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MAYO AND GALWAY MEET AGAINAIB Connacht Club championshipJohn Melvin looks at Ballina's prospects of lowering the colours of Corofin who put their Connaught club and All-Ireland titles on the line this Saturday at James Stephens Park. It may be Ballina against Corofin, but Saturday's long overdue first round Connacht club championship, is another clash between Mayo and Galway, as Mayo champions Ballina, and the reigning Connacht and All-Ireland champions Corofin, vie for a place in the Connaught club semi-final (2.30). It will not be lost on an anticipated large turnout of home support, and indeed the huge crowd that is expected for this mouth watering clash in Ballina, that the Stephenites have always worn the colours of Mayo. It could yet provide the inspiration for what, in fairness, would be an upset against a very strongly fancied Corofin side. For Many of this current Ballina squad, this is virgin territory, but so too was the county final, and if they can rise to the challenge on Sunday, in a similar fashion as they did against Crossmolina, this Ballina side could cause Corofin some serious problems. It has been a protracted club championship, and Ballina feel particularly aggrieved at having been messed about by the delay caused by the problems with the Galway county championship. Nobody wanted to see Corofin stripped of their provincial and national crown, and in the end they emerged, albeit it very late, as worthy champions of Galway for the second year running. Their win over an Ceathra Rua would suggest they still have the strength in-depth and more importantly, the appetite for another crack at the Connaught title. But Ballina too have been working steadily go into this match on the back of a very competent and confident county final win. Fears that the relative youth of the Ballina defence, and the full back line in particular, might not be able to sustain the pressure of a county final proved unfounded. In fact, the Ballina defence turned out to be an inspirational sector earning a 'man of the match' award winning performance from James Devenney. John Healy is an extremely competent keeper and one I'm sure John Maughan will be think of bringing into the Mayo panel. Brian Ruane, Kenney Golden, Ger Brady and Shane Sweeney have done the business Once again they can expect a very rigorous examination but this is a Ballina back-line with a lot of pace and I think they will do well, and it is likely that Brian Heffernan will once again be penciled in for a bit of man marking on Michael Donnellan. Derek Reilly has been another influential player in Corofin's ascendancy to All Ireland champions status last year. But, as in the county final, and indeed as has been the case in Ballina championship run to date, it is the men in the middle of the park that will be dictating the flow of play and Ballina could be in difficulty here if David Brady, as seems likely, is ruled out. Brady left the pitch in Laois on Sunday with suspected broken toes and his fate won't be known until later in the week. His younger brother Ger could be called on to fill his position, but a big game from the big man, Liam McHale is essential if Ballina are to win. The Ballina attack has thrived on a good service from the midfield men, good ball into the corner exploiting the pace Keith Lynn in particular. Paul McGarry, Brian McStay, if he returns from the States, and Denis Coen were others to show up well against Crossmolina but they will be up against arguably Corfoin's strongest department, their defence. They held An Ceathra Rua to 0-8 and the are well marshaled under an inspirational team captain in Ray Silke, who also led his club and his county to a double All-Ireland. Galway keeper Martin McNamara is in excellent form and they have Jason Lardner and Aidan Fahy as two very good wing backs. Scores are certainly going to be hard come by. Corofin carry the mantle of favourites and will be expected to win this one, but I just feel Ballina will be up for this one and for the big man, McHale, another chance at a Connaught medal is gradually slipping away. This could be his, and Ballina's year. Connacht Championship
draw. Semi-finals: . MAYO FAIL TO GET OFF THE LAOISChurch and General National Football League Division 1 BLaois 1-8 - - - -Mayo 0-11John Melvin reports from GraiguecullenIt should have been a comfortable win for Mayo, yet this was a game they could also have lost, but in the end had to grudgingly settle for a draw on a cold and crisp afternoon in Graiguecullen where the visitors learnt one of the harsher realities of winter football-away points don't come easy. Laois may have been manager less and clueless for weeks prior to this game, but they proved that doggedness and persistence has its own reward in a game which drew a crowd of around 2,500. to the town of Graiguecullen which straddles the Carlow -Laois border and where resentments are running deep over a row concerning the parish boundary rule, and over which Laois are accusing Carlow of poaching on their territory. What ever difficulties the political wrangling are causing in Laois, they certainly were not evident on the field of play. There was talk that newly appointed manager Tom Cribbin was resorting to lucky bags to find players, and that club commitments, and the fact that he was only appointed the previous Wednesday, meant he had to field a make-shift side. It certainly looked that way in the first half when Laois looked at sea. Their inability to adopt the new fisted pass rule, their persistence in giving away the ball in front of their own posts, and their apparent nervousness, suggested Mayo could take an easy scalp from this trip, but past games against dogged sides like Laois have taught us winter football life is not as simple as that. But it didn't work out quite that way, and Mayo's apparent unwillingness, or inability, to put away their opponents cost them a valuable point in the end, and it may well have cost them two, but for commendable fight back when they went a point in arrears ten minutes from the end. PenaltyIt was a situation that should not have arisen if Mayo had scored, even a point, from a penalty just on the stoke of half-time. It is easy in hindsight to say Sheridan should have gone for a point. Had he done so, and Mayo were to lose by two, he would still have to face the gallows. Under the circumstances he was justified in having a pot. Mayo were leading 0-8 to 0-4 when David Nestor was almost beheaded as he came through to pick up a good ball from Brian Maloney. Maurice Sheridan's attempt to reach the top corner from the penalty spot was well covered by the Laois keeper. It gave Laois fresh home coming as it did at half-time, and an early point from Gregory Ramsbottom renewed their faith even further two minutes into the second half. The score which altered the course of the game came six minute into the second half when the defence and goalkeeper Paul Kane in particular, were punished for ball-watching. Michael Lawlor's speculative lob was going nowhere, until the unspotted Danny Doogue rushed in to deflect it to the net. Nobody knew anything about it, least of all the keeper, who should have claimed it. It tied the game at 1-5 to 0-8 and from there on it was tit-for-tat. Mayo regained the lead, Laois went ahead for the first time and then Mayo showed some fighting spirit by taking it back again and they appeared to be holding out for a slender lead when a goal-keeping error presented Laois with a 45 which was posted by Michael Lawlor to earn a draw with the last kick of the game. It would never have come to that had David Nestor buried an opening goal chance with the first attack but his shot skimmed over the bar. Brian Maloney also came close to finding the net, only to force a fine save from the Laois keeper who retrieved the ball from under his body. Mayo were two points up inside three minutes, and three point up after six minutes, Stephen Kelly opening Laois's account with a pointed free, Sheridan added a free and Damian Quinn, catching the inside of the post from a tight angle after James Nallen had spotted him isolated in the corner. But a bad clearance from the Mayo defence gave David Sweeney an easy point for Laois and only a point separated the sides after 11 minutes when Stephen Kelly scored his side's best point from play. Sheridan (free) and Tom Kelly traded points before another Sheridan free and a good point from Casey, after a fine move involving Holmes Nallen and David Brady put May three points clear as Mayo hit their best patch coming to the close of the half. Casey earned a free, which Sheridan pointed and the incisive Maloney carved the opening for Nestor, who was taken out for the penalty which was saved. Laois GoalThe Laois goal turned the game on its head, but Mayo, to their credit, weathered the storm to come from a point down in the 21st minute, to go a point clear five minutes from time, thanks to Casey, who finished one of the best moves of that half, and Sheridan (free) with seven minutes remaining. Two minutes from the end the patience of Cork referee. Noel Barrett,( not Sugrue as on programme) finally ran out and he dismissed Laois's Brian O'Reilly, following a second flare-up between players but a Laois player should have gone in earlier for going in with the boot on the grounded John Casey. Mayo looked like they would cling to victory, but Michael Lawlor, prominent figure in the second half, rescued them with a fifty which Mayo needlessly conceded. Not a day for individual brilliance, but from a Mayo perspective David Heaney was excellent throughout and got best support from Kevin Cahill, Pat Holmes and Aidan Higgins. Kenneth Mortimer was solid if unspectacular and recovered well from one bad error which could have been costly, while Ger Brady (Ballina), who stood in for the injured Fergal Costello, will be happy with a solid enough debut display. Mayo failed to win any real clean ball at midfield with Brady and Nallen breaking a lot of ball, but much of it was picked up by Laois. David Brady's exuberance and strenuous efforts may have cost him a place in his club's side to play Corofin on Saturday as he appeared to have injured a leg in a couple of very hard challenges. James Nallen enjoyed the freedom of more open space provided at midfield and played well when he was needed most, but Mayo's attacking problems still abound, although a tight marking and hard hitting Laois defence gave them little scope in the second half, with full back Declan Rooney keeping a tight rein on Kieran McDonald. John Casey carved some good openings to score two good points, while Brian Maloney could be a real prospect and Maurice Sheridan hit a few gems from the hands using the inside of the boot to perfection. David Nestor had another buy day at the office but had very little to show in terms of rewards and Damien Quinn found the going a lot tougher on this occasion. Mayo: Paul Kane, Kenneth Mortimer, Kevin Cahill, Pat Holmes, Ger Brady, Dave Heaney, Aidan Higgins, David Brady, James Nallen, Brian Maloney, David Nestor (0-1); John Casey (0-2); Damien Quinn (0-1); Kieran McDonald (0-1); Maurice Sheridan (0-6). Subs: Ger Brady (Claremorris) for D. Quinn Edward McDonagh for Nestor, . Laois: Fergal Byron, Eamon Delaney, Declan Rooney, Brian Reilly, Colm Parkinson, Gerry Doyle Gordon, Lawlor, Noel Garvan, David Sweeney (0-1); Gregory Ramsbottom (0-1); Danny Doogue (1-0); Tom Kelly (0-1); Stephen Kelly (0-2); Michael Lawlor (0-3- two 45's, Paul Dunne. Ref: N. Barrett (Cork).
The duck should be adopted as GAA club symbolStandún's StationFr Padraig StandúnYoung men of Tourmakeady -Partry did their parish proud recently when they beat Crossmolina and the wind in Ballinrobe to take home the Junior "A" County Cup. It was a credit to them and their hard working manager, trainers and backup staff who kept the club on the road in good times and in bad. Their investment in youth has paid off, and if the scourge of emigration can be kept at bay, they will obviously be in the running for even bigger trophies in the years to come. I saw something of a similar surge from An Ceathru Rua, a Junior West Galway Club ten years ago, now contesting the senior final and supplying four members of the All-Ireland winning panel. As nerve wracking and all as the last ten minutes of the match were, I was never really in any doubt. Hadn`t I seen two magpies on the road that morning as I drove to Mass in the Bunaun Oratory. It`s not that I`m superstitious, weren`t they decked out in the Tourmakeady colours, black and white. "Do ducks pray?" I had been asked the previous night after Mass, and could only come to the conclusion that they must. Not only that, their prayers were certainly answered this year, given the amount of rain we`ve had. They might have been the secret weapon that tipped the balance in the match too, ducks in the opposing camp must not have been kept on their knees for all of the previous week. I might humbly suggest that the duck be adopted as a club symbol. They are easier to catch then a magpie and adaptable to all kinds of weather. If the French rugby team can have a cockerel as a mascot, why not? I`m not suggesting that they be brought to matches - that would be cruel. They could quack away at home laying raw eggs for celebration hangover breakfasts. The pitch in Ballinrobe was in remarkably good shape, given the weather and the fact that two matches had been played earlier. The stewarding and organisation was all of a very high standard and added to the enjoyment of supporters from all sides. It`s on days like that you would appreciate the effort put in voluntarily by so many people, in sharp contrast to the money squabbles that can be such a big part of professional sport nowadays. Who cares what`s on SKY or what it cost when you can watch something just as enjoyable in the fresh air down the road? Comhghairdeas le foireann TuarMhic Eadaigh agus a lucht stiúrtha. D`ardaigh sibh mo chroi agus croíthe chuile dhuine le bhur mbua stairiúl i mBaile an Róba.
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