I on the Ball - John Melvin
MAUGHAN EXPECTING LETTER FROM AMERICABy JOHN MELVINI see John Maughan is expecting a letter from America. Well, New York to be precise. In an extensive interview on Noel Byrne's Saturday Sports Show on Castlebar Community Radio Maughan really opened up about his thoughts for the coming year, the past year and indeed the present situation. And I'm glad to see he has not lost his sense of humour. When asked by the interviewer if Mayo would be playing the re-play in New York if the match in Castlebar on May 29th ended in a draw, the Mayo manager said he would more than likely be taking a one-way ticket to New York if Mayo failed to win the match at their first attempt. But he said he was taking no chances in what he described as 'the banana skin' match of the championship and said he has been in constant touch with his scouts in New York, who have sent him on press clippings and are giving him lots of feedback on the situation in the Big Apple. Maughan will also have the benefit of reports from Kevin McStay and Sean Finnegan who will be bringing an army team to New York for two games prior to the championship and he will be expecting the lowdown on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the New Yorkers, who will be backed by former county men from various locations in Ireland. It would seem Maughan has ever reason to take New York seriously. They are backed by Budweiser and won't be found wanting in terms of financial backing. They also plan to come to Mayo eight days in advance of the scheduled championship tie and will be setting up camp in Westport where they have booked the local pitch for training purposes. On more serous matters Maughan said he has tried out about forty players in bid to unearth new talent and was confident that a handful of players would be found. He was not particularly happy about a lot of the negative criticism coming from some quarters and a small section of Mayo supporters at a recent games. When asked that the new players be given a chance and that I was not fair to judge them on performances in the Connacht League games which were played in dreadful conditions, he said conditions at the moment were very difficult for players and it was unfair for people to start writing-off some players, who may not play particularly well in very testing conditions. In an up-beat and optimistic outlook on the year ahead, Maughan said he believed his side will deliver this year and said they were currently putting the work in. He said they would be making a major push in the remaining national league games but said the foundation of the team would still be very much around the side which has been playing for the last two years. The Mayo manager also confirmed that he is holding back a few players and is confident of unearthing some new talent before the championship, but said some players who are playing well for their club, don't always cut it when they put on the county jersey. "There is a big step up from club football to county football and I have seen a number of players over the years who have failed to make that step up". He denied that the buzz had gone out of the team and that the same negatism was creeping in that was there before he arrived on the scene four years ago. "I don't think so and I certainly would hope not. This panel of players are exceptional ambassadors for the county over the last few years and they have been very unlucky. I hope the supporters will get off our back and I was sorry to see a negative element, a very small one I might add, at a recent game. What these lads need is encouragement and not negative comments and snide remarks, particularly the new players making their debut. They need encouragement and lets not be too judgmental this time of the year". he said. ."We have twelve or thirteen exceptionally talented players but we need another two or three players to turn us into an exceptional team" He said getting into the National league play-offs would not be a priority this year, which would suggest that all the focus will be on the championship. He still sees Galway as the main threat in Connaught and as favourites for the All Ireland given the pool of players they have. In Leinster he said Meath will be a threat but has gone for Dublin to emerge as champions.. In Ulster Maughan has gone for Donegal to emerge while in Munster he believes Kerry will be the team to beat. Basketball BoostLadies basketball in Mayo was given another boost at the week-end, a Rocket boost to be precise, as Castlebar Rockets senior ladies basketball team propelled themselves into the E.S.B. Womens finals. Their first half performance against a team from Belfast on Sunday was one of the finest produced by this young club and given the relative youth of this side, it can only be a matter of time before they deliver on their promise. Success has not come overnight, and this team has effectively grown from the under age leagues which began in Castlebar about a dozen years ago. The biggest problem facing coaches Cathy Kilkenny and Cassie Hennelly was keeping the group together, as some of them pursued their academic careers at third level, while others also faced the huge demands o their time which comes with sitting a leaving certificate. It is to the credit of the team and their mentors that the group have maintained the interest and were prepared to make the sacrifices to keep the Rockets on course for a national title. They may not necessarily deliver this year. Last year it was essentially the same side which went down in the final of the Under 19 Sprite Cup. They will face very stiff, and indeed more seasoned opposition, in the women's Regional Finals, but there is no doubt about it, but this Rockets team is getting there. It can be only matter of time before they hit the target. What stood to the side in Sunday's clash with a psychically stronger Belfast side, was the fitness levels of the Mayo girls. Obviously a good deal of the Christmas holidays were spent in the gym, and it showed. They did lose their way a little in the second half, when, inevitably, the concentration began to drop., but their first half performance was as good a basketball exhibition as I have ever seen from a ladies team. The fast breakers, Susan Rowland and Siobhan Kilkenny, killed their opponents with some deadly three-point shooting, four in-a-row between them in one sustained period of unrelenting pressure, which finally cracked the Belfast side when a twenty point gap was opened up and there was no way back for the visitors. And it is not often referees, and certainly the most maligned bunch of arbiters are basketball referees, come in for commendation, but I was certainly impressed by one of Mayo's newest referees, Tracey Conway, who had a superb game. It is difficult enough to referee a basketball match at the best of times, but keeping your impartiality is extremely difficult when a lot of your mates are playing. Miss Conway can take a bow. I'm just glad my basketball days are behind me, more or less, as this is one strict official I would prefer to avoid. Take a bow TCAnd lest I forget, while the young ladies were running the floor at the De la Salle Hall, Ballina under 19 team, with two St Gerald's students on board, James Durcan and Paul McGuinness, reached the final of the Sprite Under 19 Cup at the Nations Basketball Arena in Dublin. They beat Portlaoise, but went down to Kilkenny in the final, but this Dermot Melia coached side is a team for the future, and again, Dermot has done well to keep them together. A national title also beckons for this side.For the recordI got a jingle during the week from Martin Walsh, who is almost a Kilmovee man. Anyway, Martin, and in a very pleasant way I might add, pointed out that it was not entirely correct when I stated in last week's column that only for the presence of Mayo doctor, Frank Davey, there would not have been any medical personnel present to render assistance to Roscommon footballer Tommy Grehan who was injured during her F.B.D. clash between Mayo and Roscommon at Ballinlough. I am glad to point out that, in fact, Roscommon did have Dr Martin Daly present and I am delighted to set the record straight. Many thanks to Martin for the call, my only wish is that some of the other callers I have got in recent years were even half as pleasant. Looking forward to that Mayo-Ros clash, Martin. Keep in touch. |
