, Jemma Naughton, Therese Mylotte, Cathriona O'Toole, Edel Fitzgerald, Michelle Biggins and Annette Hopkins. Subs: Niamh Varley for M. Hennelly, Joanne Graham for E. Hughes, Jackie Higgins for E. Fitzgerald.

Belmullet: Sandra Connery, Sandra McIntyre, Edel Cawley, Pauline Barrett, Lisa Carey, Jacinta Carey, Rita Carolan, Isabelle Noone, Michelle Healy, Ashling Thompson, Thomasine McHale and Janet Cafferky.

Ref: Declan Corcoran (Tourmakeady).

MAYO SHOCK FANCIED SLIGO IN JUNIOR OPENER

Mayo . . .5-9 Sligo .. .2-15

Mayo ousted a strongly fancied Sligo team in tr

Mayo: Sabrina Julian (Moy Davitts), Colleen Mullaney (Moy Davitts), Maria Hayes (Carnacon), Sharon McGing (Carnacon), Niamh Lally (Carnacon), Carmel Bourke (Knock/Claremorris), Orla Casby (Knock/Claremorris), Michelle Corbett (Capt.) (Carnacon), Shelley Gibbons (0-4) (Tourmakeady), Denise McIntyre (1-1) (Carnacon), Linda Staunton (Carnacon), Linda Barrett (2-2) (Islandeady), Denise Roche (2-2) (Carnacon) and Carol McNicholas (0-1) (Moy Davitts). Subs: Annemarie Conroy (Hollymount) for C. Mullaney, Mary McGrath (Carnacon), Louise Byrne (Knock/Claremorris) and Jenny Shaughnessy (Hollymount).

*Mayo now meet Galway at home in the Connaught semi-final on the 12th of July.

Welcome Inn G.A.A.. League Focus

By John Melvin

BREAFFY BOUNCE BACK

Breaffy, who took a hammering from Louisburgh in the championship last week, bounced back to full health at the weekend to exact full revenge and move closer to the division two league title.

Breaffy are now on 16 points three clear of their nearest rivals, Ballintubber and Davitts.

Meanwhile in division one Hollymount under the astute management of Frank Noone, had a double win at the weekend to go top of division one.

They repeated their championship win over Kilitmagh on Friday and also beat Ballaghadereen on Sunday to put them on 14 points, two ahead of Charlestown who went under to Knockmore.

Div One:

Garrymore move up

Garrymore 3-8 Kiltimagh 1-10

Tony Corcoran, John Slattery and Fintan Corcoran were the goal scorers for Garrymore who moved up the division one table with this impressive win over Kiltimagh at Gilmartin park on Saturday.

Fintan Corcoran was the top gun on 1-4 as Garrymore indicated they will be a strong championship force this year. Scorers for Kiltimagh were C. Walsh and A. Forkan 0-3 each, Seamus Cosgrave 1-0; T. Ivers 0-2.

Garrymore: B. Tierney, G. Hession, M. Coleman, P. Flannery, N Hession, A Heaney, L. Monaghan, D. Hession, T. Corcoran, J. Slattery, F. Corcoran, K. Kelly, M. Lynskey, F. Forde, J. Heffernan. Kiltimagh: P. Burke, K. Foley, S. Cosgrove, J. Murtagh, Seamus Cosgrove, G. Mulhern, K. Curry, J. Finn, P. McNicholas, P. Byrne, C. Walsh, J. Doyle, A. Forkan, T. Ivers. B. Mooney,. Hollymount 0-15 Kiltimagh 0-7

Hollymount repeated their championship win over rivals Kiltimagh but with a lot more ease in this division one clash. Kiltimagh were well understrength for this game and were unable to cope with a very strong Hollymount attack with John Stagg emerging as top scorer on 0-6 while others scorers for Hollymount were George and Noel Stagg 0-2 each, P.J. Coen 0-2; Noel Connelly 0-1 and Ray Connelly 0-1.

Knockmore have two dismissed

Knockmore 0-13 Charlestown 0-9 Knockmore took both league points from Charlestown but it may be at a cost as they had tow players dismissed in this encounter.

Fergus Sweeney and Peter Cawley were both dismissed late in the game and if they are given more than the mandatory two weeks, Knockmore could find themselves in some difficulty when they face Crossmolina in the championship in under three weeks time.

Kevin O'Neill 0-5, Kevin Staunton 0-3, Joe Davis0-2, Shane Sweeney 0-2 Others Results: Division Two: Ballintubber 3-14 Kilmaine 2-11; Westport 1-19 Castlebar 2-7; Davitts 2-11 Kilmeena 1-8; Ballyhaunis 2-12 Burrishoole 2-3; Lacken 2-6 Ballinrobe 0-12; Breaffy 4-8 Louisburgh 1-10.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998