Into The West Magazine - June 2014-Digital Edition

Vol 5.
Issue 1
June 2014
OFFICIAL GAA PUBLICATION
2.50
Geared
Upfor the
Cship
Geared
Upfor the
Cship
Sligo win junior
title again!
Sligo win junior
title again!
Page 2
T
HE summer months are with us again
and for GAA supporters across the
country it's a time we all look forward
to.
Its a fantastic feeling to have champi-
onship football and hurling up and running
and with that comes the club scene so there
is much to be excited about to in the com-
ing weeks and months.
Sligo and Roscommon gain a special
mention here after the Yeats men's win
over Leitrim to claim successive Connacht junior football champi-
onships, while Roscommon's tremendous Division 3 run saw them
reach the final and defeat Cavan to claim a much deserved crown.
There have also been many hard luck stories along the way and
none more so than the Mayo hurlers who fought hard to reach the
Christy Ring Cup semi-final only to defeated by a much fancied Kerry
side on the day.
Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and London all performed admirably
in the NFL and it will be interesting to see what the summer has in
store for each of these teams.
At the time of writing we have already witnessed, reigning Con-
nacht champions Mayo and Galway give dominant display over New
York and London respectively.
Meanwhile, Roscommon overcame a hard-working Leitrim only to
be knocked out in a thrilling provincial semi-final to James Horans
Mayo which has set up a decider against either Galway or Sligo.
After watching the first few weeks of hurling, I'm looking forward
to seeing what Sky have in store for the first ever live Gaelic football
match in front of their cameras in Markievicz Park, in a match which is
set up to be something special.
The Galway hurlers have also began their Leinster campaign,
where they saw off Laois and I would like to wish them the very best of
luck in one of the toughest tests in the game against Kilkenny in Tul-
lamore.
The club championships have thrown in in most counties at this
stage and it is fascinating to see how communities come to a stand-still
every weekend as the emotional roller-coaster of the club champi-
onship takes hold.
Finally, I would like to wish each and every supporter the very best
for the coming months. Enjoy the summer of GAA.
Is mise, le meas
JOHN PRENTY, Runai, CLG Cuige Connachta
A Chairde Gael,
W
E are halfway
through the year, but
we have been
blessed with some tremen-
dous football and hurling
games already from a Con-
nacht point of view.
Roscommon reached the All-
Ireland U-21 final and this is
the fourth year in a row with a
Connacht team contesting
the final. Surely this is a posi-
tive statement about the fu-
ture of Connacht football.
Roscommon were hugely im-
pressive in the Connacht
championship, particularly
their resourceful forwards.
For most of the game they
completely outclassed Cork
in the semi-final while in the
All-Ireland final against
Dublin it just didn't happen
for them. Well done to their
manager Nigel Dineen and to
Roscommon County Board
on the ongoing progress and
success of underage football
in Roscommon.
Congratulations is also due
to Sligo on their success in
Connacht Junior Football
championship, and we wish
them well in All-Ireland se-
ries.
Well done to the Mayo hurlers
on winning the Connacht In-
termediate championship.
They had terrific perform-
ances in the Christy Ring Cup
and this young side will go
from strength to strength.
Both Mayo and Galway sen-
iors had very impressive wins
in New York and London re-
spectively and it was a good
beginning for both teams.
It was amazing the extent of
the support both counties
had and I know that the out-
ings were enjoyed by all. The
games were significant social
occasions for the Irish
abroad and it was great to
see them supported so vehe-
mently.
Roscommon faced Leitrim in
the quarter-finals of the sen-
ior championship and they
looked very impressive com-
ing off their Alianz League Di-
vision 3 win. Leitrim, under
new manager Sean Hagan,
prepared their young side
well and hopefully their ef-
forts will come to fruition in
the future. They now face
Down in the Qualifiers and we
wish them well.
The Roscommon-Mayo semi-
final played at Hyde Park was
a real hard-fought battle. We
had a low scoring first-half
but the sides really faced up
to each other in the second
with Mayo showing their ex-
perience in the end reclaim-
ing a three-point deficit with
only eight minutes to go. It
was a great performance by
Roscommon and for Mayo, it
was the kind of battle where
character was needed and
found.
Galway and Sligo are in the
other semi-final and that too
promises to be a close en-
counter. Sligo, under new
manager Pat Flanagan, have
the benefit of the record on
recent encounters, but this
young Galway side were re-
sourceful and impressive in
London.
There has been much debate
about the penalty and 21-
metre free in hurling and as a
member of the Management
Committee I'm pleased that
the matter is being clarified
and that the resolution is rea-
sonable. What was develop-
ing was unbecoming and
dangerous.
Many football clubs in the
province are looking forward
to hosting Feile Peile na nOg
and it promises to be a mo-
mentous occasion. It is a
great opportunity for clubs to
renew, refresh and attract
new members.
I thank all involved in the
preparations particularly
Padraig Carolan and Michael
O Connor. I'm confident it will
be a huge boost to football in
the province.
Is mise,
FRANK BURKE,
President,
Connacht Council GAA
Secretarys Note Presidents Note
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Into the West
Into the West is produced by the Connacht GAA Council.
Editor: John Fallon. Published by: Pdraig Corcoran.
News and photographs for inclusion can be emailed to
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zine each quarter, free of charge,
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Next edition: August, 2014. Deadline for advertising and copy will be
announced on the Connacht Council website www.connachtgaa.ie.
MAIN COVER PIC Roscommon supporter Willie Tiernan from Boyle dur-
ing Connacht GAA Football senior championship semi-final between
Roscommon and Mayo at Dr. Hyde Park.
Photo: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
OFF LEAD PIC Sligo captain Johnny Martyn receives the cup from
Uachtarn Comhairle Connacht Proinsias de Brca.
Photo: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
Page 3
Crafty Mayo reach provincial final .............................4
Mayo get defence up and running..............................7
Walsh helps Tribesmen run riot .................................8
Slick Rossies condemn Leitrim to Qualifiers ..............10
All-Ireland hopes bite the dust (U-21s).......................12
Mayo take provinical hurling crown...........................13
Spluttering Galway take the win................................14
Tribesmen's tamed by Cats........................................16
Galway clinch Division 2 title ....................................17
Tribesgirls power into the final..................................18
Sligo crowned Connacht junior champs again............19
Leitrim beat Galway to reach decider .......................20
Don't lose the faith urges Coleman............................21
Time to close the gap says Mulholland.......................22
McDermott enjoying the hard life..............................23
Moran happy to park injury trouble...........................24
Kavanagh a doubt for Galway ....................................25
Connacht Writers Player of the Month.......................26
Mayo exit Christy Ring Cup .......................................28
Connacht Schools Championships..............................30
St Gerald's take Connacht title...................................31
Roscommon's Mercy shine in Camogie ......................32
Connacht impress in Wheelchair inter-pro.................34
An Taoiseach welcomes Claddagh Gaels ....................35
Tribesgirls slip in battle for league success................37
Focus on Ladies GAA..................................................38
Focus on Mayo...........................................................40
Mixed views on FRC proposals ..................................50
Roscommon draw winners.........................................52
Hodson Bay weighs in as sponsors.............................53
Athleague-Tremane take the honours........................54
Calry/St Joseph's shine at quiz time ..........................57
St John's rule at minor level ......................................58
Focus on Galway senior championships.....................59
All the winners from Galway......................................64
Focus on Leitrim........................................................68
Allianz Cumman na mBunscoil...................................69
Sligo are junior All-Ireland
champions again!
Considine and Turlough part
ways
Kavanagh a major doubt for
Sligo semi
Annette Clarke is the May Player
of the Month.
Galway advance to next round of
senior championship
Crafty Mayo reach provincial
final.
Roscommon U21 All-Ireland
hopes dashed by Dubs.
Galway girls clinch Division 2
decider.
Page 4
Mayo .................0-13
Roscommon .........1-9
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
M
AYO gave youth its chance, but in the
end they had veteran Andy Moran to
thanks for reaching a fourth consec-
utive Connacht final.
James Horan punted on fresh faces, but
Moran's introduction two minutes after Cia-
ran Cafferkey's goal gave Roscommon the
lead for the first time turned the game on
its head.
John Evans followed Mayo's ace with a
trump of his own and Diarmuid Murtagh re-
sponded with two points in a minute, but a
run of five points in the final ten minutes
saw Mayo into the provincial decider
against either Galway or Sligo.
In a shocking first-half Mayo did-
n't help themselves with a tally
of ten first-half wides and aim-
less deliveries, which meant
they didn't deserve to lead
by more than 0-4 to 0-3 at
the break.
Two minute in Jason
Doherty kicked a fine
point to get Horan's men
off to a good start, but
Kevin Higgins responded
with a sweet curled effort
from the right.
By the ninth minute
Mayo pulled ahead when
Cillian O'Connor landed
the first of his six frees,
but for the next 25 min-
utes just one point was
scored as neither
side raised their
standards above
the average.
O'Connor
kicked that point to put
Mayo 0-3 to 0-1 ahead, but a good point from
play from Senan Kilbride was matched by
Kevin McLoughlin a minute from the break,
and Donie Shine's injury-time free left a
point in it at the interval.
Senan Kilbride had a great goal chance for
Roscommon three minutes after the restart
when he benefited from a slip by Ger Caffer-
key, but the scramble Mayo defence meant he
had to be satisfied with a point.
But five minutes later Cafferkey rattled
the net when Naill Daly sent him in on goal
and the wing-back finished superbly to beat
Robbie Hennelly.
That score triggered Mayo's emergency
plan and after O'Connor kicked a quick free
in response to the goal, Moran discarded his
tracksuit.
O'Connor and McLoughlin kicked pressure
frees to wipe out the Roscommon advantage
as it appeared
that Mayo had shaken
off their lethargy.
But Diarmuid Murtagh
CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL
Crafty Mayo reach provincial final
Alan Dillon, Mayo,
kicks for goal as Mayo
seal a Connacht final
berth.
Photo: Barry Cregg /
SPORTSFILE
Page 5
pushed Roscommon a point
ahead with two excellent
points and after Donie
Shine departed with a
nasty looking knee injury,
Senan Kilbride and substi-
tute Mark Nally added
points to stretch the
gap to three with
just eight min-
utes remaining.
But that's where Moran came to
the fore. The skipper had the calm-
ness required to kick two long range
points that propelled Mayo to a 0-13 to 1-8
lead deep into added-time.
Murtagh cut the gap to a point with a 75th
minute free, but Finbar Crgg was unable to
force the replay in the final play when Donal
Vaughan and McLoughlin smothered his driv-
ing run.
ROSCOMMON: D O'Malley; N Carty, N
Collins; R Stack, N Daly, C Cafferkey 1-0; C
Shine, K Higgins 0-1; D O'Gara, I Kilbride, C
Cregg; S Kilbride 0-3, 1f, D Shine 0-1, 1f, C
Murtagh.
Subs: E Smith for I Kilbride 43 mins; D
Murtagh 0-3, 1f for C Murtagh 47; M Nally
0-1 for D Shine 54; F Cregg for O'Gara 54; M
Finneran for S Kilbride 68; D Smith for C
Cregg 68.
MAYO: R Hennelly; K Higgins, G Cafferkey,
T Cunniffe; L Keegan, C Boyle, D Vaughan; A
O'Shea, S O'Shea 0-1; D O'Connor, C O'Shea,
J Doherty 0-1; C O'Connor, 0-5, 5f, A Free-
man, K McLoughlin 0-4, 2f. Subs: A Moran
0-2 for C O'Shea 45 mins; A Dillon for D O'-
Connor 54; M Sweeney for Freeman 61; R
Feeney for Doherty 73.
REF: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).
Roscommon midfielder
Kevin Higgins in action
against Aidan O'Shea.
Photo: Matt Browne /
SPORTSFILE
Crafty Mayo reach provincial final
McLoughlin:
We always
believed the
win would
come
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
ANDY Moran was a huge influence, but
the Mayo win wasn't down their cap-
tain alone and corner-forward Kevin
McLoughlin played a huge role for
Horan's side, including kicking a super
free from the sideline in the 50th
minute which pushed Mayo ahead
after Cafferkey's goal.
McLoughlin said that despite trailing
by three points with eight minute re-
maining Mayo always believed they
had the ability to reel in Roscommon.
We knew that there was plenty of
time. It is a long game. As long there
wasnt a big gap the biggest gap was
three points and that is very reach-
able for us, said the Knockmore at-
tacker.
We were certainly tested today,
right to the wire and it will stand to us
for the rest of the championship.
He also said they expected a physi-
cal test from the hosts: It is the
least I expected. Roscommon al-
ways bring good intensity to a
game. We never except anything
easy here.
They defended very well and it
was very hard to get a good shot of.
They probably frustrated us a small
bit in the first half, we just had to
keep calm, hold onto the ball and
the opportunities would come and
they did.
Page 6
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
J
AMES Horan said he was mighty relieved
to get the chance to lead his side in their
quest for four Connacht titles in a row,
but he said it was a tough call to leave his
match winning captain on the sidelines.
Horan gave starts to Diarmuid O'Connor
and Conor O'Shea instead of Ballaghaderreen
attacker Andy Moran, but he says he gave
them the nod after impressing in training.
Ah look, it's always tough a decision like
that but we've always said we'll try and play
form players. And some of the guys have
been playing very well.
Andy's been playing well too, it was a
tight call, but with Andy the guy he is you
saw his response today, that's the way it
should be.
Yeah Andy did very well, got a couple of
points and set up a few. Alan Dillon did very
well, won a few crucial breaks and ran the
line very well, that's what you expect from
guys who are top inter-county players.
We got jolted a little bit during it but to
come through a game like that we're de-
lighted, said Horan, who confirmed Gavin
Duffy still remains part of his squad, despite
being excluded from the match-day 26.
With the clock running out last year's All-
Ireland runners-up looked destined for a trip
through the Qualifiers, but the Mayo boss
said he was impressed with the resilience
his side shown with defeat stared them in
the face.
They went three or four ahead of us at
one stage, they had momentum, they had
the crowd and the wind, they had everything
with them.
It could have been easy to lie down a lit-
tle bit but the character and resolve the guys
showed out there was excellent.
We weren't playing well, we knew that,
we were making poor decisions but we kept
grinding away, got three points on the trot
and I think five on the trot to win the game.
From that point of view I'd be very happy,
said Horan,
Roscommon manager John Evans beamed
with pride at his young side's performance
afterwards, but he said it was wrong for the
Primrose and Yellow to pile too much pres-
sure on their promising youngsters.
One of this year's U-21 stars, Diarmuid
Murtagh looked to have put the Rossies on
the patch to victory with a couple of quick
points after his introduction, but despite de-
feat, Evans says they will learn from some
basic errors.
I'm hugely proud of what the lads did.
We absolutely believed in the game plan we
had coming in here, said the former Tipp
boss.
We believed that we could shake Mayo
and more than shake them believe it or not.
We believed that this five- or six-to-one on
was ridiculous odds.
Our team is a young team and they are
inside there and they are devastated. But Ill
tell you one thing fine and straight, I got
them to stand up inside there. Im proud of
what they did.
They made mistakes and it was absolute
inexperience that beat them out there. They
had the game and had the chances. Inexperi-
ence, and you can't put an old head on young
shoulders. But how wonderful they were,
said the Roscommon manager.
Evans pointed to the introduction of expe-
rienced players like Moran and Alan Dillon as
the major difference between the sides, but
the Killorglin man says he sees plenty to be
positive about from his side's display.
It was close enough, but I knew we'd
need another couple of points. Look you are
dealing with a team that's four or five years
in the making.
I remember this Mayo team up against
Kerry four years ago in Croke Park playing in
a semi-final and they were making the same
mistakes we were making.
But we've learned now and will learn as
well, and we'll learn from those hard knocks.
I can't fault their attitude. The game plan
worked, he said.
In total Evans sprung four of this year's U-
21 All-Ireland finalists from the bench in the
second-half as he sought youthful legs to out-
run a fading Mayo. Keeping his young stars in
reserve was key, he said.
We were holding out U-21s, he said.
But you can't be hanging your coats on
young fellas. You must build the foundation
first and bring them into it because they are
talented young players.
But there will come a time when
Roscommon will have all those players and
the experience underneath their belt. And
that'll be their time.
He (Moran) made a big impact. And I
think that it's a good ploy by Mayo that they
did that.
He has huge experience and he showed
his wares in the second half when he did
come in.
Now having said that lads, who would
you be going for if you were on the market.
Would you be going for young Murtagh or
would you be going for Andy Moran?, said
Evans.
Relief all round for
Horans boys
Ciaran Cafferkey celebrates after scor-
ing Roscommon's goal against Mayo.
CONNACHT SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL
Mayo ..................4-18
New York .............0-8
By COLM GANNON
Mayo Advertiser
M
AYO breezed into the semi-final of
the Connacht football champi-
onship with a mauling of New York
in the Bronx to launch the 2014 champi-
onship.
The home side were no match for the
Connacht champions who, thanks to four
second half goals two of them from
Cillian OConnor penalties crushed
the Exiles challenge.
James Horan was able to give game
time to Alan Dillon for the first time since
the All-Ireland final, while Diarmuid OCon-
nor will remember his debut for the senior
team after he bagged a goal and Conor
OShea came on to join his brothers Aidan
and Seamus on the pitch for a good half
an hour of the contest.
The second-half was a cake walk for
Mayo thanks to Diarmuid OConnors early
goal.
His big brother Cillian kicked off his
championship with 2-5, both of the goals
coming from the penalty spot in the 20th
and 27th minute of the second half, while
Enda Varley put the icing on the cake with
Mayos fourth goal in injury time.
While there will be still lots of questions
for Mayo to answer as the year goes on
they will be happy to have got this win
under their belt after the way they fell
apart against Derry in the league semi-
final three weeks earlier.
The game sprung into life right from the
throw in with Vaughan pointing after 28
seconds.
That was quickly followed up by a
Kevin McLoughlin score after he was
played in by Andy Moran.
Mayo extended their lead again a
minute later when Andy Moran pointed
from close range after Jason Doherty
forced Keith Scally to turn over the ball.
The home-side registered their first
score five minutes in when Brendan
Quigley kicked a huge effort from out be-
yond the 45m line. However, Mayo re-
sponded within seconds with Vaughan
scoring his second of the af-
ternoon.
Jason Kelly pointed a free
for New York on the seven
minute mark, but
any thoughts that
New York had of
making a come-
back was quickly
quashed as Mayo
went on to
outscore them
by 0-7 to no
score over the
next 28 min-
utes.
Andy
Moran
fisted over
after the
ball broke
to him
from re-
bound from an Aidan OShea goal attempt,
the Breaffy man had a second goal
chance on the ten minute mark but saw
his shot crash back off the post.
Jason Gibbons drove the ball over the
bar after linking up well with Seamus
OShea down the Subway station side of
the field. New York were struggling to get
to grips with the Mayo midfield and half-
forward line who were dominating the pos-
session.
Cillian OConnor kicked two points with
Lee Keegan and Andy Moran also finding
the target before the half time whistle.
There was one downside for Mayo with
McLoughlin having to leave the game late
in the half to be replace by Enda Varley
following a tough challenge from Ronan
McGinley which saw the New York man
pick up a booking.
SCORERS Mayo: Cillian OConnor 2-5 (2-0pens,
5f), Enda Varley 1-1, Diarmuid OConnor 1-0, Andy
Moran 0-3, Aidan OShea, Kevin McLoughlin and
Donal Vaughan 0-2 each, Jason Gibbons, Lee Kee-
gan and Darren Coen 0-1 each.
New York: Jason Kelly 0-3 (3f)f, Brendan
Quigley, Alan Raftery, Ross Wherity, Johnny
McGeeney and Gary ODriscoll 0-1 each.
MAYO: R Hennelly; T Cunniffe, K Keane, K Hig-
gins; L Keegan, C Boyle, D Vaughan; J Gibbons, A
O'Shea; D O'Connor, S O'Shea, J Doherty; K
McLoughlin, A Moran, C O'Connor.
Subs: E Varley for McLoughlin (35), R Feeney for
Doherty (h-t), T Parsons for Gibbons (42), A Dil-
lon for D O'Connor (44), C O'Shea for Moran (54),
B Harrison for Higgins (58), D Coen for C O'Con-
nor (68).
NEW YORK: G Joyce; R McGinley, G McCartan, K
O'Connor; K Scally, P O'Connor, D O'Sullivan; B
Quigley, A Raftery; P Boyle, J Kelly, R Wherity; J
McGeeney, K Quinn, G O'Driscoll.
Subs: C McCormack for K O'Connor (h-t), N Far-
rell for Boyle (39), L Maguire for Farrell (62), J
Huvane for O'Sullivan (66).
REF: P O Sullivan (Kerry).
Mayo get defence of title off to a
flying start
Keith Scally, New York, in action against Seamus O'Shea, left, Cillian O'Connor, and Tom
Parsons, right, Mayo. Photo: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
Keith Higgins stays tight to Niall Farrell of New York. Photo:
Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
Page 7
Mulholland happy
with opening salvo
By BILL KIELY Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY manager, Alan Mulholland, believes that his side
may have caught London on the hop in Ruislip in their
Connacht GAA championship opener.
In a game that was forecast to be a bit of stumbling block
for Galway, they made light work of the opposition winning
on a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-7.
It wasnt (a championship contest in terms of intensity),
I think the stuffing was knocked out of London after the
first 10 or 15 minutes, said Mulholland.
After the Exiles surprise assault on the Connacht cham-
pionship in 2013, Mulholland knew that his side couldnt af-
ford to underestimate the opposition.
We knew coming over here wed a job to do and we were
going to have to perform very well to win, so we left no stone
unturned in terms of preparation.
Galway now face a daunting away trip to Sligo in front of the
awaiting Sky Sports cameras.
The Tribesmen will be full of confidence after their opening
win, however Mulholland knows that this will be an altogether dif-
ferent proposition.
The intensity wasnt quite there so were going to have to
have our heads screwed on for the visit to Markievicz Park, he
concluded.
Galway ...............3-17
London ................0-7
By BILL KIELY
Media West Ireland
A
FTER Galways victory over Cork in
the 2013 All-Ireland U-21 football
championship Shane Walsh was
fast-tracked for greatness and he deliv-
ered scoring 1-6 to help Galway to a 19-
point victory over London in Ruislip.
The Kilkerrin/Clonberne clubman
began the game at centre-forward and
duly obliged after just 15 seconds to get
Galways first score of this years Con-
nacht championship.
Despite reaching the provincial decider
last term, London were hapless to resist
an early onslaught from the visitors and
when Michael Martin added 1-2 by the
sixth minute, Galway never looked back.
There was no let up from a Tribesman
outfit that sensed blood and they went on
to dominate the first-half with Danny Cum-
mins speed a constant threat and it was
his point in the 28th minute that had Gal-
way 1-8 to 0-0 in front.
Their opponents lack of edge in front
of goal meant that Adrian Faherty, their
goalkeeper and one of six Galway natives
in the London team, got their first score
just before half-time.
Another free from the former Claregal-
way stopper, had the teams going in at 1-9
to 0-2 at the break.
Any chance of Galway easing and al-
lowing London to get back into the game
was quelled when the brilliant Walsh got
his goal to put the Tribesmen 13 points
ahead.
And with the teams going tit for tat
from here until the finish, Galway were to
find the net once more before time ran out.
Cummins was this time rewarded for
his endeavour and the visitors went on to
finish with six different scorers in a fine
team display.
Ruislip has recently been a stumbling
block for Connachts elite and Galways
next opponents, Sligo were famously
beaten there last season.
Nevertheless it is only May
and its vital Galway dont get
ahead of themselves like they
did after a similar annihilation
of Roscommon two years
ago, with Sligo the ones to profit from that
psychological trauma.
Losing to Sligo in Markievicz Park
would still give Galway a place in the final
12 of this years championship, however
Page 8
Walsh helps Tribesmen run riot
the bigger prize and a date against the
winners of Roscommon and Mayo in a
Connacht final is surely in the back of their
mind.
And if Walsh can continue to provide
the fulcrum and lead from the front it could
well prove to be an interesting summer for
the Tribesmen.
SCORERS Galway: S Walsh 1-6 (2fs, 1 '45'), M
Martin (1f), D Cummins 1-3 each, E Hoare 0-3, M
Lundy, A Varley 0-1 each.
London: A Faherty (3f), L Mulvey (2f) 0-3 each, J
Feeney 0-1.
GALWAY: M Breathnach; D O'Neill, F Hanley, J
Duane; G Bradshaw, G O'Donnell, P Varley; F O
Curraoin, T Flynn; M Lundy, S Walsh, J Kavanagh;
M Martin, E Hoare, D Cummins.
Subs: G Higgins for O Curraoin (47), A Varley for
Martin (51), D Comer for Lundy (51), J O'Brien for
Flynn (57), C Mulryan for Bradshaw (60), E Con-
cannon for Hoare (68).
LONDON: A Faherty; P Butler, S Curran, D Mc-
Carthy; S Hannon, T Gaughan, M Walsh; M
Gottsche, M Carroll; G Crowley, D Dunleavy, C
O'Neill; E O'Neill, P Geraghty, J Feeney.
Subs: L Mulvey for C O'Neill (h-t), B Collins for
McCarthy (h-t), M Miskelly for E O'Neill (47), S
Mulligan for Carroll (61), L Colfer for Feeney (62),
B Mitchell for Walsh (66).
REF: F Kelly (Longford).
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
Galway attacker Shane Walsh
says he cannot wait to get his
teeth into Sligo after his 1-6
haul in his first championship
start helped Galway past
London last weekend.
And the
Kilkerrin/Clonberne
clubman says the
pressure is now on
the Tribesmen's
experienced
players
who missed
out through
injury to
force their
way back
into the
side be-
fore the
trip to
face the
Yeats men at
Markievicz Park in
four weeks time.
There is nobody taking places for
granted at the moment, we still have
Paul Conroy and Sean Armstrong to
come back.
But the pressure is on them after
today. We'll all want to hold our spots
for the next day. But we are really
looking forward to Sligo now, said
Walsh.
Walsh, a product of the St Jar-
lath's College footballing nursery,
made his first championship ap-
pearance in last year's mauling at
the hands of Mayo in Pearse Sta-
dium.
But a first start for Galway on
foreign soil in Ruislip was still a tricky out-
ing for the 20-year-old.
Coming over here, it was a new experi-
ence travelling to London for a game. But
we came out in the first 15 minutes and just
got the job done, Walsh told Galway Bay
FM.
I wasnt keeping count of what I got, we
just wanted to keep the scoreboard ticking
over and the team was getting the scores. I
was just complementing the lads, it was
their hard work that got the scores, I just
finished them.
The platform was set at the back and we
kept them scoreless for almost a full half. It
started from there and worked its way out.
We dominated at midfield and that made it
easy for the forwards then. It was a great
team effort, he said.
HOME FORM HOME: Galway's Shane Walsh
swaps shirts with fellow Kilkerrin/Clon-
berne native Damien Dunleavy who fea-
tured for London in Ruislip.
Photo: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
Page 9
Walsh helps Tribesmen run riot
Walsh continues to impress
BATTLE: London's Mark
Gottsche and Galway's Paul
Conroy faced off ahead of
their Ruislip tussle.
Photo: Diarmuid Greene /
SPORTSFILE
Roscommon ........1-18
Leitrim ...............0-13
By JOHN CONNOLLY
Leitrim Observer
T
HE home side justified their pre-
match favouritism with a sparkling
first half Connacht Senior Champi-
onship display as they dissected Leitrims
defensive set-up with clinical and deadly
efficiency.
Roscommons 1-12 in the first half, all
but one from play, left Leitrim with an ab-
solute mountain to climb in the second half
and realistically, the contest was all but
decided when Ronan Stack jumped to
punch the ball to the Leitrim net in the third
minute of added time.
That Leitrim cut the gap to five points
speaks volumes for their character, for the
pride in the jersey and their defiance but it
cant hide the fact that Roscommon were
simply the superior side.
Roscommon supporters, hyper-critical
of their own teams, blasted the perform-
ance as not one capable of upsetting
Mayo but John Evans side opted for a
policy of containment rather than all out at-
tack in the second half.
The loss of Cathal Shine
in the middle of
the park disrupted their previous domi-
nance but what was telling was the fact
that any time Leitrim managed to string
two or three or four points together,
Roscommon would up the pace once
more with two or three scores of their
own.
Manager Sean Hagan and players
spoke afterwards of the 1-2 scored in
the last five minutes of the first half
being the difference between
the teams and, in strict
terms, that is certainly the case as Leitrim
closed what seemed like a yawning ten
point gap to five points with eight minutes
to go.
But even before the goal,
Roscommon were manag-
ing two points to every one
Leitrim scored during the
first half as their incisive
passing and long range
shooting from distance cut the
heart from the Green & Golds strategies.
Truth was, Leitrim struggled with
Roscommons physical power during the
first half and there was a real sense that
the home team were doing just enough to
stay in front during the second half.
Sean Hagan took something of a gam-
ble by altering the line-up that had pros-
pered so well in the League, perhaps all
too well aware of the scoring threat posed
by Roscommon. The match-ups sought by
Leitrim appeared well founded with Donal
Wrynn suited to the immense physical
presence of Donie Shine and Paul Bren-
nans combativeness and energy to nullify
Senan Kilbrides threat.
But with Shine moving all over the field,
dragging Wrynn out of position and open-
ing up passing and running lanes and Kil-
bride benefitting from unpressurised ball
coming into him, Leitrim didnt get the best
out of either Brennan or Wrynn.
When Barry McWeeney moved back to
the corner, it stopped the rot defensively
and we also saw far more of what Bren-
nan in particular can do going forward as
the Melvin Gaels man was central to the
Slick Rossies condemn Leit rim to Qualifiers
Page 10
Donie Shine kicks a point
for Roscommon.
Photo: Piaras O Midheach /
SPORTSFILE
Barry Prior, left, and Robert Lowe, Leitrim, leave the field dejected after defeat to Roscommon
in the Connacht championship quarter-final. Photo: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE
Page 11
second half improvement in form from
Leitrim.
Brennans energy, a combative Paddy
Maguire, subs Gerry Hickey & Robbie
Lowe adding urgnency and the likes of
Barry Prior and Wayne McKeon improving
their form significantly in the second half
meant Leitrim were on the front foot a
good deal more in the second half.
One of the biggest talking points was
the late call-ups for Conor Beirne and
Micheal McWeeney to the starting line-up,
a gamble that didnt come off and caused
quite a lot of debate among supporters af-
terwards.
The cauldron of a championship en-
counter against Roscommon was a tough
spot for young McWeeney to make his first
Senior start and the young St. Marys man
struggled to find his feet.
Beirnes inclusion was no real surprise
as Leitrim sought to produce a goal threat
but Roscommon were well prepared, leav-
ing a man back in front to protect their
backline and the big Eslin man never
threatened the impact desperately sought.
It probably wasnt fair to expect so
much from Beirne, only a month after re-
joining the panel, as he struggled to match
the intensity and pace of Senior champi-
onship action and it might have been bet-
ter if he had been introduced as an impact
sub.
Barry McWeeney was another to get a
surprise start after rejoining the panel a
month ago and while he struggled early
on, the Aughnasheelin man contributed
well during the second half.
Captain Emlyn Mulligan delivered prob-
ably his best championship performance
for the Green & Gold, leading from the
front and causing Roscommon no end of
problems. It wasnt just his eight points but
his leadership, driving his team forward,
and his defiant spirit that really captured
the imagination.
Paddy Maguire, despite a few dodgy
moments in a ferocious battle with Cathal
Cregg during the first half, stopped the rot
in the second half.
Despite the improved second half dis-
play, overall it wasnt the sort of blood and
thunder encounters we expect from
Leitrim and Roscommon as Leitrim
havent kicked on from their promising
League form.
The Qualifiers await and with Leitrim
coming in at an earlier stage this year,
there is still plenty of hope for this years
championship but work needs to be done.
LEITRIM: C McCrann, B McWeeney, P Maguire, P
Brennan, G Reynolds (0-1), D Wrynn, B Prior, D
Moran, D Sweeney, W McKeon (0-1), E Mulligan
(0-8), M McWeeney, K Conlan (0-1), J Glancy, C
Beirne (0-2). Subs: R Lowe for M McWeeney (24),
G Hickey for Sweeney (29 - BC), S McWeeney for
Glancy (47), A McLoughlin for Beirne (53), R Cox
for Brennan (62).
ROSCOMMON: D OMalley, S McDermott, N
Carty, N Collins, D Keenan, N Daly (0-2), C Caffer-
key (0-1), C Shine (0-1), K Higgins (0-3), D OGara,
D Shine (0-2), R Stack (1-0), S Kilbride (0-3), C
Cregg (0-1), C Murtagh (0-2). Subs: E Smith for C
Shine (41), M Nally for Cafferkey (49), D Murtagh
(0-2) for Kilbride (54), F Cregg for C Cregg (61), C
Burns (0-1) & D Donnelly for OGara & Stack (69).
Hagan
has no
complaints
in defeat
By JOHN CONNOLLY
Leitrim Observer
H
E might have felt that his team
didnt get the breaks but man-
ager Sean Hagan admitted that
the better team won on the day.
We just didnt get any breaks in
the second half, said Sean, We
needed to get the goal to get back
into the game, unfortunately, we did-
nt get that opportunity. We just have
to wish Roscommon the best of luck,
I thought they were the superior team
on the day.
The Leitrim manager pin-pointed
Roscommons 1-2 before half-time as
the crucial factor - We felt at half-
time, we would have been going in
five points down and unfortunately, I
think they scored 1-2 in injury time in
the first half and ultimately that is
what cost us the game, we couldnt
recover from a ten point deficit.
However, Sean paid tribute to his
teams strength of character -
Roscommon kicked phenomenal
scores in the first half, as good as
youd see anywhere in the country
but I thought our backs as a unit
were magnificent in the second half,
they really tightened up.
Asked what he said to inspire his
team at half-time, Sean said There
are a lot of experienced players in
our dressing room and they knew
they didnt do themselves justice in
the first half.
There was a bit of team spirit
there and they felt they didnt do
themselves justice there in the first
half. Our lads are real quality foot-
ballers and they put in a big perform-
ance in the second half.
Every man, it was an individual
effort to get his own performance in
order and then the unit would come
together and that is basically that is
what happened but unfortunately, it
was too much of a come-back to im-
plement on the day.
Lads could have gone missing
but they didnt, they responded well.
We have known that all season that
there is lots of character in this
team.
Slick Rossies condemn Leit rim to Qualifiers
Leitrim's Emlyn Mulligan, right, shares a joke with Donie Shine, as he is interviewed by Daragh
Small, Media West, after the game. Photo: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE
Page 12
Dublin .................1-21
Roscommon .........3-6
By Ian Cooney
Roscommon Herald
O
F all days not to turn up. Whether ex-
pectation crippled them or they were
simply swamped by Dublins early mo-
mentum, the Roscommon U-21 team imploded
when they were taken to embrace the occa-
sion.
Dublin were very good but all teams have a
spring in their step when they are afforded the
latitude to do as they please, and theres no
better county in the business to pile on the
misery when the opposition is off-colour.
A few days later, its still hard to find an an-
swer, some sort of excuse for Roscommons
rotten display, particularly in the opening half.
Nigel Dineen had quality players at his dis-
posal, personnel that had taken out other big
hitters in the GAA fraternity like Mayo and
Cork. But they went missing on Saturday when
the tide was turning against them, as it did
from the opening exchanges.
When Man of the Match Conor McHugh fin-
ished off another slick team move with the
Dubs only goal in the 35th minute, the score-
board read 1-17 to 0-1. It was nearly too much
to take in. How could a contest that had been
earmarked beforehand as being tight be so
one-sided? The fact that Roscommon re-
sponded with three goals in four minutes took
the sharp edge off the scoreline but it didnt
disguise the despondency. As Dublin captain
Cormac Costello lifted the Clarke Cup, deflated
Roscommon supporters stared into space, un-
able to make sense of it all.
Perhaps Roscommon should have become
more defensive when Dublin opened up a six-
point advantage at the end of the opening
quarter. Any hopes of a revival had just been
quashed when Donie Smiths tamely-taken
penalty was easily saved by Dublin goalkeeper
Lorcan Molloy in the 13th minute.
As the half wore on, the worse Roscommon
became, kicking possession into no mans land.
Dublin deployed Conor Mullally as a sweeper in
front of their full-back line. The Cuala player
surely couldnt believe his luck as Roscommon
kept kicking possession into his grateful arms.
As a result, Diarmuid Murtagh, the ten-point
hero from the semi-final success against Cork,
was a spectator.
Roscommon were decimated at midfield.
Dublin grabbed breaking ball as if their lives
depended on it. Whats more, they delivered
possession into the space in front of a lethal
full-forward line that accounted for all but
three of Dublins final tally of 1-21. Roscommon
also let their opponents take short kickouts,
and the Dublin momentum built from there.
The only positive from the opening half was
the performance of full-back Sen Mullooly. He
tried manfully to plug holes but there was sim-
ply too much to do. Dublin couldnt miss from
play or frees. Their levels of intensity were at a
different level and the subsequent damage
sunk Roscommons ship.
A huge Roscommon support made its way to
Tullamore. Buoyed by the ladies success
against Antrim, anyone who chose to look at
the Dublin warm-up would have been worried.
It was laden with purpose and intent, and the
match itself followed a similar path.
Paul Mannion opened the scoring under
pressure without any Roscommon player get-
ting his hand on the ball from the throw-in. But
Roscommon could have goaled moments later.
Good work by Mark Healy along the endline
saw the ball arrive invitingly for Donie Smith.
The Boyle player palmed possession first-time
towards goal but Molloy got a hand to the ball
to keep it out. Then Ultan Harney kicked a mar-
vellous point from 40 metres. Little did anyone
in the stadium think that it would be Roscom-
mons last score of the half.
The Dubs soon showed their class. Their
running and movement cut Roscommon to
shreds and the scores followed with increasing
regularity. A free from Mannion from a difficult
angle was followed by points from Cormac
Costello and three on the bounce from Conor
McHugh. When Mannion seamlessly slotted
over a 45 after referee Barry Cassidy over-
ruled his umpire in the 12th minute, the Dubs
were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead.
Roscommon were being swamped all over
the field but their chance to make inroads into
Dublins advantage arrived a minute later.
David Byrne dragged Donie Smith to the
ground, a foul that resulted in a black card for
the Dublin full-back. But Smiths resultant
penalty hardly troubled Molloy and the chance
was gone.
Dublin went on to pile on further misery.
Their wing-back Eric Lowndes and McCaffrey
were causing all sorts of trouble. Midfield was
rampant and, as a result, Mannion, Costello
and McHugh, were receiving the sort of ball
they craved in acres of space. It was nigh im-
possible for the Roscommon full-back line to
defend against torrents of Dublin attacks.
Only a brilliant Niall Scully effort from the
right wing disrupted the flow of scores coming
from Mannion, Costello and McHugh as Dublin
established a 0-14 to 0-1 lead at the break.
Surely there would be some sort of Roscom-
mon response. Initially there wasnt as Man-
nion (2) and McHugh landed rapid-fire scores.
Then McHugh combined with his full-forward
line team-mates to steer the ball beyond Colm
Lavin.
Nineteen points behind, what was there to
lose and credit to Roscommon for sticking at it.
Ronan Daly set up Murtagh for a point before
the St. Faithleachs player combined with
Adrian Gleeson to find the net. Gleeson was in-
volved again when he flicked Mullollys hopeful
CADBURY ALL-IRELAND U-21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
All-Ireland hopes bite the dust
Ronan Daly is tackled by Niall Scully of Dublin. Photo: Dire Brennan / SPORTSFILE
Page 13
delivery into the path of Ciaran Kilcline and the
Roscommon Gaels player goaled emphatically.
Amazingly, a third goal arrived in the next
attack as captain David Murray set up Murtagh
for another Roscommon green flag. Sure we
only need another three goals, joked someone
in the press box but thats where the fun
ended.
Dublin slowed the game down to take the
sting out of any possible Roscommon revival.
Ultan Harney and Enda Smith did kick a couple
of fine points from play but the Dubs were
never in any danger as McHugh, McCaffrey,
Mannion (a free) and substitute Shane Cun-
ningham found the range.
The Dubs were soon celebrating. Roscom-
mon were plunged into a period of reflection, a
process that will take some time.
DUBLIN: L. Molloy; R. McGowan, D. Byrne, R. Mc-
Daid; E. Lowndes, J. Small, J. McCaffrey (0-1); P.
OHiggins, B. Fenton; N. Scully (0-1), S. Boland, C.
Mullally; P. Mannion (0-8, five frees, one 45), C.
Costello (0-4, two frees), C. McHugh (1-6). Subs
used: E. OConghaile for Byrne (14 mins, black
card), G. Hannigan for Boland (44 mins), G. Ivory
for OHiggins (45 mins), S. Cunningham (0-1) for
Costello (50 mins), N. Walsh for Mannion (60
mins).
ROSCOMMON: C. Lavin; C. Kenny, S. Mullooly, D.
Murray; R. Daly, J. McManus, C. Daly; U. Harney
(0-2), T. Corcoran; C. Kilcline (1-0), M. Healy, E.
Smith (0-1); D. Murtagh (2-3, two frees), M. Nally,
D. Smith. Subs used: M. Gunning for Nally (23
mins), T. Featherston for Kenny (25 mins), N.
McInerney for C. Daly (30 mins), A. Gleeson for
Gunning (half-time), S. Flynn for R. Daly (51
mins), S. Killoran for Healy (59 mins).
Mayo ..................2-12
Roscommon .........1-11
By Michael Commins Mayo News
M
AYO were crowned Connacht Intermedi-
ate hurling champions for 2014 in Dr
Hyde Park. It was a hard-earned win for
the Mayo lads against a resurgent Roscommon
side who led for most of the game. The relief
was palpable at the end as Kenny Feeney
hoisted the cup aloft. It was a good finish to a
decent season for the Mayo hurlers.
Claremorris-based manager Christy Phillips
expressed delight with the outcome. The lads
put in a huge effort all year. Winning this title
was the icing on the cake. We also won the
Kehoe Cup Shield earlier in the year. We have
some fine young hurlers coming through. Corey
Scahill and Shane Boland made a huge impact
when they came on today.
Roscommon were up for the challenge and
we had to battle all the way to the end. Shane
Morley and Aidan Connolly and Pdraig OFlynn
and the lads showed great heart. When the
Roscommon challenge was at its height, they
never panicked, and their composure and expe-
rience saw us over the line, concluded the
Limerick native.
Mayo, on the back of some good perform-
ances in the Christy Ring Cup, entered the
game as favourites. But they were sluggish for
long periods, failing to regain the momentum
of recent games. Instead, they were pegged
back by a resilient Roscommon team who
played their best fare of the season.
The teams were level on five points each
after 25 minutes with Brian Hunt, Joe Kennedy,
Donal OBrien and Kenny Feeney on target for
Mayo and Gerry Fallon notching three Roscom-
mon points along with others from Cathal
Kenny and Adrian Murphy. Cathal Kenny routed
the ball to the Mayo net from a goal area
scramble just before half-time, and the Rossies
held a 1-6 to 0-7 lead.
Roscommon, backed by the wind, had a
great start to the second half with excellent
points from Gerry Fallon and the industrious
Toms Seale as they moved into a five-point
lead.
Mayo needed some urgent inspiration and
they got it in the form of two young subs
Corey Scahill, who fired over a terrific point to
start the comeback rally, and Shane Boland,
who netted Mayos first goal after 11 minutes of
the second half. Those scores were central in
halting the Roscommon march and provided
the spark that re-ignited the Mayo resurgence.
Adrian Murphy and Robbie Fallon responded
with two splendid points for Roscommon to
push the margin out to three again. When the
call to service was at its greatest, the Mayo de-
fence came thundering into the game. Shane
Morley from
Tooreen, back on
the team after a
lengthy lay-off,
was forceful and
skilful in the exe-
cution of his du-
ties. Pdraig
OFlynn and Aiden
Connolly provided
some real inspira-
tion when the cause de-
manded most, effecting
some wonderful intercep-
tions and delivering long-
range clearances.
Mayo moved up a gear in
the closing quarters and
some wonderful strikes from
Shane Boland, David Kenny
and Pdraig OFlynn saw
them level the game five
minutes from the end.
When Kenny Feeney
edged them ahead two
minutes later, you
could almost feel the
sense of relief of the
squad who had turned
around a five-point deficit to shade it in the fin-
ishing straight.
But it was only when Brian Higgins from
Westport neatly rounded the Roscommon de-
fence to crack home a goal a minute from the
end that the title looked destined for Mayo.
Ciaran Charlton, Kenny Feeney, Gary Nolan,
Donal OBrien, David Kenny, Brian Higgins and
subs Corey Scahill and Shane Boland were
among those who also contributed handsomely
to this Mayo win.
The Mayo management team of Christy
Phillips, Leo Connor and Austin Kenny were de-
lighted to have secured the silverware. A word
is also due for kit manager Michael Moran from
Kiltimagh and physio Karen Lacey from West-
port.
Frank Burke, president of the Connacht
Council, presented the cup to Mayo captain
Kenny Feeney as the team was accorded a
warm reception by the appreciative Mayo sup-
porters.
MAYO: D OBrien (0-1); A Brennan, A Connolly, S
Morley; J Kennedy (0-1), P OFlynn (0-1), D Kenny
(0-1); C Charlton, B Higgins (1-0); G Nolan, K
Feeney (0-5, 4f), B Hunt (0-1); F Boland, D McDon-
nell, S Hoban. Subs: C Scahill (0-1) for S Hoban; S
Boland (1-1) for F Boland; O Collins for D McDon-
nell.
ROSCOMMON: P Nolan; S Curley, M McLoughlin,
C Kelly; S Melia, M Kelly, C Dolan; T Seale (0-1), J
Moran; R Fallon (0-1), G Fallon (0-6, 5f), H
Rooney; C Kenny (1-1), N Connaughton, A Murphy
(0-2). Subs: I Delaney for N Connaughton; C Kelly
for H Rooney.
REF: C Browne (Galway
CONNACHT INTERMEDIATE HURLING FINAL CADBURY ALL-IRELAND U-21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
All-Ireland hopes bite the dust
A dejected Thomas Corcoran after the All-Ire-
land U-21 final loss to Dublin.
Photo: Dire Brennan / SPORTSFILE
Pdraig O'Flynn,
Mayo.
Photo: Barry Cregg /
SPORTSFILE
Mayo hurlers finish
season on a high
Page 14
Galway ...............1-22
Laois ..................0-23
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
T
HERE was a lot of puffed out cheeks
and wiping of brows in the Galway
camp after this one as the Tribesmen
needed a Jason Flynn-inspired final quarter
to escape Portlaoise with victory.
The result was in doubt until a
couple of seconds from the final
whistle when Iarla Tannian saved a 20-
metre free from Laois keeper Eoin Reilly
and Joe Canning emerged from a ruck in
the Galway area with possession.
Had the ball rattled the net nobody
would have denied that Laois deserved the
win, but in the calm after the battle, it has to
be said that Galway remained cool under
pressure to clinch a semi-final slot against
either Kilkenny or Offaly.
Flynn proved the catalyst for the Galway
comeback though. He was introduced in
the 51st minute as Anthony Cunningham's
side trailed by six points. He split the posts
less than a minute after his arrival and re-
peated the action three minutes later in a
run of six unanswered Galway points which
levelled the game. Cunningham was re-
lieved that his changes worked a treat
against an underrated Laois.
In a game that produced just 19 frees in
total there was a remarkable number of
talking points. Laois will look to a Conor
Cooney point in the 42nd minute which
kept Galway within five points of Laois. Al-
though Jonathan Glynn was yellow carded
for an off-the ball foul in the build up to
Cooney's point, they score was strangely
allowed to stand.
On the other side of the fence, Neil
Foyle might be deemed lucky to escape
with just a yellow card for an early high
tackle on Aidan Harte, but for the large part
Cathal McAllister did his best to allow the
game to flow.
Early on it appeared that Galway's big
day knowledge would dominate Laois' re-
cent championship game-time.
Jonathan Glynn got the Tribesmen off to
a flying start when he poked in a goal at
Reilly's near post in the second minute and
when Johnny Coen, David Burke and
Padraig Brehony added quick points, it
seemed as if the Tribesmen would canter
to victory.
But from the ninth minute to half-time,
Galway only added another four points as
Laois began to shoot the lights out.
With a strong wind behind them the or-
ders were clear: shoot on sight. And Joe
Fitzpatrick (2), Tom Delaney and Tommy
Fitzgerald all hit points from long range as
Laois pulled level at 1-3 to 0-6 by the 17th
minute.
Conor Cooney was handed the free tak-
ing duties ahead of Joe Canning once
LEINSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL
Cooney calls for Tribesmen to kick on
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY'S in-form attacker Conor
Cooney says the Tribesmen will
need to improve massively if they
are to have any chance of challenging for
a second Leinster hurling title.
Cooney was the stand-out performer
for Galway as they scraped past Laois at
O'Moore Park to set up a semi-final
against Kilkenny or Offaly, but he admits
that Anthony Cunningham's side were a
worried bunch when they trailed by six
points at half-time.
Even late on, Cheddar Plunkett's side
had the chance to take a deserved win but
goalkeeper Eoin Reilly's free was kept
out. It was a huge relief said the St
Thomas' man.
It was real tough going out there so
we were delighted to get away with a win.
We never underestimated Laois, we knew
they gave us a tough game last year. We
knew it would be no different this year so,
happy to come away with a win.
Well obviously, when your six points
down at half-time, youre going to be wor-
ried. But look, we knew we had enough in
the tank, we knew we were good enough
to come back and we did the business in
the end, said Cooney, who broke into the
Galway team during their only Leinster
title season of 2012.
Cooney hit seven points for the Tribes-
men, including four from play, and also re-
tained the free-taking responsibilities
ahead of Joe Canning.
And while he is happy with his own
form, he admits that Galway need to do a
lot better as a team if they harbour any
hopes of a successful season.
I got a few points there myself, but I
would like to be winning by a bit more,
said the talented centre-forward.
Individual performances arent that
important when the team isn't coming
Spluttering Galway take the win
Niall Burke, Galway, in action against Laois at O'Moore Park.
Page 15
Tough day at
the office for
Cunningham
and Co.
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
A
FTER watching his side recover ad-
mirably from a disastrous 25 minutes
before half-time that plunged Galway
into dangerous waters, manager Anthony
Cunningham was a mighty relieved man.
An error strewn first-half from the
Tribesmen, which featured countless poor
first touches and lethargic play, was re-
placed with a calm final quarter that saw
Galway reach the semi-final. Relief all round
was evident.
That was a tough day, conceded Cun-
ningham. I'd have to say that the sharp-
ness of Laois was very, very evident there.
We got off to a good start, got some
good scores, 1-3 there early on but Laois are
a very, very team and I think the hurling
public have to acknowledge that.
Let's be honest, the first half perform-
ance there would be way off championship
performance but it's something we can
build on. The second-half we got some nice
scores and worked the ball well. We have to
put 70 minutes of that together, said the
Galway manager.
But for Cunningham and everyone in-
volved with Galway on Sunday, relief was
the major emotion.
The proof will be in three weeks time
how much we have kicked on from today.
The big positive would be how much we
kicked on in the second half.
We will need all that experience and
drive to win the next day. It's not going to
be easy but we are well placed, Cunning-
ham said.
LEINSTER SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL
again and visibly lifted by that vote of confi-
dence, he went on to hit his side's next three
points.
Unfortunately from a Galway point of view,
the Laois players were all in good scoring
form and six points in seven minutes many
produced from high deliveries into Willie Hy-
land gave them a five-point cushion by the
24th minute, which had increased by half-
time to 0-16 to 1-7.
A Cooney free immediately after the throw
in gave Galway the start they desperately
needed to the second-half, but many of the
O'Moore Park faithful began to believe it
might be their day to topple a giant when
Stephen Maher, Hyland and Charlie Dwyer
from a stunning side line cut gave the home
side a seven-point lead.
Cooney and Flynn stood tall though and
from that juncture Galway went on to
outscore Laois by 0-13 to 0-4.
The key run of scores arrived between the
52nd and 60th minute after Flynn's arrival on
the scene, and once Galway got a sniff that
the win was there, they finally found their
championship gear.
The lead score fell to Paul Killeen four
minutes after his arrival, before Flynn and
Iarla Tannian tagged on two quick points to
put Galway three points up.
But after Ross King's point couldn't be fol-
lowed by a goal from Reilly's late free, Gal-
way were relieved to take the win.
They didn't deserve it, but Cunningham
will be relieved to have a three weeks to work
on their issues with a vital championship
game and victory now in their locker.
SCORERS Galway: C Cooney 0-7 (3f), J Glynn 1-0, J
Flynn 0-3 each, P Brehony, N Burke, J Canning 0-2
each, J Coen, David Burke, C Mannion, D Collins, I
Tannian, P Killeen 0-1 each.
Laois: T Fitzgerald, N Foyle, C Dwyer (1'sl), W Hy-
land, S Maher (3f) 0-3 each, T Delaney, J Fitzpatrick
0-2 each, B Stapleton, J Campion, R King, J Walsh 0-1
each.
GALWAY: C Callanan; D Collins, R Burke, F Moore; A
Harte (P Killeen 7-9 blood, 64), I Tannian, Daithi
Burke; J Coen, P Brehony; C Cooney, N Burke, David
Burke (D Hayes 48); C Mannion (J Flynn 51), J Can-
ning, J Glynn (D Glennon 70).
LAOIS: E Reilly; JA Delaney, B Campion (R King 63),
B Stapleton; J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan, T Delaney; J
Campion, J Walsh (P Whelan 58); S Maher, D Palmer,
C Dwyer; N Foyle (J Purcell 56), W Hyland, T Fitzger-
ald (J Brophy 60).
REF: Cathal McAllister (Cork).
Galway supporters, from left, Lorcan Cunningham, aged 9, with his brothers, Eamon, aged 7, and
Eoin, aged 5, from Tynagh, Co. Galway, out to support their team.
Photo: Toms Greally / SPORTSFILE
Cooney calls for Tribesmen to kick on
away with the wins you want. I was
happy enough with myself and we'll try
and press on from here.
Laois, theyve a tough set-up, they
were tough to beat. Theyve been com-
ing good all year, and they put it up to
Clare during the league. We never un-
derestimate them, we knew it would be
tough.
They had four or five tough champi-
onship games coming in there and we
coming from a standstill so you cant
beat games, theres no replacement in
training for them. Well have to try and
press on from here and go a bit further,
he said.
Spluttering Galway take the win
Jonathan Glynn climbs higher than John A De-
laney during the Leinster hurling quarter-final.
Page 16
Kilkenny ..................1-16
Galway ....................0-15
By BILL KIELY
Media West Ireland
G
AL-
WAY hit just
four second-
half points, but
Padraig Walsh was
the star of the show
for Kilkenny as they
reached the Allianz
Division 1A hurling
league final.
The Cats gave a
powerful display in the second-
half at the Gaelic Grounds to
come back from a five-point
deficit at the break with the
Kilkenny half-back domi-
nant.
Galway showed heart
and endeavour in the
first-half but gradually were ground out by
their harder working opponents who can
now look forward to another shot at silver-
ware.
The game was evenly poised early on
with the teams going point-for-point in the
opening quarter.
Michael Fennelly got Kilkennys ac-
count up and running in the fourth minute
while Andy Smith equalised a minute later.
Scores from Henry Shefflin, Colin Fen-
nelly and TJ Reid from a free, matched
that of Galways Conor Cooney, Niall
Burke and a monstrous free that Galway
goalkeeper Colm Callanan hit from 100
yards.
Daithi Burke was immense, winning the
tussle in the Galway half-back line while
Brian Kennedy was keeping tabs on the
returning Joe Canning at the edge of the
square.
Shefflins wonderful effort from over his
right shoulder was to be the Cats' last
score until just before the break as Galway
went on a scoring spree.
St Thomas' star Conor Cooney came
to the fore for Galway as his five points in
a row added to the strike from Cathal
Mannion gave Galway a 0-11 to 0-6 lead
at the break with TJ Reids free the final
score of the half.
However, as is so often happens with
Brian Codys side, the Cats raced out of
the traps in the second 35 minutes.
Five points in a row got them back on
level terms, three frees from Reid with
Shefflin and Colin Fennelly adding to their
tallies with a point each.
Andy Smith replied for Galway but it
mattered little as a Padraig Walsh point
and one more from Colin Fennelly added
to a superbly taken goal from John Power,
gave Kilkenny some breathing space for
the first time at 1-13 to 0-12 in the 54th
minute.
Kilkenny never looked back from there,
despite some defiance from Cooney and
David Burke, as points from Cillian Buck-
ley, and another each for Shefflin and the
superb Padraig Walsh sent the Cats roar-
ing into the final.
KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, JJ Delaney, B
Kennedy; P Walsh (0-2), B Hogan, C Buckley (0-1);
M Fennelly (0-1), R Hogan; W Walsh, C Fennelly
(0-3), TJ Reid (0-5, 4f); J Power (1-0), M Kelly, H
Shefflin (0-4). Subs: L Ryan for W Walsh (56
mins), A Fogarty for R Hogan (65).
GALWAY: C Callanan (0-1, 1f); J Coen, R Burke, D
Collins; A Harte, J Cooney, Daithi Burke; David
Burke (0-1), P Brehony; N Burke (0-1), C Cooney
(0-8, 3f, 1 65), A Smith (0-2); J Canning (0-1), J
Glynn, C Mannion (0-1). Subs: D Glennon for N
Burke (46 mins), D Hayes for Brehony (56), K
Hynes for Smith (62), J Flynn for Mannion (69).
REF: James McGrath (Westmeath).
By BILL KIELY
Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY hurling boss
Anthony Cunningham
was left to rue some
decisions that went against
his side as Kilkenny's sec-
ond-half drive got them over
the line and into the league
final.
With time running out
Jonathan Glynn was pulled
back when in on goal and
referee James McGrath cor-
rectly awarded Galway a 20-
metre free, but Conor
Cooney's shot was then
saved. Cunningham wants to
see an advantage rule intro-
duced like in football.
David Burke had a shot
come off the bar, we were in
hard luck there that Johnny
Glynn was pulled up there at
the finish.
There are always going
to be close calls, but I think
that one was very unfair I
think at that stage of the
match we were looking for
the advantage.
I'm not in any way being
down on referees, but I think
the advantage rule in the All-
Ireland (U-21 football) semi-
finals was excellent, he said.
But in the end, missed
chances will haunt Galway,
with nine first-half wides the
stand-out statistic.
A few of those chances
were rushed and we missed
two goal chances in the first-
half and then, invariably, they
dry up, he said.
Kilkenny had a strong
second-half performance
and they had a lot of experi-
ence there in that team.
At the same time we are
disappointed (to have lost).
It's a game we could have
won and had enough
chances, he said.
ALLIANZ DIVISION 1A SENIOR HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL
Powerful Cats reach decider
Cunningham laments missed chances
PICK OF THE BUNCH: Conor Cooney was once
again one of Galway's best performers in this
season's national league.
Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
Galway ...............3-10
Westmeath ..........0-9
By JACKIE CAHILL
Media South
G
ALWAY Ladies will be playing top-
flight football next year after beat-
ing Westmeath to secure
promotion.
It was a case of third time lucky for the
Galway girls, who lost Division 2 finals in
2012 and 2013, and their manager Barry
Downey admitted that those defeats may
have explained his team's nervous start in
Parnell Park.
We tried to deflect away from that as
much as possible, but once the game
opened up a bit we were able to kick on. I
knew Westmeath would put us to the pin
of our collar," he said.
I told the girls this would be one of our
toughest tests of the year, including cham-
pionship.
It is brilliant to be back in Division 1,
and it is no less than the girls deserve
after all the hard work they've put in.
Although they laboured to break West-
meath's resistance in the first half, Galway
were the superior force after the break and
having won nine games out of nine to
reach this decider, they confidently kicked
for home.
The crucial score of the first-half was
Galway's penalty scored by Annette
Clarke in the 19th minute.
Louise Ward was put through on goal
after a pass from Caitriona Cormican and
was upended by Westmeath 'keeper
Sarah Keegan, who was sin-binned.
Clarke dispatched the penalty past cor-
ner-back Triona Durkan, who stepped in
as replacement 'keeper.
Roisin Leonard and Fiona Leavy hit
four points apiece in the opening period,
while Westmeath midfielder Johanna
Maher was sin-binned in the sixth minute.
Leonard scored three points from play
for Galway, while Leavy kept Westmeath
in touch with three of her four scores from
free-kicks.
Galway's Lorna Joyce also hit two
points from play as the favourites led by 1-
7 to 0-7 at the break.
Clarke converted a second penalty in
the 44th minute, after Geraldine Conneally
was fouled by Westmeath captain Aileen
Martin, who was sin-binned.
Three minutes later, Galway got their
third goal. Clarke turned provider for Bar-
bara Hannon, who buried a low shot to the
net to put her side 3-9 to 0-7 ahead.
Westmeath failed to score in the sec-
ond half until the 51st minute, through a
Leavy free. Johanna Maher landed their
only other point of the half as Galway
coasted to victory.
SCORERS Galway: A Clarke 2-1 (2-0 pens), B
Hannon 1-1, R Leonard 0-4 (1f), L Joyce 0-3, C
Cormican 0-1. Westmeath: F Leavy 0-5 (4fs); R
Kearney, C Blundell, M Foley, J Maher 0-1.
GALWAY: J Connolly; N Ward, M Coyne, O Dixon;
R McPhilbin, E Flaherty, S Burke (c); A Clarke, G
Conneally; A Daly, C Cormican, L Ward; B Hannon,
L Joyce, R Leonard. Subs: O Divilly for Joyce (37),
E Gannon for Leonard (47), M Moloney for Burke
(54), G O'Connor for Hannon (57), S Conneally for
Dixon (57).
WESTMEATH: S Keegan; A Martin (c), R Dunne,
T Durkan; J Rogers, A Giles, L Brennan; R Kear-
ney, J Maher; C Blundell, M Foley, K McDermott; F
Leavy, F Claffey, K Hegarty. Subs: C Kelly for Mc-
Dermott (39), N Judge for Blundell (48), A Brady
for Rogers (55), S Dolan for Leavy (57).
REF: G Corrigan (Down).
TESCO LADIES NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2 FINAL
Page 17
Galway captain Sinad Burke with the Divi-
sion 2 cup after the game.
Photos: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
CHAMPIONS: The Galway Ladies celebrate
their Tesco Ladies National Football League
Division 2 final victory.
Galway clinch Division 2 title
Page 18
Galway 3-23
Meath 0-11
G
ALWAY Ladies footballers defeated
Meath to progress into the Tesco
Home Grown National Football
League Division 2 final where they will
play Westmeath.
A lightening start saw Lorna Joyce, An-
nette Clarke, Roisin Leonard and Gillian
O'Connor put Galway four points up inside
the first five minutes and they never
looked back from there.
Four more Leonard points and one
each from Clarke and Joyce increased
their lead before Catriona Cormican found
the back of the net in the 20th minute.
Meath enjoyed a brief purple patch and
got their first two points in the 22nd minute
scored by Geraldine Doherty and Kate
Byrne.
Galway added two more points in the
closing minutes of the half when Clarke
kicked her third point and Cormican added
another before an attempted quick kick-
out was intercepted by Leonard who found
the net in the 30th minute. Aoibheann Daly
and Ger Conneally added two more to
leave the half-time score at Galway 2-14
Meath 0-02.
Galway started the second-half like
they finished the first when Cormican
scored a point in the first minute but with
the assistance of the wind Meath scored
four points without reply, two from Katie O
Brien and one each from Geraldine Do-
herty and Emily Davis.
Two more Cormican points kept the
scoreboard ticking over for Galway but
Meath matched that with two from sharp-
shooter Doherty and one from Sinead
Coyle.
Galway finished the game as a contest
when Annette Clarke scored a penalty in
the 19th minute and added three more
points in the closing stages by Rebecca
Mc Philbin, Clarke and Lucy Hannon.
Meath finished the game by adding two
points, but Galway ran out easy winners
and remain unbeaten all season ahead of
the league final.
Meanwhile, the EMP sponsored Gal-
way minor team play Mayo in the Con-
nacht final on Monday 5th May at a venue
to be confirmed.
GALWAY: J Connolly; S Connolly, M Coyne, O
Dixon; R Mc Philbin (0-01) N Ward, S Burke; A
Clarke(1-4, 1-0 pen), G Conneally (0-1); A Daly(0-
1), C Cormican (1-4, 1f), L Warde; R Leonard (1-6,
1f), L Joyce (0-2), G O Connor (0-1)
Subs: E Gannon for O Connor, O Divilly (0-1) for
Conneally, L Hannon (0-1) for Leonard, E Concan-
non for Joyce, S Lynch for Daly, S Egan for Con-
neally, N Burke for Ward, T Hession for Mc
Philbin, A Connaughton (0-1) for Cormican.
Galway ...............2-10
Cavan ..................2-8
G
ALWAY Ladies footballers edged
past Cavan to maintain their 100
percent record in Division 2 of the
NFL in Tuam.
In testing conditions, Cavan started the
game with the wind and got the first two
points courtesy of Bronagh Sheridan.
A Roisin Leonard effort got Galway off
the mark in the 13th minute and she fol-
lowed that up with a goal shortly after.
Two more points from Sheridan sand-
wiched a Gillian OConnor strike, and with
another score, this time from Charlotte
Cooney, Galway took the lead again.
However, Bronagh Sheridan was in
fine form and the Cavan sharpshooter
scored another point to bring the sides
level with the score line, 1-3 to 0-6 at the
break.
Eilish Gannon got proceedings under-
way directly after half-time with a point to
put Galway ahead but Bronagh Sheridan
pegged them back once more.
Then, after a free caused confusion in
the Galway defence, it was the other
Sheridan, Geraldine, who fisted the ball to
the net pushing Cavan into a three point
lead.
Two points from Leonard and one from
Annette Clarke tied the game up once
more but Ger Conneally was shown red
for a second bookable offence with 11
minutes on the clock.
Nevertheless as so often happen this
seemed to galvanise the Tribeswomen as
Leonard showed her class before passing
Eilish Gannon who fisted the ball home.
Galway scored three more points, two
from Leonard and one from Barabara
Hannon to give them an unassailable lead
with Bronagh Sheridan dispatching a
penalty in consolation as the last act.
SCORERS R Leonard 1-5 (3f); E Gannon 1-1; A
Clarke, B Hannon, G OConnor and C Cooney 0-1
each.
GALWAY: T Hughes; N Connolly, M Coyne, O
Dixon; R McPhilbin, M Maloney, S Burke; A Clarke,
G Conneally; A Daly, R Leonard, O Divilly; B Han-
non, G OConnor, E Gannon. Subs: S Conneally
for Maloney, C Cooney for O Connor, C Cormican
for Daly, S Egan for Cormican.
TESCO LADIES NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2
Tribesgirls power into the final
Unbeaten Ladies impress against Cavan
Page 19
Sligo.....................0-9
Leitrim ................0-6
By LEO GRAY
Sligo Champion
S
LIGO chalked up a fully up deserved
win over Leitrim in the Connacht
junior championship final at Hyde
Park.
The Sligo men led all the way in a de-
cider which was a low scoring affair.
As the game unfolded, both sides were
guilty of missing a number of clear-cut
goal chances over the sixty minutes.
However, Sligo's greater workrate over
the hour carried the day for them.
Free-taking proved to be the major
source of the contest's closing scoring
tally with eight of Sligo's 0-9 coming from
placed balls, while three of Leitrim's 0-6
also came from frees.
In this regard the accuracy of James
Hynes and David Rooney proved to match
the winning factor for Sligo.
Stephen Coen put Sligo ahead when
he shot the game's opening score, a sec-
ond minute point from play.
Three minutes later James Hynes hit
the target from a close in free to put Sligo
further ahead.
Adrian Croal opened Leitrim's account
when he split the Sligo uprights from a
sixth minute Leitrim free.
Sligo had a let off two minutes later
when Jonathan Cassidy shot narrowly
wide from close range with no one to beat
but Sligo 'keeper Aidan Devaney.
However, the Sligo men extended their
lead to three points by the 14th minute
after David Rooney tapped over a free and
James Hynes sent a placed ball over from
45metres.
Leitrim hit back with two points from
play over the next five minutes to leave
the minimum between the sides.
Stephen McGurrin and Adrian Croal
shot over in turn for Leitrim in this period.
Sligo 'keeper Devaney made a timely
save when he deflected a goal bound 20th
minute Eanna Madden shot shot out for a
'45.'
Meanwhile, Leitrim had a let off six
minutes later at the other end when
Stephen Coen drove a goal chance inches
wide with no one to beat but Leitrim net
minder, Enda Lyons.
The Sligo goals had a narrow shave on
28 minutes when Declan Maxwell failed to
get on the end of a Ronan Kennedy pass
that would have put Maxwell in a goal
scoring position almost on the goal line.
Sligo doubled their advantage over
Leitrim when David Rooney tapped over a
40metre free a minute later and James
Hynes did likewise with a 31st minute
13metre free.
After holding command in general play
for the opening thirty minutes Sligo led by
0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.
Leitrim narrowed the gap within three
minutes of the restart when Ronan
Kennedy tapped over a close in free.
In the space of another minute a Sligo
Stephen Coen goal chance was denied by
Leitrim 'keeper Enda Lyons who advanced
smartly to smother Coen's shot.
After a ten spell without a score John
McKeon reduced the deficit for Leitrim to
the minimum when he shot over from play.
But James Hynes answered almost im-
mediately with a 44th minute pointed Sligo
free as Hynes opened the Yeats Countys
second-half account.
Another Sligo goal chance went a beg-
ging when a shot three minutes later by
substitute Garry Cadden was stopped on
the goal-line by Leitrim corner-back Niall
Duffy.
With eight minutes of normal time left
Adrian Croal reduced Sligo's lead to the
minimum when he popped a free over the
crossbar.
After that Sligo lifted their game and
held Leitrim scoreless for the remainder of
the action.
Victory was assured for Sligo when
Aidan Devaney left his goals and went up-
field to hit over a 56th minute 45metre
free.
David Rooney increased Sligo's win-
ning margin to three points when he slot-
ted a 20metre free from an acute angle
near the right hand sideline over the
Leitrim crossbar.
SLIGO: Aidan Devaney 0-1 (f); Eoin Flanagan,
Johnny Martyn, Barry Walsh; Luke Bree, Kevin
McDonnell, David Rooney 0-3 (3fs); Gareth Ryan,
Conor Griffin; Damien O'Boyle, Eoin McHugh,
Conor Kearins; Stephen Coen 0-1, James Hynes 0-
4 (4fs), Barry O'Mahony. Subs: Gary Cadden for
O'Mahony (42 mins.); Cathal Brennan for O'Boyle
(42 mins).
LEITRIM: Enda Lyons; Niall Duffy, James
Rooney, Jonathan Cassidy; James Glancy, John
McKeon 0-1, David Duignan; Stephen McGurrin 0-
1, Pat Mollick; Gavin Sammon, Colin Ryan, Eanna
Madden; Ronan Kennedy 0-1 (f), Declan Maxwell,
Adrian Croal 0-3 (2fs). Subs: Mark Creegan for
Cassidy (49 mins.); Niall Clancy for Duignan (51
mins).
REF: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
CONNACHT JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Sligo crowned Connacht
junior champs again
Sligo captain Johnny Martyn receives the cup from Uachtarn Comhairle Connacht Proinsias de
Brca. Photo: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
Page 20
Leitrim ................2-9
Galway ...............0-13
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
L
EITRIM are in line for their first Con-
nacht junior football title in ten years
after Ronan Kennedy and Colin
Ryan goals saw them reach the provin-
cial final at Tuam Stadium.
Remarkably this win is Leitrim's
fourth over Galway teams in 2014
after previous minor, senior and U-
21 victories were followed by this
spirited victory over the Tribes-
men.
Leitrim got off to a flying start
when Kennedy goaled in the fifth minute
following a break by Declan Maxwell at
the edge of the square.
Points from Robert Hughes and
Jonathan Keane rewarded Galway's early
efforts, but Martin McGowan's
side bagged their second goal in
the 12th minute, which was very
much against the run of play.
Once again former senior star
Maxwell was in the thick of the
build-up and he left it easy for
Ryan to punch into the un-
guarded net after 12 min-
utes.
Galway appeared to be the better side
though they were dominant around mid-
field with Keane and Hughes in fine form
and a powerful seven minutes midway
through the half got them back in the tie.
Hughes' second free put four points
between the sides, before an excellent
brace from wing-back Cathal Sweeney
meant Galway trailed by 2-3 to 0-7 at the
break.
Hughes trimmed that lead with his
fourth free a minutes after the restart, but
Leitrim followed that with a crucial three
points in a row as Eanna Madden,
Stephen McGurrin and Kennedy put four
between the sides again.
Galway managed to pull back to within
a point late on but Adrian Croal's late
score sealed the win for Leitrim.
SCORERS Leitrim: R Kennedy 1-3 (3f), C Ryan
1-0, S McGurrin 0-2, E Madden, G Sammon, A
Croal, N Clancy 0-1 each.
Galway: R Hughes 0-6 (6f), C Sweeney 0-2, J
Keane, S White, P Cunningham, F Cooney, K
Reilly 0-1 each
LEITRIM: E Lyons: J Cassidy, P Gilmartin, N
Duffy; J Glancy. D Duignan, E Madden; S McGur-
rin, P Moolick; N Clancy, C Ryan, G Sammon; R
Kennedy, D Maxwell, A Croal.
Subs: J Rooney for Clancy (35), N Brady for
Croal (60), C Kelly for Sammon (60).
GALWAY: N Walsh; C Maher, D Kyne, D Rattigan;
D Moran, C Sweeney, D Reilly; S White, R
Hughes; R Cleary, J Keane, A Molloy; N Cunning-
ham, K Reilly, C Raftery. Subs: F Cooney for
Raftery (28), P Cunningham for N Cunningham
(34), D Walsh for D Reilly (43).
REF: J Gilmartin (Sligo).
CONNACHT JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Leitrim beat Galway to
reach provincial decider
Pat Mollick, Letrim, in action against Kevin
McDonald, Sligo.
Stephen Coen, Sligo, in action against Jonathan Cassidy, Leitrim during the
Connacht GAA Football Junior Championship Final. Photo: Piaras O Midheach / SPORTSFILE
NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS
Page 21
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY hurling legend Michael Coleman
has encouraged the current crop of
Tribesmen not to lose the belief that they
can end a 26-year drought for All-Ireland suc-
cess.
Coleman, a three-times All-Star, and All-Ire-
land winner in 1987 and 1988, was one of the
driving forces behind Galway's most recent
Liam MacCarthy successes, and he still thinks
there is enough talent at Anthony Cunning-
ham's disposal to end the wait for their fifth
title.
The Abbeyknockmoy midfielder refused to
lash the young Tribesmen for struggling to
overcome Laois and pointed to how close Gal-
way were to beating Kilkenny in 2012 as the
main reason behind his belief in the team.
The way Galway hurling is, we have the
ability, we have the hurlers there, it's just a
matter of getting things right on the day.
Two years ago you'll recall we had an All-
Ireland nearly in the bag and it slipped away,
so we're not that far away. But for a couple of
mistakes on the day Galway could have bagged
the All-Ireland. That's the luck of the game,
said Coleman who was brought into the Galway
squad in 1987 by Cyril Farrell.
We saw it last year with Clare. They came
through the qualifiers, were the best all day
and they were very lucky to come away in the
drawn game with a draw. And the second day
out the same thing happened again. Clare were
the better team again but Cork still were
within a hair's breadth of them at the end.
Hurling is gone very competitive. If you
look at the hurling championship last year, on
any given Sunday any team who was willing to
really, really knuckle down could take a win.
Laois got a good run on Galway the last
day, but credit to Galway they reeled them in
at the end. We used to have to play Roscom-
mon and we played Kerry one time in a quar-
ter-final and we were lucky to come away with
wins.
When you are at that level all they can do is
go out and do the job. They did it last Sunday,
Coleman said.
Coleman was back in Croke Park two years
ago to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of
their Liam MacCarthy victory and the team of
87 were given a warm reception from the ma-
roon supporters ahead Galway latest failure in
the final.
The Tribesmen have lost all four of their All-
Ireland finals since their last win, but Coleman
reckons it is just minor details that need to be
adjusted to get over the line.
Even when we were in Croke Park after the
25 years we were saying 'what's happened'. In
'93 we had a good chance, '96 we had another
good chance. Look at 2001 we were unlucky to
have lost that day.
We are all hoping that Galway will be there
or thereabouts though. Other teams have
passed us by in the last 15 or 20 years and have
picked off those All-Irelands, maybe it's just on
the day with Galway.
Something seems to go slightly wrong. I
think you need to have things going right. I re-
call back in 1990 we were seven points up with
15 minutes to go we still conceded 4-3 in the
last 15 minutes and you ask yourselves where
did it all go wrong.
But that's the game and you just get
caught. Maybe we just need that extra bit of
belief to get us across the line, he said.
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
F
ORMER Clare hurling boss Tony Considine
has severed his links with Galway senior
club Turloughmore midway through their
championship campaign.
Club chairman Adrian Mooney thanked Con-
sidine for his hard work and says it was an am-
icable parting of ways.
However, he also said he did not believe 'big
names' should come in from outside to take
charge of clubs. It's time to look closer to
home, he says.
It was an amicable decision, said chair-
man Mooney. To be totally honest with you I
wanted to look locally from day one. Im only
in as chairman this year and that process and
decision was done before I got in place and I
had to honour that.
There are clubs in Galway and they are
looking for big names and I think it's a bit of a
joke. We should go back to the old way, have a
bit of pride in the club and the jersey. There is
plenty of lads capable of doing that.
I know Mullagh did it with Mike McNamara
and St Thomas' did it with Colin Lynch as well.
People think that when you get a name you are
going to win something but I totally disagree
with that. A name is not going to buy you suc-
cess, said Mooney.
Considine's side escaped relegation from
the championship thanks to a one-point win
over Kinvara through the back door after they
lost their opening game.
But after they lost to Craughwell in their
first group game, scoring just 0-10 along the
way, chances of improving on last year's semi-
final appearance look very slim with a guaran-
teed two games remaining.
But as well as the very poor results, the Tur-
loughmore chairman claims Considine a na-
tive of Cratloe in Clare was not aware that his
side could have to wait up to two months for
their next championship game.
I don't think Tony realised there was a big
break coming in the Galway championship. We
could be out for a couple of months. It's a long
way up and it's a long way down and that's
tough going. But the way the results were
going as well was a factor.
It was different when he was down in Lim-
erick with Kilmallock, he was closer to home. I
don't think he realised what it was about at the
time. The break had a lot to do with it.
I think he was happy enough (to call time
on it) to be honest. The results contributed to
it as well. It was a tricky one, said Mooney.
Efforts to contact Tony Considine were un-
successful.
OUT: Tony Considine and Turloughmore
have gone their separate ways midway
through the Galway club hurling champi-
onship.
Photo: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
Considine and Turlough part ways
Don't lose the faith: Coleman
STICK AT IT: Former Galway midfielder
Michael Coleman during the 1989 All-Ireland
hurling semi-final.
Photo: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
Page 22
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
D
ONIE Shine looks certain
to miss out on Roscom-
mon's Round 2 qualifier
in five weeks time with news
that he has ruptured his poste-
rior cruciate ligament in his
knee.
Shine was stretchered off
after he collapsed under a high
ball, as John Evans' side lost
narrowly to Mayo in Hyde Park
on Sunday. And after undergo-
ing a scan on Monday evening
the knee ligament injury was
confirmed.
Shine, who is expected to sit
out the next two months action,
tweeted the results of his proce-
dure saying: Ruptured poste-
rior cruciate. Not great, but
could be worse. Thanks for all
the messages.
There was some positive
news for Shine though, with the
confirmation that the ligament
damaged was the posterior and
not anterior cruciate, which give
his some chance of returning to
inter-county action later in the
summer, providing Roscommon
can put together a decent run
through the back door.
His county manager John
Evans was relieved to hear
there was no long-term damage
to Shine's knee, but he con-
firmed his star attacker will still
have to undergo more inves-
tigative procedures to discover
the full extent of his problem.
A further exploratory investi-
gation will be needed and he
will undergo a rehab pro-
gramme, which could last from
six to eight weeks, said Evans.
Shine will also miss out on
the first round of Roscommon
senior club championship with
Clan na Gael, but should be
ready to return to training by the
start of August.
Mulholland
challenges
chasers to close
the gap to Mayo
By DECLAN ROONEY Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY manager Alan Mulholland has thrown
a challenge down to the chasing Connacht
pack by saying it's 'embarrassing' to see how
far the rest have fallen behind Mayo.
James Horan's side got their quest for four
Nestor Cups in a row off to a winning start against
New York, but Mulholland said his own side and the
rest of the province need to improve drastically to
shift the balance of power in Connacht.
Last year the gulf between the sides looked cav-
ernous as Mayo hammered Galway by 4-16 to 0-7 in
the opening round at Pearse Stadium, while the
Green and Red went on to record 12-point and 16-
point wins over Roscommon and London respec-
tively en route to the title.
It's time for the chasers to catch up for the benefit
of the competition, says the Galway boss.
Its vital for the Connacht championship. Its a lit-
tle embarrassing for the other counties within Con-
nacht, said Mulholland.
The margins which they won by last year, weve
all got to look at ourselves and say were not at the
standard, were not at the standard we should be at.
Despite Mayo's dominance west of the Shannon,
things have not gone as smoothly when the big
awards have been distributed. And Mulholland
thinks this shows how far the rest of Connacht has
to improve if they want to compete at the top level.
Its not Mayos fault. They still havent won the
All-Ireland in the past couple of
years so you cant say theyre streaking away
from everyone else in the country.
They seem to have left the rest of us behind in
Connacht and its up to us to get back up there,
said the Galway manager, who hopes to end a six-
year wait for the Tribesmen's 46th Connacht title this
year.
Shine out for two months
with cruciate injury
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
R
OSCOMMON defender Seanie Mc-
Dermott says he doesn't buy into
talk that Mayo don't have 'a mar-
quee forward'.
McDermott (30) had a close up view of
Mayo's firepower last summer as the
Green and Red beat John Evans' men by
12 points in the provincial semi-final, and
the Western Gaels man also had his
hands full in Hyde Park recently.
I wouldnt read into it at all. I played
football in IT Sligo with Andy Moran for
four or five years and he is one of the best
forwards in the country.
You look at Alan Freeman all these
lads, Alan Dillion, Cillian OConnor, Enda
Varley, Mickey Conroy. They're forwards
that would make any team in the country
so I dont really buy into it to be honest,
said McDermott, who has carved a reputa-
tion as one of the tightest markers in the
game.
In my opinion, Mayo are definitely the
second best team in Ireland behind
Dublin. They were very, very unlucky last
year not to win the All-Ireland. They
started the game fierce well and they were
very unlucky not to win.
Mayo are fine team. Theres no doubt
about it. Physically they're very strong and
their middle third is exceptionally powerful.
I think theyre very strong and its going to
take a very good performance from us to
overcome them.
McDermott is known as a tough tackler,
and he is rightly proud of the progress that
the
Primrose and Yellow have made in suring
up their defence of late.
Roscommon conceded less than 13
points per game on average as they
earned promotion from Division 3, while
an in-form forward line spring brought the
feel-good factor back into the county.
Crucially though, after the introduction
of the black card, Evans brought in former
Roscommon defender Gary Wynne as a
tackle and defensive coach and McDer-
mott says his input is invaluable.
Gary comes in to us every now and
again doing defensive work with us. Hes a
defender himself, he does do a bit of tack-
ling work with us. He's been great to work
with.
Tackling is something you have to be
very aware of because of the black card.
Cynical fouls have gone out of the game
altogether and you just have to be aware
of what you cant do.
Anymore you have to track a run-
ner; you cant be checking players.
Gary has come in there and he has
set out what the new rules meant
and how to avoid a black card. It's
been a real benefit to us, he
says.
And what about the hard
man moniker? For the Gal-
way-based barber, it comes
with the territory in what he
hopes will be a successful
season.
I dont know about
that one, he says. I sup-
pose any defender thats
playing football, your bread
and butter is your tackling and
thats our job. We need to be defensively
sound and you have to tackle within the
laws.
Tackling is all about stopping a man
and stopping him from going by you, thats
the real skill.
Right now, for us, I suppose a suc-
cessful year would be to be still playing
football in August at the business end of
things. Mayo beat us by 11 or 12 points
last year. We'll soon see have we closed
that gap, he said.
By DARAGH SMALL
N
IALL Burke is one of the return-
ing Galway hurlers with a point to
prove in the 2014 campaign as
they bid to carve another positive Lein-
ster hurling championship.
Burke, who was injured for much of
last years league and championship
was present at the Galway GAA open
evening took place in Kenny Park,
Athenry, which had a big turnout de-
spite the inclement weather.
Yeah its not a great evening, its
good to see a good crowd down and
were delighted to be here because
well need the support for a long time
this summer, he said.
A number of the Galway senior foot-
ball players as well as management
were in attendance while the entire
hurling panel, who had just finished a
training session, were also present.
Originally the plan was to have the
players enter the pitch for a set of exhi-
bition games, however, the poor
weather conditions prevented this from
happening.
With the six hurling club champi-
onship games that were also set for
the Kenny Park over the weekend it
was decided against playing on the
pitch.
Roscommon
defender Sean
McDermott.
Photo: David Maher /
SPORTSFILE
McDermott relishing the tough stuff
Fans happy despite wash-out
FORWARD THINKING:
Niall Burke will be hoping to shine for
Galway in the Leinster championship.
Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
Page 23
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
M
AYO skipper Andy Moran says he
has put last year's All-Ireland dis-
appointments firmly behind him
now that he has finally shaken off the ef-
fects of his cruciate ligament injury.
Moran admitted to 'chasing shadows'
for a lot of last year as he tried to regain
his full mobility and fitness levels, but with
a well designed pre-season behind him,
he is happy that he is finally nearing his
peak.
James Horan's hopes of claiming
Mayo's first All-Ireland title since 1951
they have lost seven finals since then
was severely hit when Moran suffered his
injury in the All-Ireland quarter-final win
against Down in 2012.
He made his long awaited comeback
last summer in their Connacht champi-
onship win against Galway, but says he
failed to hit his stride throughout their frus-
trating campaign.
This year with a pep in his step and a
new play-making role at centre-forward to
work on he's thriving.
I'm enjoying it this year, I wouldn't
mind playing in the corner, I wouldn't mind
playing full-forward, I wouldn't mind play-
ing wing-forward, centre. It doesn't make
any difference, the big difference this year
is there is an option there.
Last year I was chasing shadows for a
lot of it. Coming back in May, with no pre-
season done, it was never an option. So
it's great that I have an engine to do that
at this stage, says Moran, who has
started Mayo's last two league games on
the half-forward line.
Moran claims that returning to Croke
Park, the scene of their two recent All-Ire-
land final defeats and their capitulation
against Dublin in the league, holds no fear
for the Green and Red. There was more
made of their recent slip-up outside of the
squad, he claims.
We didn't really think too much of it,
we actually thought we played quite well.
People like to dramatize football but it's
very simple when you break it down: if you
give the ball away in the last minute and
they score a goal it's a very easy thing to
fix.
We went away and we just fixed it this
week and I don't think it was even men-
tioned to be honest. And I think the media
made more of it that we actually did, we
were quiet happy with our 69 minutes of
performance.
I think we've done quite well in the
league. It was tough to go up to Tyrone
and go up to Kildare and get points so we
were kind of chasing after that. So to take
nine out of the ten points at the end of the
league I suppose you have to be happy,
he said.
Andy Moran and Aidan O'Shea celebrate
Mayo's victory over Roscommon.
Moran happy to have injury
woes behind him
Page 24
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
M
AYO captain Andy Moran says
he still finds it difficult to cope
with unwarranted criticism of
his game, but that seeing his team-
mates slated cuts even deeper.
Moran says it still burns when he
sees loose comments hurled at any of
his teammates.
You are not human if it doesn't
(hurt). You try to stay away from it. I
think you get more upset if you hear
one of your teammates getting criti-
cised than yourself.
You can deal with it yourself, you
can go away and sort it out. But I don't
mind it, I think criticism is great when
it's justified and backed up with facts.
A lot of the time it isnt, but I cant con-
trol what's said on the radio or written
in papers.
But if it's justified and written with
factual basis I think you get more re-
spect for the writer that's writing it
rather than if it's just written there for
the craic, said the Ballaghaderreen
clubman.
Ahead of their semi-final clash at
Hyde Park, the accusation was that
Mayo would be undercooked with just
their workaday win over New York to
buffer a league semi-final defeat to
Derry in preparation.
Mayo have never been a team that
fills voids like that with a big number
of challenge matches they are be-
lieved to have just played two chal-
lenges in 2013 so Moran is hanging
his hat on their preparation in the Big
Apple.
New York was a good trip, it was
definitely worth doing and we got the
job done, and we came out injury free
and no one sent off. So it was a suc-
cess in that way. Its lovely to get a
championship game under your wing
and a good win.
The big thing about championship
games is that you have to prepare the
way youre going to prepare. Even
though New York is unusual, you get
your routine and see how its going to
be and that will be a big advantage to
us. In that way, it is a championship
game.
But the key for us is the competi-
tion for places and the young lads
coming in: Adam Gallagher, Diarmuid
OConnor, Stephen Coen, Brendan
Harrison and these guys. Tom Parsons
coming back and Alan Dillon getting
time.
If you dont play well here, youre
not going to play well in Croke Park, if
youre lucky enough to get there, said
Moran.
Moran still takes criticism to heart
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
F
ORMER Kildare forward
James Kavanagh has
emerged as a major
doubt for Galway's Connacht
semi-final against Sligo be-
cause of a hamstring injury.
Kavanagh (29) made his
championship debut for Alan
Mulholland's side in their quar-
ter-final victory over London,
but sat out club championship
action last weekend.
Kavanagh sustained a
Grade 1 hamstring strain in
training last week and will not
take part in team preparations
this week.
Mulholland admits it will be
difficult for the Milltown club-
man to make it back in time for
the Markievicz Park test.
James didn't play at the
weekend, he picked up a ham-
string injury last week. He
picked it up last Friday week
so he's on the doubtful list
now.
The Sligo game will be
three weeks after he picked up
the injury so he really will be
touch and go.
We don't think it was very
serious, but hamstrings can be
difficult once you try and get
back training with it. He'll take
the week off this week and
hopefully he'll be able to join in
again next week, but we'll see.
It's fingers crossed, said Mul-
holland.
Meanwhile, Galway captain
Paul Conroy's chances of re-
covery from a broken foot in
time for the Connacht semi-
final will become clearer on
Thursday when he is assessed
by a specialist.
Conroy missed the Tribes-
men's championship opener
against London when he suf-
fered a fractured metatarsal
bone in his foot in the lead up
to the clash in Ruislip.
And after wearing a protec-
tive 'space boot' for the last
three weeks Mulholland is
hoping for good news on his
skipper.
Paul is seeing a specialist
on Thursday. We are confident
he'll get the all clear to re-
sume. It's tight, he's still got a
boot on.
But if he gets the all clear
he can take the boot off on
Thursday, he'll resume training
with us them, but it's nine days
away from championship
them. That's what I'd be wor-
ried about.
We just have to wait and
see what happens. He's had
no setbacks that we know of,
he's been in the boot so we
don't really know. But he says
it feels good, he said.
By JOHN CONNOLLY
Leitrim Observer
T
HE Connacht Junior Champi-
onship may not appear at the
top of many lists of priority
but having reached the final
Leitrim manager Martin McGowan
was disappointed his side were
pipped in the decider.
In what was an exciting and
open game of football, McGowan
was left wondering what might
have been as he saw a number of
goal chances spurned.
Despite the defeat he was
pleased with the performance and
felt there were a number of posi-
tives that could be taken from the
campaign.
We came here and set our stall
to try and win the game. As I said
to the lads, three weeks ago we
didnt even know this competition
was there for us but we stuck at it
out there today.
When truth is told we didnt
take our chances and that really is
the long and short if it.
Sligo were strong in defence
when defending a slender lead in
the closing stages but McGowan
pointed to earlier in the game for
the pivotal moments.
They closed out the game,
there was a few simple fouls in the
middle of the park to try and dis-
rupt our possession and our flow
but that is what you would expect
the opposition to do.
The problems for us were be-
fore that, we had three great goal
chances in the first half and maybe
if we got three points it was a level
game at the end of the match. I felt
we shot from a few bad positions
towards the end of the match.
With a little bit more composure
we could have worked the ball into
better a spot for a score.
Despite the defeat he feels it
was a worthwhile campaign and
believes the competition is impor-
tant.
Absolutely, especially for coun-
ties like Leitrim. Were only al-
lowed to take a panel of 32 in to a
Senior Championship. Its an op-
portunity to give those younger
players a chance and blood them
alongside a few older fellas. Its
great experience for them and it
will stand to them.
Page 25
Kavanagh a major
doubt for Sligo semi
DOUBTFUL:
Galway's James Ka-
vanagh is a worry for Alan
Mulholland ahead of their
Connacht semi-final because
of a hamstring injury.
Photo: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
Galway
hurling star
to miss
Leinster
campaign
By JOHN FALLON
Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY hurlers have suf-
fered a big blow with ex-
perienced attacker Niall
Healy set to miss all of the Le-
inster championship with a se-
rious knee injury.
Healy, who has been in su-
perb form this season, suf-
fered the injury playing for
Craughwell against Turlough-
more in the Galway club cham-
pionship.
Manager Anthony Cunning-
ham said Healy would be a big
loss.
He is going for a scan and
we will have to wait and see
what the result of that is,
said Cunningham.
Play was held up in the club
match on Saturday for some
time as Healy, who scored a
hat-trick in the All-Ireland
semi-final win over Kilkenny in
2005, was stretchered off.
It is feared that he has suf-
fered a serious knee injury
which could side-line him for a
number of months.
Healy has been in superb
form for Craughwell and Gal-
way this season and was
poised to make a big impact
on the Leinster SHC.
McGowan disappointed in defeat
January
Emlyn Mulligan
With back-to-back Connacht GAA
FBD League titles to their
name, there can be no disputing
the fact that the January
recipient comes from
Leitrim. This time last
year defender Wayne
McKeon was handed the
award for a stellar
outing in the competi-
tion, and he was in fine
form once again
for Sean Hagan's
side.
However,
team captain Emlyn
Mulligan was the
stand-out per-
former throughout the
pre-season competi-
tion and picked up the FBD
League title for Leitrim for
the second year in a
row. A worthy winner.
February
Keith
Higgins
Mayo defender Keith
Higgins sat out some
of his side's early season
games in the FBD
League and national
league, but he was on hand
to help Connacht
footballers to their first
M Donnelly Inter-provin-
cial title since 1969.
Higgins was out-
standing for John Tobin
and Barney Breen's
outfit in the final against Ul-
ster, but the fact that he
became first ever player
to win hurling and football
inter-provincial medals
means the Mayo man is the
February Sports Personality of the
Month.
SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
Sports
Persona lities
of the
Month
Page 26
SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
May
Annette Clarke
Galway Ladies
After the way that Galway Ladies
footballers blitzed their way to pro-
motion and their Division 2
title, there was plenty of com-
petition from inside the
Tribesgirls' camp for the
May award.
However, midfielder
Annette Clarke takes
the award after a stellar
display in the final
she kicked 2-1 to fin-
ish as top scorer against
Westmeath ahead
of her captain Sinead
Burke and sharpshooter
Rosn Leonard.
Clarke, who was also
named in the team of the
league, was in fine form
for Galway's final league
game of the campaign
against Meath with a 1-4
scoring total, so she is a worthy
winner of the Sports Personality
of the Month for May.
April
Diarmuid Murtagh
Roscommon U-21
Starring in Roscommon's 0-19 to 1-
3 Connacht U-21 football final win
over Leitrim, Diarmuid
Murtagh was probably well in
the reckoning to claim
April's award.
However, later the same
month, his 0-10 haul in
the All-Ireland semi-final
against Cork helped
Roscommon into a
second All-Ireland U-21
decider in three years.
Unfortunately, like in
2012, the Rossies fell to
a dominant Dublin.
Murtagh later went
on to star for Roscommon
seniors when he made a
second-half appearance
off the bench against Mayo,
but it's for his U-21 exploits
that he is named the April
player of the month.
March
Ollie Canning
You'd have to wonder if Ollie
Canning is Galway hurl-
ing's version of Benjamin
Button. He certainly seems to
get better with age and
is showing no signs of
hanging up the hurley just
yet.
In an illustrious ca-
reer on the field, Canning
must surely count
March's glorious fourth
All-Ireland club hurling
title among his great-
est achievements.
Playing around the mid-
dle third of the field,
Canning had a massive influ-
ence on Portumna and
bagged crucial points in
their run to the Galway champi-
onship and on All-Ireland final
day.
Page 27
Sports
Persona lities
of the
Month
Page 28
Kerry .................3-20
Mayo ..................1-18
By MICHAEL COMMINS
Mayo News
M
AYO captain Kenny Feeney
thanked his players for the hunger,
heart and desire they displayed
with a gutsy second-half rally against rag-
ing hot favourites Kerry in the Christy Ring
Cup semi-final at MacHale Park, Castle-
bar.
Mayo supporters rewarded them with a
warm round of applause at the end of the
game.
After being 18 points in arrears at the
interval, they put in a remarkable second-
half display, outscoring Kerry by 1-13 to 0-
6.
In many respects, the rally was all the
more praiseworthy when one considers
that Mayo lined-out without three of their
most influential players Keith Higgins,
Pdraig OFlynn and the injured Cathal
Freeman.
This was the proverbial game of two
halves.
Kerry were majestic in the opening-
half, playing with an abandon and freedom
that has marked their hurling all season.
Without doubt, this is the most talented
hurling side to emerge from Kerry in sev-
eral years, maybe going back to the time
they defeated Waterford in the Munster
championship in 1993.
They hit the front from the start as, in
the words of Muhammad Ali, they floated
like a butterfly and stung like a bee.
Kerry were buzzing throughout this half
and were relentless as wave after wave
crashed down on the Mayo defence.
Shane Nolan blasted to the Mayo net
in the first minute of the game.
They added six points on the trot from
Darragh OConnell (two), Sen Weir,
Pdraig Boyle, David Butler and a mas-
sive long-range free by goalie Tadhg
Flynn.
It could even have been worse for
Mayo but for a majestic save by Donal
OBrien after ten minutes.
Ciaran Charlton raised the first white
flag for Mayo midway through the half
after some excellent work by Gary Nolan.
But the result was probably never in
doubt from the moment Kerry full-forward
Padraig Boyle availed of an easy chance
from a breaking ball to secure a second
Kerry goal.
David Butlers ground pull provided an-
other green flag for the Kingdom, while the
excellent John Egan (three), Bryan Mur-
phy and David Butler floated over points
from all angles.
Kenny Feeney converted two frees for
Mayo, Brian Hunt added a brilliant point
from out the wing, while David Kenny,
Brian Hunt, Kenny Feeney and Sen
Regan combined in Mayos best first-half
move for Regan to finish in style.
Trailing by 3-14 to 0-5 at the interval,
one feared for a Mayo wipe-out in the sec-
ond-half, but it was not to be.
From somewhere deep within, they
plucked up the courage to renew the bat-
tle, guts and grit and pride came to the
top.
Sen Regan and Kenny Feeney shot
early points on the restart.
Sen Regan pulled on a loose ball and
found the Kerry net after six minutes. One
could sense a fresh belief surging through
the Mayo team.
David Kenny, Aidan Connolly and
Adrian Brennan surged into the game. Joe
Kennedy, a native of Cork and a teacher in
Westport, turned in a massive perform-
ance at centre half-back.
It was great to see Brian Deano Hunt
regain his form again. Long-serving Paddy
Barrett from Belmullet showed true dedi-
cation to the cause.
Gary Nolan had an excellent game for
Mayo from start to finish.
Ciaran Charlton got through a lot of
good work. Kenny Feeney was again the
star of the show up front, where Sen
Regan and Fergal Boland also impressed,
as did Shane Boland when drafted from
the bench.
From there to the end, they out-hurled
Kerry with a succession of scores from
Kenny Feeney and others from Fergal
Boland, Brian Higgins, Sen Regan and
Shane Boland.
Goalie Donal OBrien even got on the
score-sheet when drafted up to blast for a
goal, but his searing effort sailed over the
bar.
Kerry managed just six points in this
half but, it has to be said, they never
looked in danger of being over-hauled at
any stage.
KERRY: T Flynn (0-1); T Casey, B Murphy (0-1), D
Fitzell; S Weir (0-2), D Dineen, D OConnell (0-3); J
Griffin, C Harty; M Boyle (0-1), D Collins (0-1), S
Nolan (1-1); D Butler (1-1), P Boyle (1-3), J Egan (0-
6, 3f). Subs: K Carmody for C Harty (inj); P Lucid
for T Casey; G OGrady for S Nolan.
MAYO: D OBrien (0-1); A Brennan, A Connolly, D
Kenny; B Hunt (0-1), J Kennedy, P Barrett; C
Charlton (0-1), G Nolan; S Hoban, K Feeney (0-9,
8f), S Regan (1-3); F Boland (0-1), D McDonnell, B
Higgins (0-1). Subs: C Scahill for D McDonnell; S
Boland (0-1) for S Hoban; E Collins for F Boland.
REF: J OBrien (Galway).
CHRISTY RING CUP SEMI-FINAL
Mayo go down fighting
Pictured are some of the Ballina hurling supporters arriving early at Elverys MacHale Park for the Christy Ring Cup semi-final which turned out to
be a cracker. All had a fantastic day thanks to Mayos manager Christy Philips and his team of real men who never threw in the towel.
Page 29
Mayo ...................1-15
Wicklow .............0-14
By BRENDAN GERAGHTY Mayo PRO
M
AYO hurlers made the long journey
to Arklow to play Wicklow in the
quarter-final of the Christy Ring
Cup.
Most observers outside the county did
not give the Red and Green any chance of
victory and they were 7/2 outsiders with
the bookies earlier in the day.
On paper, at least, Mayo didnt have
much of a chance as they had suffered a
12-point defeat in the same venue last
year, but Mayo are a different proposition
this year.
This young Mayo side have been work-
ing very hard since the start of the year
under the tutelage of Christy Phillips, Leo
Connor and Austin Kenny and this has re-
sulted in a greater confidence and maturity
in the players on and off the field.
At the start of the match conditions
were perfect for hurling, with dry calm con-
ditions, which suited the young and nippy
visitors.
Mayo raced into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after
15 minutes with pointed frees from Kenny
Feeney (2) ably assisted by Fergal Boland
and Keith Higgins from play.
However as playing conditions began
to deteriorate, with heavy rain falling, the
more physical home side began to get a
foothold in the match and had six unan-
swered points from Mickey Lee (3 frees),
Andy OBrien, Wayne OGorman and
Christy Moorehouse to lead 0-8 to 0-4
after 30 minutes of play.
Mayo defended valiantly during this pe-
riod of Wicklow dominance and in particu-
lar the full-back line of Adrian Brennan,
Aiden Connolly and David Kenny were
heroic in restricting the home side to just
three points from play.
In the last five minutes of the half Mayo
got back in the match with a pointed
Feeney free and a spectacular effort from
All-Star Keith Higgins, to leave Mayo trail-
ing 0-6 to 0-8 at half-time.
On the resumption playing conditions
improved considerably as the rain was re-
placed by warm sunshine.
The home side were first off the mark
with another Mickey Lee pointed free but
that was as good as it got for the hosts.
Mayo management introduced
Stephen Hoban and he had an immediate
impact with an excellent point to begin a
sustained period of dominance for the visi-
tors.
The turning point of the game came ten
minutes into the second-half as Mayo
wiped out the deficit in one attack.
Brian Hunt broke down the left to hit it
hard off the ground to beat Ted Kennedy
and turn the tie on its head.
Mickey Lee levelled shortly after but
Mayo were starting to take control as Keith
Higgins, Hoban, Padraic OFlynn, Derek
McDonnell and the ever reliable Feeney
stretched their lead.
Mayo led 1-15 to 0-12 with five minutes
remaining and Wicklow pushed hard for
the goal that would reignite their fading
challenge.
They were awarded a dubious free for
a challenge on Andy OBrien but Mayo
keeper Donie OBrien got the slightest of
touches to deflect it over the bar to keep
his goal intact.
Shortly after referee Sean Cleere
sounded the final-whistle to herald jubilant
celebrations by the travelling Red and
Green army.
This was an historic victory for Mayo
hurlers, despite the odds being stacked
against them.
Mayo had many heroes on this historic
day, the aforementioned full back line of
Brennan, Connolly and Kenny were very
dominant throughout, Padraic OFlynn was
superb at centre-back, Brian Higgins and
Ciaran Charlton chased and harried at
midfield, while forwards Kenny Feeney,
Stephen Hoban, Brian Deano Hunt and
Keith Higgins took their chances with style
and panache.
Mayos best performer on the day was
dual All-Ireland winner from last year,
David Kenny at corner-back.
Kenny held Wicklow danger man Andy
OBrien to one point from play, no mean
achievement as the same player scored 3-
10 in the corresponding clash last year.
SCORERS Mayo: K Feeney 0-7 (5f), S Hoban 0-
3, B Hunt 1-0, K Higgins 0-2, F Boland, D McDon-
nell, P O'Flynn 0-1 each.
Wicklow: M Lee 0-9 (8f), C Moorehouse 0-3, A
O'Brien, W O'Gorman 0-1 each.
MAYO: D OBrien, A. Brennan, A. Connolly, D.
Kenny, D. Gallagher, P. OFlynn, P. Barrett, C.
Charlton, K. Feeney, K. Higgins, B. Hunt, D. Mc-
Donnell, F. Boland. Subs: G Nolan for Gallagher,
inj, (15), S. Hoban for Boland (40), J. Kennedy for
P. Barrett (54).
REF: S Cleere (Kilkenny).
CHRISTY RING CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Mayo triumph in Garden County
Mulligan fancies Green and Red victory
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
L
EITRIMskipper Emlyn Mulligan reckons
Mayo are still the team to beat in Con-
nacht, despite the rise of the Rossies.
Injury has continually hampered Mulligan
throughout his career, and but for a niggly
calf injury last summer, Leitrim could well
have made it as far as the Connacht final in-
stead of London.
It's 14 years since Leitrim progressed to
that stage of the competition all of the re-
maining Connacht counties have been in it
since and the former Melvin Gaels man
reckons the defending champions are still
well ahead of the chasing pack.
You'd have to say Mayo are the team to
beat in Connacht, but I'm sure Roscommon
would like to have something to say about it
too.
Mayo got the win in New York, and they'll
be favourites to win for the next few years
too, but nobody is unbeatable, he said.
Last summer Mulligan made the move
from Melvin Gaels to play his club football in
Dublin with St Brigid's and he thinks playing
at such a competitive level has lifted his
game.
I'm really enjoying it; even the league
games up there are very competitive. That
was one thing I was one thing I was finding at
home. I'd be turning up to league games and
I wasn't really getting up for them as much
as I should.
I had lost a wee bit of hunger. But it's to-
tally different now. Every game is a serious
as a national league game in my eyes, he
said.
David Kenny repels another Andy O'Brien
attack.
ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Page 30
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
S
UCCESSIVE defeats in All-Ireland semi-fi-
nals were consigned to the past as Ea-
monn Fitzmaurice's Pobailscoil Chorca
Dhuibhne reached the Hogan Cup final with a
blistering performance against the Connacht
champions at Nenagh.
Played in horrifically wet conditions, the Din-
gle side showed admirable skills while master-
ing the game's basics, and a stunning 2-3 in the
five minutes before the break ended the game
as a contest.
In the five minutes in the lead up to half-
time we got the sucker goals and from a posi-
tion where we had played all the football and we
were level going in at half-time, suddenly we
were seven points up and it was a help, said
Fitzmaurice.
Yeah it's great to be in the final for sure and
today two weeks we have plenty to work on at
the same time. We're delighted overall but we
still have a job to finish off, said the Kerry
manager.
Chorca Dhuibhne were impressive from the
off and raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 advantage by the
14th minute as St Gerald's Castlebar struggled
to come to terms with the Kerry side's move-
ment and impressive link play.
Full-forward Garreth Dunne looked to be St
Gerald's danger man in the early stages and he
had a rip-roaring battle with Brian Beaglaioch
throughout, but the Mayo man drew the early
blood with goals in the 15th and 18th minutes.
Philip Ruddy's 23rd minute point gave St Ger-
ald's a 2-1 to 0-5 advantage, but remarkably
they would go on to score just one more point as
Chorca Dhuibhne turned on the style.
Captain Brian Silleabhin was a colossus
at midfield, while Brian Raoill started the
comeback, before Marc Conchir landed a pa-
tiently-worked score to level matters in the 28th
minute.
But Toms S blistering 30th-minute goal
was quickly followed by Conchir Gibhean-
naigh's bullet shot from distance to the net,
which gave Chorca Dhuibhne a 2-8 to 2-1 lead at
the break.
Gibheannaigh kicked two frees to extend
Chorca Dhuibhne's advantage, and as conditions
worsened Seamus Muircheartaigh pointed in
the 39th minute for the game's last score.
Defending champions St Pat's Maghera, stand
in the way of a first Hogan Cup for Chorca
Dhuibhne, but Fitzmaurice is just happy to get a
chance to jump the final hurdle.
I remember in the final last year, watching
themselves and Navan. We had a ding-dong bat-
tle with Navan and they gave Navan a fair beat-
ing.
They will be a tough nut to crack but for now
we're just happy to be in the final, Fitzmaurice
said.
For Castlebar manager Daniel Forde, another
semi-final defeat was hard to take.
The fellas that we have there, they are real
men in my own opinion, they're such great to-
gether, young people, I couldn't be prouder of
them.
The first class I ever thought was some of
those lads so I was just very proud of them and
what they've done for this school, he said.
SCORERS Pobailscoil Chorca Dhuibhne:
C Gibheannaigh 1-3 (2f), T S 1-0, S Muirc-
heartaigh 0-3 (1f, 1'45), C Bambaire, B Raoill,
M Conchir, B Silleabhin, M Flatharta 0-1
each St Gerald's: G Dunne 2-0, P Ruddy, D Morrin
0-1 each
POBAILSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: D
Conchir; C Silleabhin, B Beaglaioch, T O
Suilleabhain; M Flatharta, C Beaglaioch, S
Gairbhia; B Silleabhin, M Conchir; R S, B
Raoill, S Muircheartaigh; C Gibheannaigh, C
Bambaire, T S. Subs: G Brosnachin for
Raoill (47), S Bambaire for C Bambaire (50), C
Murch for Gairbhia (57), B Murch for
Gairbhia (57), T de Brin for T S (59).
ST GERALD'S COLLEGE: C Mitchell; C Dravins, P
Bourke, S Kelly; D Morrin, M Hall, S Conlon; R
Comer, D Gibbons; R Collins, M Plunkett, S McDer-
mott; P Ruddy, G Dunne, J Maughan.
Subs: D Cannon for Collins (h-t), J McGinty for Mc-
Dermott (42), E Grady for Gibbons (42), C Ludden
for Ruane (57), K Feeney for Ruddy (57), J O'Malley
for Plunkett (58).
REF: Derek O'Mahoney (Tipperary).
F
OR long periods of the first-half of this All-
Ireland semi-final it looked as if Coliste
Choilm, Ballincollig would be blown away
by their Mountbellew opponents, but the Cork
side never panicked and eventually held on for a
one-point win in Nenagh.
Coliste Choilm didn't hit the target until the
15th minute, by which time Mountbellew looked
unstoppable on their way to an unanswered 1-4.
But after Conor Hughes toe-poked to the net in
the 21st minute the Cork men settled and looked
the better side thereafter.
But Ballincollig men were fortunate too as
Cian Kiely's 41st minute long range free dropped
into the net to rattle Mountbellew after they had
started the second-half strongly.
Ballincollig got off to a rocky start, but it
could have been a far different first quarter had
Finbar Hughes not denied Kiely with a superb
save after just 40 seconds.
But at the other end of the pitch Aidan McNer-
ney was not to be denied and his two early
points settled Mountbellew. And when Michael
Daly gathered Eoin Finnerty's point attempt that
dropped short and rattled the net, Coliste
Choilm looked in trouble.
Kiely got in on goal for the second time in the
15th minute, but chose to punch a point, while
Sean O'Donoghue kicked his first free of the
game soon after to put five between the sides.
And it got even better for Ballincollig four
minutes later when Hughes poked to the net
after a goal-mouth scramble, while Liam Collins
and Kiely points left it 1-5 each at the break.
Finnerty and Daly hit quick points after the
break as Mountbellew started strongly again,
but the game turned on its head when Kiely's
free from 35 metres dropped under the crossbar
19 minutes from time.
With the game in the balance team captain O'-
Donoghue became an increasing influence and
his points in the 48th and 53rd minutes gave
Ballincollig a two-point lead.
In between those points substitute John Daly
kicked a free for Mountbellew to keep them in
touch, but two fine points from Kiely inside a
minute gave the Cork men a four-point cushion.
It all looked comfortable, but three minutes
from time Michael Daly punched McNerney's
long ball to the net to reduce Coliste Choilm's
lead to just a point. However, John Daly was un-
able top repeat the action as his late free slipped
past the post to send the Ballincollig men into
the All-Ireland final against St Aidan's CBS.
SCORERS Coliste Choilm: C Kiely 1-4 (1-1f), S
O'Donoghue 0-4 (2f), C Hughes 1-0, L Collins 0-1.
Holy Rosary: M Daly 2-1 (1f), A McNerney 0-3, E
Finnerty 0-3, J Daly 0-1 (1f)
COLISTE CHOILM: C Kelly; K O'Regan, K O'Sulli-
van, P Cronin; D Murphy, M Lordan, D McCarthy; A
O'Raw, R O'Toole; L Collins, S O'Donoghue, S Cur-
zon; C Kiely, D Kelly, C Hughes. Subs: M O'Leary for
Kelly (53), D Hyland for Curzon (60).
HOLY ROSARY, MOUNTBELLEW: J Hynes, F
Hughes; P Keaveney, N Conway; J Foley, N McDon-
agh, T Rabbitte; R Bellew, E Finnerty; S Kenny, C
Ryan, M Daly; A McNerney, S French, Colm Man-
nion. Subs: N Garvey for Foley (29), J Daly for Rab-
bitte (46), E McCormack for Garvey (46).
REF: Sean Joy (Kerry).
St Gerald's Hogan odessy ends
at semi-final stage
Pobailscoil Chorca Dhuibhne (Kerry) ...............2-11
St Gerald's College, Castlebar (Mayo) ...............2-2
Coliste Choilm, Ballincollig (Cork) ...................2-9
Holy Rosary, Mountbellew ...............................2-8
Mountbellew school loose out in All-Ireland semi
CONNACHT COLLEGES A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Page 31
St Geralds
Castlebar ............... 3-11
St Attractas
Tubbercurry .........3-7
By Austin Garvin Mayo News
F
OR sheer excitement, a splendidly ap-
pointed James Stephens Park, Ballina was
the place to be. Patrons were treated to
an absorbing contest in the Connacht Post-Pri-
mary Schools Senior A final.
In the end, St Geralds prevailed, but only
after they received a searching test of their cre-
dentials from a gallant St Attractas side. The
standard may have dipped at times, particu-
larly in the area of finishing from both teams,
but it compensated with honest endeavour and
whole-hearted commitment.
After 13 minutes of this thrill-a-minute
match, the underdogs led by 3-2 to 0-1. Very
few in the good-sized attendance would have
given Geralds a chance of surviving at that
stage, but survive they did, and in the end, they
were deserving winners.
We kept going and never gave up, said St
Geralds manager Daniel Forde afterwards.
Im happy for the players as they worked hard
for this win. Hopefully we can improve further
before the All-Ireland semi-final.
Attractas dominated the midfield exchanges
early on, as Stephen Connolly and Oisn
Kennedy delivered a constant stream of quality
ball to an eager and nimble attack that tor-
tured and teased the opposing defence.
After Geralds centre forward Michael Plun-
kett opened the scoring with a pointed free in
the first minute, a strong Attractas attack
forced a Geralds defender to commit a foul in
the small rectangle. Jason Perry made no mis-
take from the penalty kick.
Perry tacked on a point a minute later, and
then inside two minutes, Attractas added two
further goals. The first came from Darragh Kil-
coyne, while the second was another Perry
penalty following a great move between Liam
Reilly and Kilcoyne.
Lesser teams would have crumbled, but this
Geralds side doesnt bow the knee easily. They
upped their performance and began to carry
the ball with intent into the strong breeze.
A fine move that started in defence, con-
cluded with Philip Ruddy finding the Attractas
net. From there to half time, Geralds outscored
the Tubbercurry side by four points to two, with
scores from Ryan Collins, Jarlath OMalley, and
Michael Plunkett (two, including one free).
Jason Perry and Brian Morahan replied for At-
tractas, leaving the score at half time 3-4 to 1-
6.
Wind-aided Geralds took some time to eat
into the Sligo schools lead, as Brian Morahan
and Darragh Kilcoyne added on points in reply
to one from Michael Plunkett.
Nothing seemed to be going right for Daniel
Fordes men as Attractas defended resolutely
and looked destined for the title. Then Geralds
corner back Colum Dravins sauntered forward
to kick an inspirational point. This was the spur
the Mayo side needed, and Darragh Dunne, Di-
armuid Gibbons, and Michael Plunkett (free)
added further scores.
This left a single point between the sides
with nine minutes left on the clock. The excite-
ment grew in intensity, and when Darragh Kil-
coyne responded with a point, it looked like
Attractas name was on the Aonghus Murphy
Cup.
The final minutes were filled with drama as
Geralds half-back Sen Conlon and Attractas
magnificent midfielder Stephen were both
black-carded. Then, after consulting with an
umpire, referee Martin Flaherty sent Geralds
Robert Comer to the line for a red card offence.
With the game in the balance, Philip Ruddy
kicked a superb goal for Geralds to edge them
a point to the good. The irrepressible corner
forward completed his hat-trick in injury time
after the Attractas defence failed to cut out a
strong attack.
For a time, there was some confusion as to
whether the goal stood, but it did much to the
relief of the St Geralds fans, as they celebrated
the schools second provincial title in a row.
ST GERALDS: C Mitchell; C Dravins (0-1), P
Bourke, S Kelly; D Morrin, M Hall, S Conlon; R
Comer, D Gibbons (0-1); R Collins (0-1), M Plunkett
(0-6,3f), S McDermott; P Ruddy (3-0), G Dunne (0-
1), J OMalley (0-1).
Subs: D Cannon for R Collins; J Byrne for J OMal-
ley; J Maughan for S Conlon (black card).
ST ATTRACTAS: E McDonagh; P Gorman, E
McGuinness, A Kearns; JP Lang, C Gilmartin, P
Burke; S Connolly, O Kennedy; B Morahan (0-2), N
ODowd, N Mullen (0-1); J Perry (2-2, 2-0 pen), L
Reilly, D Kilcoyne (1-2).
Subs: K Gavigan for JP Lang; G Perry for N
Mullen; C Doyle for S Connolly (black card).
REF: M Flaherty (Galway).
(after extra-time)
by JOHN FALLON
Media West Ireland
S
T Kieran;s College from Kilkenny, the
most prolific winners of the Croke Cup ad-
vanced to the semi-finals of the All-Ire-
land colleges senior hurling semi-final when
they came from behind to oust St Brigids in
Birr.
Conor Murphy of St Kierans pointed a last
gasp free to send the game into extra-time
after another sub Conor OCarroll had found
the net. St Brigids looked set to run away with
the game when a goal from Johnny Conroy
helped them lead 1-8 to 0-4 after 21 minutes.
Tadhg ODwyer got the first goal for St
Kierans and after David Mangan was sent off
for St Brigids at the start of extra-time, St
Kierans pulled away with goals from captain
James Maher and a second from OCarroll seal-
ing the win against a St Brigids side for whom
Brian Molloy was superb.
In the other quarter-final, Presentation
Athenry also exited the competition after de-
feat to Scoil na Trinide Naofa, Doon by 3-13 to
1-15.
Evan Niland, Brian Burke and Richard Doyle
all hit four points each and Brian Concannon
scored a crucial 1-1, but they were unable to
take the win against the Munster runners-up
and reach the semi-final.
SCORERS St Kierans: J Maher 1-4, C OCar-
roll 2-1, C Murphy 0-6 (3f, 1 65), T ODwyer 1-1, L
Blanchfield 0-3, B Cody 0-3, K Blanchfield 0-2, R
Leahy 0-1, B Ryan 0-1.
St Brigids: B Molloy 0-14 (8f), E Burke 1-4 (0-
1f), J Conroy 1-0, J Mannion 0-3, L Kelly 0-1.
ST BRIGIDS, LOUGHREA: D Gilligan; C Gib-
bons, J Mooney, G McHugo; C Jennings, D Cronin,
F Burke; S Roche, D Nevin; D Mangan, E Burke, J
Conroy; M Lynch, B Molloy, T Molloy.
Subs: M Lynch for Conroy (57), L Kelly for Roche
(68).
REF: C McAllister (Cork).
Magnificent Geralds seize their chance
St Brigid's beaten in extra-time
St Brigid's forward Eanna Burke was out of
luck on Saturday as Kilkenny side St Kieran's
knocked them out of the All-Ireland Post-Pri-
mary Schools championship after extra-time.
St Kierans College, Kilkenny .........4-22
St Brigids, Loughrea .......2-22
ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Page 32
ONeills All-Ireland Schools
Junior D Camogie Final
Convent of Mercy
Roscommon............. 5-9
Presentation
Waterford................ 1-5
By Colin Duffy Roscommon Herald
C
ONVENT of Mercy, Roscommon, produced
a solid team performance to claim All-
Ireland honours at MacDonagh Park in
Nenagh.
The Convent girls sparked in the glorious
spring sunshine as they claimed a 16-point win
in a game that was far tighter than the score-
line suggested.
The final hinged on Mercys ability to quickly
turn a Presentation Waterford attack into a
scoring chance of their own at the opposite
end, and the Roscommon sides ability to keep
opposing impressive midfielder Beth Carton at
bay.
While Carton scored 1-3 by full time, at least
four more goals could have been added to the
Waterford schools tally, but for the brilliance
of the likes of goalkeeper Fiona Tully and full-
back Niamh Farrell both of whom were im-
mense throughout.
Leading from the second minute, after Far-
rell fired over the first point, Teresa Hession
and Edel Connollys charges werent to trail in
this game.
That one-point lead quickly became four
after Shauna Fallon fired the first goal follow-
ing good work in the lead-up by Rachel Fitz-
maurice and Catherine Fallon. Even from an
early stage, there was a sense in the air that
All-Ireland silverware might be coming to
Roscommon but the winners were taking noth-
ing for granted.
Presentation Waterford had three key play-
ers in midfielders Courtney Healy and Carton,
along with captain Ciara Twomey. The trio
caused huge problems throughout, in particu-
lar Carton who fired Waterfords first score in
the seventh minute.
But that was all that Pres could muster in
the opening quarter. Convent goalkeeper Fiona
Tully pulled off a magnificent save from a Car-
ton goal chance in the 12th minute. Either side
of this effort, Mercy went further in front when
Athleagues Grainne Whyte found the net twice
to leave her side 3-2 to 0-1 to the good.
Mercy could do little wrong at both ends.
Carton continued to try and upset the Mercy
defence, but Tully was solid. Niamh Farrell also
did well to cut off a Carton goal chance in the
22nd minute.
Pres did outscore Mercy by 1-2 to 0-1 over a
three-minute spell approaching the break,
with Carton eventually bagging the goal she
craved, but Mercy had the final score of the
half through captain Rachel Fitzmaurice.
At the opposite end Tully denied Carton
once more deep into injury-time, to ensure a 3-
4 to 1-4 interval lead for the Roscommon girls
Fitzmaurice opened the Convents second
half account after three minutes to open up a
seven-point gap._Niamh Farrell made a well-
timed block on Carton in the 39th minute,
while a Shauna Fallon point and back-to-back
goals from Fitzmaurice and Shauna Fallon en-
sured a 5-6 to 1-4 lead entering the final quar-
ter.
The advantage stood at 17 points three min-
utes from the end, following scores from
Shauna Fallon, Fitzmaurice and Niamh Farrell.
The Convent had missed goal chances through
substitute Rachel Neilan and Fitzmaurice but
they never panicked. All Presentation Water-
ford had to show for their second half efforts
was a point from Carton 90 seconds into injury
time.
A pitch invasion greeted referee Jenny
Byrnes full-time whistle. There were joyous
celebrations as captain Rachel Fitzmaurice ac-
cepted the cup from Camogie Schools Presi-
dent Mairead Ni Mhaoileain. Goalkeeper Fiona
Tully picked up the Player of the Match award,
following a solid display between the posts.
CONVENT OF MERCY: F. Tully; E. Hession, N.
Farrell (0-2, two frees), E. Ni Chumhaill; J. McDer-
mott, A. Farrell, L. Mannion; L. Rowe, N. Brennan;
R. Fitzmaurice (1-3), L. Keenan (0-1), G. Whyte (2-
1); M. Tiernan, S. Fallon (2-2), C. Fallon.
Subs: R. Neilan for C. Fallon (37 mins); E. Neilan
for McDermott (50 mins); A. McGrath for S. Fal-
lon (60 mins); R. Dolan for Whyte (62 mins).
PRESENTATION WATERFORD: B. ORegan; L.
Reidy, T. Healy, J. Myers; R. Butler, E. Roche, N.
Robinson; C. Healy (0-1, one free), B. Carton (1-3,
two frees); K. OKeeffe, C. Twomey (0-1), P. Far-
rell; N. Ryan, C. Dempsey, M. OConnor.
Subs: E. Laffan for Farrell (half-time); Z. Mc-
Carthy for Reidy (half-time).
REF: Jenny Byrne (Dublin).
Calasanctius beaten
in All-Ireland final
Colaiste Dun Iascaigh .....6-20
Calasanctius, Oranmore ....3-8
THERE was to be no All-Ireland Junior
Camogie Schools success for Galway as
Calasanctius, Oranmore lost out to Co-
laiste Dun Iascaigh at MacDonagh Park in
Nenagh.
The All-Ireland Junior B final was a
hard fought affair, but the Tipperary girls
put in an excellent display to deny the
County Galway school the title.
The Cahir school led from the off, with
their captain Caoimhe Condon netting her
sides first goal after just 20 seconds.
Further goals from Roisin Howard, Con-
don (2) and Katie Farrell helped Colaiste
Dun Iascaigh to a 5-11 to 2-1 interval lead,
with Fiona Whelan and Lauren ODea net-
ting for Calasanctius.
Coliste Phobal Ros Cr
Tipperary ....................1-14
St Mary's College .............1-7
By JOHN FALLON Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY City school, St Mary's College
was unable to reach the All-Ireland col-
leges senior hurling B final after de-
feat to Coliste Phobal Ros Cr at Whitegate.
The Tipperary school were dominant
throughout and they were well on their way
to the All-Ireland when they trailed by just a
point, 0-6 to 0-5, at the break having played
against the strong wind.
St Marys just didnt have the forward
power to build a lead with the wind and the
impressive Adam Mooney from Castlegar ac-
counted for all but a point of their opening
half total.
Centre-back Daniel Doughan levelled
within a minute of the second-half starting
and they never looked back when Jordan
Fogarty edged them in front after 43 minutes
and with the Galway school losing corner-
back Paul Wynne to a second yellow card,
Coliste Phobal Ros Cr pulled away with
Adrian Cleary sealing the issue with a goal
four minutes from time after being set up by
Fogarty.
St Marys never gave up and a goal from
Eanna Keleghan and a point from his impres-
sive Moycullen teammate Conor Noone nar-
rowed the margin but they never looked like
saving the day against an impressive Roscrea
outfit.
SCORERS Coliste Phobal Ros Cr: J Fog-
arty 0-6 (5fs); A Cleary 1-2; D Doughan 0-2
(2fs); S Sampson 0-1 (1sl), J Dooley, E Fitz-
patrick and A Kirwan 0-1 each.
St Mary's College: A Mooney 0-5 (3fs); E
Keleghan 1-0; C Noone 0-2.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE: J Forde; T Griffin, R Hig-
gins, P Wynne; M McDermott, C Ryan, M
Heneghan; C Noone, J Lawlor; E Keleghan, P
Healy, A Mooney; R Fox, P Kearney, A Vahey.
Subs: S Colleran for Lawlor 15, C McAndrew for
Griffin 57.
Mercy girls bask in glorious triumph
St Mary's denied All-Ireland hurling title
CONNACHT COLLEGES FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Page 33
I
N their first year competing in the Connacht
senior colleges A championship Sligo side St
Attracta's have created one of the competi-
tion's biggest shocks by defeating record win-
ners St Jarlath's in the semi-finals.
A penalty from Jason Perry just before the
break which had to be retaken after the goal-
keeper encroached resurrected Colm McGee's
side after St Jarlath's had raced into a 0-6 to 0-1
lead.
The game turned nine minutes after the
restart when St Jarlath's wing-back Kieran Mol-
loy was sent off after picking up a second yellow
card at the time his side held a three-point ad-
vantage.
With a very strong wind at their backs, St At-
tracta's last year's All-Ireland B champions
began to pick their way back into the encounter
and a free from top scorer Daragh Kilcoyne was
quickly followed by a point from Brian Morahan
to put just one between the sides with 17 min-
utes remaining.
The excellent Joe Donnellan quickly stretched
Jarlath's lead, but the closing stages belonged to
the Sligo men. Points from Kilcoyne, Perry and a
fifth from Kilcoyne that bounced over the bar
drew the sides level with five minutes remaining.
Injured captain Stephen Connolly who has
later black carded returned to the field with
ten minutes remaining and he clinched the win-
ner from 50 metres in the 57th minute, which
found its way over via the post.
It's our first year in A after winning B last
year and we said we'd give it a crack. We rode
our luck a bit at times, but we'll keep the heads
down now for the final, said McGee, whose side
meet the winner of today's semi-final between
St Gerald's and Summerhill.
ST ATTRACTA'S: E McDonagh; P Gorman, E
McGuinness, A Kearns; P Burke, C Gilmartin, JP
Lang; S Connolly (0-1), O Kennedy; N Mullen, N
O'Dowd, B Morahan (0-1); J Perry (1-1, 1-0 pen), L
Reilly, D Kilcoyne (0-5, three frees).
Subs: C Walsh for Lang (14 mins), C Doyle for
Reilly (21 mins), L Reilly for Connolly (40 mins), S
Connolly for Reilly (50 mins), L Gaughan for Con-
nolly (BC 60 mins).
ST JARLATH'S: M Mulligan; D Treacy, John Don-
nellan, K Murphy; C Fahy, C Brady (0-1), K Molloy;
N Daly, T Gleeson; C Marsden (0-2), P Madden,
Joe Donnellan (0-2); D Wall (0-1), M Mannion (0-3,
two frees), R Quinn (0-1).
Subs: P Meenan for Quinn (44 mins), J Mannion
for Gleeson (54 mins), G Perry for J Mannion (58
mins).
REF: John Glavey.
PRESENTATION College Athenry were crowned
Connacht Colleges A hurling champions for the
first time in three years with victory over St
Brigid's Loughrea.
Ronan Hardiman's goal 30 seconds into the
second-half clinched the win for Athenry at
Kenny Park in the first year since the amalga-
mation of the vocational and colleges champi-
onships.
Hardiman's goal was quickly followed by
Brian Burke's fifth of eight frees to give Pres
Athenry a seven-point lead, but six points in a
row from St Brigid's put just two points be-
tween the sides with six minutes remaining.
But Brian Burke settled Athenry with a well-
struck free following a foul on Brian Concan-
non, before Conor Shaughnessy and Evan
Niland ensured Pres Athenry were the first
winners of the new Connacht title named after
their past pupil and former Galway star John
Ryan.
Athenry led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the break as Ni-
land and Richard Doyle both landed two points
each for the home side as the game failed to
ignite.
Eanna Burke was moved out around mid-
field after the Hardiman's goal and it seemed
to settle Loughrea, and midway through the
half wing-back Stephen Roche hit a super point
to reignite their charge.
But after seeming to run out of gas, Pres
Athenry finished out the last six minutes on a
high note as both sides go on to compete in the
All-Ireland quarter-finals in two weekend's
time.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, ATHENRY: C Far-
rell; J Fitzpatrick, B Hickey, A Greaney; S Bannon,
V Doyle (c), S Loftus; B Concannon (0-1), R Doyle
(0-2); R Hardiman (1-0), B Burke (0-9, 8f), R
Byrne; C Burke, C Shaughnessy (0-1), E Niland (0-
3). Subs: C McDaid for Byrne (40), B Callanan for
Hardiman (55),
ST BRIGID'S, LOUGHREA: R Brennan; D Earls, J
Mooney, G McHugh; S Roche (0-1), D Cronin (c), F
Burke; C Jennings, L Kelly; D Mangan (0-1), B Mol-
loy (0-7, 7f), J Monaghan; T Molloy, E Burke (0-5,
1f), J Mannion (0-1).
Subs: D Nevin (0-1) for T Molloy (40), J Mitchell
for Kelly (60), M Lynch for Monaghan (60).
REF: John Keane.
Record winners ousted by St Attractas
Pres claim John Ryan Cup
St Attracta's, Tubbercurry.
St Attracta's CS Tubbercurry ....................1-8
St Jarlath's College Tuam ......................0-10
Presentation College Athenry .............1-16
St Brigid's Loughrea ...........................0-16
AROUND THE PROVINCE AROUND THE PROVINCE AROUND THE PROVINCE
Page 34
THE Interprovincial Wheelchair Hurling
League took place in Belfast as all four
provinces were again represented in
the round-robin blitz day at the Ander-
sonstown Centre beside Casement
Park.
Connacht GAA were prominent with
early wins over Leinster and hosts, Ul-
ster, before going down to Kingpins
Munster in the final game of the day.
The next round of interprovincials
takes place on Saturday 28th
June where the Munster Council will be
hosts in Limerick City.
Anyone interested in joining up with
the Connacht GAA Wheelchair Hurling
panel is asked to ring 087-2450566 for
details.
Pictured from (L to R) are the Connacht GAA side in action on the day: Peter Egan (Kilmovee - Mayo), Sara Cregg (Frenchpark - Roscommon), Aidan
Hynes (Calry - Sligo), Stephen Melvin (Sligo), Shane Curran (Moycullen - Galway), Tom Fleming (Charlestown - Mayo), Pat Carty (Tourlestrane -
Sligo), Fergal Mahon (Frenchpark Roscommon).
Presentation of certificates to T.Y Students of Presentation College Athenry who recently acted as helpers at the recent Interprovincial Michael
Donnolly wheel chair hurling event held in Athenry by the Connacht Inclusion and Integration Committee. Back row (L to R): Cathal Moore Deputy
Principal, Cyril Feehily, Denis OBoyle, Connacht Chairman, Emer Kilgannon Coordinator TY, Gerry Doherty Principal, Christy Tyrrell,Galway G. A .A
President, Mattie Kilroy, Connacht Secretary, Tony Wattena, Croke Park, Joe Kelly Coordinator TY. Front row (L to R): Adam Flynn, Darragh Bergin,
Eadaoin Bane, Lauren Cooke, Ellen Fitzpatrick, Declan Joyce. Niall Beirne.
Connacht impress in
Wheelchair Hurling inter-pro
Page 35
T
HE Claddagh Gaels, Ladies Gaelic Football
Club, travelled 15 hours on coach and
ferry from Luton to Castlebar, Co Mayo, to
be greeted into the town by Taoiseach Enda
Kenny and Mayor Noreen Heston.
The mini Mayo tour which took place over
the first May bank holiday saw 23 players and
several supporters make the journey to Ireland
in conjunction with the Luton Mayo Associa-
tion.
The red carpet was rolled out on arrival to
the Welcome Inn, in Castlebar, where the team
were treated like royalty all weekend.
Local ladies team, Carnacon, invited The
Claddagh Gaels to play in the Aisling McGing
tournament where they met a tough senior
side, Hollymount who went on to become run-
ners-up of the tournament.
The score didnt reflect the hard work the
Claddaghs put in but the team were happy to
come away with a few scores on the board.
A civic reception was held at Lough Lannagh
Holiday Village where the Claddaghs and the
Luton Mayo Association were able to present
gifts to the Mayo dignitaries including,
Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
One of the gifts was as a traditional Luton
straw hat presented by the Luton Mayo Associ-
ation and worn stylishly by Castlebar Mayor,
Noreen Heston.
The Claddagh Gaels also had the fantastic
opportunity to have a skills training with
County Mayo Ladies captain Fiona McHale,
with many of the girls pinpointing this as the
highlight of their trip.
Bill Barrett, the Claddagh Gaels manager
from Lahardane, Mayo arranged the session
ensuring the team had an equal balance of
football and socialising.
Proud sponsor Martin Maloney from Belmul-
let, Mayo was the driving force behind the trip
and secured the majority of the funding to
make it all possible. Maloney said: The
Claddagh Gaels have worked very hard for the
last 5 years to become what they are today a
winning, welcoming and an all-round success-
ful club.
They deserved this trip away and it gave
me a chance to introduce them to the people of
my own home county of Mayo.
Donna Smith, Chairperson of the Claddagh
Gaels said: The Claddagh Gaels had the trip of
a lifetime in Mayo which wouldnt have been
possible without the many sponsors and sup-
porters to whom we would like to give huge
thanks. The people of Castlebar and Mayo
were extremely hospitable and welcoming and
we will soon be planning a trip back.
H
AVING successfully launched the GAA
Tackling Bullying programme in 2013,
the GAA in association with the Irish
Sports Council commenced the training of
more than 20 tutors from various sports or-
ganisations throughout Ireland in the imple-
mentation of this educational programme.
On 16/17 May in Croke Park the training of
these sports representatives took place so
as to ensure that this new Anti-Bullying pro-
gramme is made available for use at local
level by sports organisations in Ireland.
To date more than 50 GAA tutors, plus rep-
resentatives of the Football Association of
Ireland the Irish Football Association and
Gymnastics Ireland, had been trained in the
use of this programme.
Gearid Maoilmhichl, GAA Child Welfare
Manager said We fully recognise the impact
that bullying can have on young people, their
families and indeed their sports clubs. It is
for these reasons that the GAA is happy to
share this educational resource with our fel-
low sports organisations so that communi-
ties and sports leaders are equipped to re-
spond to instances of bullying wherever and
whenever bullying may be reported.
That weekend saw tutors from the Special
Olympics Ireland, Swim Ireland, local Sports
Partnerhsip, Irish Hockey Union, the Golfing
Union of Ireland and others undertaking the
training in association with the GAA.
T tuilleadh eolais ag Alan MacMaoldin,
Ceannasa Caidrimh na Men 018363222
For more information contact Alan Milton
GAA Head of Media Relations on 018363222
An Taoiseach welcomes Claddagh Gaels
GAA trains other sports organisations
in Anti-Bullying programme
Page 36
Division 2 An Tain League final
Annaghdown Galway ..... 1-16
Westport Mayo................. 3-9
By MICHAEL OCONNOR
C
ONSIDERED as a mundane winter league
that concludes in mid-Spring and nothing
more further from the truth is this state-
ment as one of the better games in recent sea-
sons in Connacht club hurling was witnessed in
the Connacht GAA centre as Annaghdown had
to dig deep into their reserves to overcome
a Westport side who will rue missed chances
for many a day.
The elements had their say in this game
with a strong breeze aiding the Galway side for
the first-half on an excellent surface.
The physical power of Westport at centre
and full-forward provided by Adrian Guiry and
Ronan Hehir was in direct contrast to the
speed and guile in the Annaghdown forwards
which ultimately proved decisive.
Annaghdown opened the scoring from a free
courtesy of Jonathan Comer which was re-
sponded in some style by Ronan Hehir for the
Mayo side a minute later. Christy Burke and
Con Butler were on target with a score apiece
in three minutes for the Annaghdown side be-
fore Ronan Cullinan hit back for Westport to
leave the minimum between the sides at the
end of the opening-quarter.
At this interval it was apparent that the
game would go to the final minute as a contest
and if Westport were able to curtail Annagh-
down against the wind it would make their
task all the simpler with the elements backing
them.
Con Butler and Brian Higgins swapped
scores in the 21st minute and the impressive
Shane Collier and Ronan Cullinane did likewise
in the 23rd minute to leave Annaghdown ahead
by the minimum.
A late surge of scores from Annaghdown
aided by their pace caused problems for West-
port when one-on-one situations were in play
left them 0-9 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
Eamonn Coffey, Niall Kineen and a brace
from Jonathan Comer were the Annaghdown
sharpshooters.
Westport kept in touch with Brian Higgins
and Adrian Guiry stroking over two late first-
half points, leaving the West Mayo three points
in arrears but content with this deficit facing
the second-half.
Annaghdown now realised that they could
not let Westport dictate possession in the first
ten minutes of the game or the title ambitions
would be nullified long before the final whistle.
Westports Declan Gallagher went as per
script with the first score of the second-half,
yet, Annaghdown hit a hat-trick against the
run of play in the intervening seven minutes
with Eamonn Coffey and Niall Kineen the tar-
get men to open up a five-point lead.
Scores were hard to come by, in the middle
ten minutes of the second half with Kineen the
only scorer from the 41st the 48th minute.
The five-point lead enjoyed by Annaghdown
was decimated in one minutes action with
goals from Ronan Hehir and Dara Gallagher in
the 50th minute to surge Westport 2-8 to 0-13
clear.
The title destination was now up for grabs
and had Westport added two more points in
this period it would have been their day, how-
ever, they managed only one courtesy of the
excellent Zach O Toole.
This scared Annaghdown into action and
smart forward play and delivery from the
backs created by Con Butler and Jonathan
Comer and once again Annaghdown were a
point clear.
Amazingly as Westport attacked Annagh-
down struck on the counter-attack and Eoghan
Pierce hit a vital match winning goal for the
Galway men.
They were now four clear but the drama was
not yet over.
Two minutes of injury-time saw a high ball
sent into the Annaghdown square and Ronan
Hehir squeezed the ball over Cathal Coens
line.
This was as close as it got for Westport who
were distraught at the final-whistle having
taken the lead in the last ten minutes only to
fall short by the minimum in an exciting clash.
The winners were served well by Michael
Hanley, Enda Mullarkey, Alan Newell, Shane
Collier, who was to the fore all through.
In the forward ranks, Christy Burke, and the
Annaghdown full-
forward line of Comer, Kineen and Coffey
kept the scoreboard ticking over. Westport had
solid performances from Colm Staunton,
Christy Sheridan, Shane Gallagher, Declan Gal-
lagher, Brian Higgins. Zac O Toole, Dara Gal-
lagher and Ronan Hehir.
ANNAGHDOWN: Cathal Coen, Michael Hanley,
Martin O Neill, John King, Thomas Burke, Enda
Mullarkey, Alan Newell, Shane Collier (0-1), Brian
Creaven, Con Butler (0-2), Christy Burke (0-1).
Eoghan Pearce (1-1), Jonathan Comer (0-5), Niall
Kineen (0-4), Eamonn Coffey (0-2).
WESTPORT: Chirsty Sheridan, Colm Staunton,
Steven Broderick, Tom Grimes, Shane Gallagher,
Conor Ryan, Shane Geraghty, Declan Gallagher
(0-2), Brian Higgins (0-2), Zach O Toole (0-1),
Adrian Guiry (0-1), Ronan Cullinan (0-2), Dara
Gallagher (1-0), Ronan Hehir (2-1), Pheilm Duig-
nan.
REF: Eoin Shaughnessy.
Play in
my Boots
T
HE GAA, in partnership with St Patricks
Mental Health Foundation, recently
launched an innovative resource de-
signed to support the emotional wellbeing of
club players and members.
The Play in my Boots packs an extension
of St. Patricks successful Walk in my Shoes
campaign aim to de-stigmatise mental
health by speaking to players in a sporting
language familiar to them.
Using the term mental fitness to empha-
sise the positive nature of our mental well-
ness, the packs also aim to remind the GAA
population that maintaining mental fitness re-
quires work and skill development in the same
way as maintaining our physical fitness does.
Supportive advice from players including
Alan OMara (Cavan), Eoin Cadogan (Cork),
Darran OSullivan (Kerry), Deirdre Burke (Gal-
way camogie), Conor Lehane (UCC), Valarie
Mulcahy (Cork), Seamus Hennessy (Tipper-
ary), and Donegal manager Jim McGuinness,
bring the packs to life.
The packs, kindly supported by Allianz, in-
clude a mobile element allowing users to tune
their mental fitness while on the go thanks to
a mental fitness app created by Inspire Ire-
land.
A mental health charter is also included
which clubs are encouraged to adopt in order
to promote an environment and culture that
promotes and fosters mental wellbeing for all
members.
Available to all clubs in hard and in soft for-
mat (for uploading onto their websites and so-
cial media platforms) the packs are the latest
development by the Association in an on-
going campaign to support its members
health and well-being.
We hope these innovative packs better
arm our players and members in maintaining
their well-being and that they remind each
and everyone one of us that we contribute to
not only our own mental health, but to the
mental health of those around us, said
Uachtarn CLG, Liam ONeill.
We are indebted to all those who have con-
tributed to these packs and I encourage all
our members to use them and help bring their
message to life.
Paul Gilligan, CEO of St. Patricks Mental
Health Services, said; We are delighted to be
working on this awareness initiative with the
GAA because mental health difficulties impact
on every community in Ireland and the GAA
plays a significant role in all of these commu-
nities.
We are confident that Play in My Boots
will provide players, coaches, clubs and com-
munities with the tools they need to mind
their mental health
The packs are available to download from
GAA.ie and HYPERLINK "http://playinmy-
boots.ie/" \n _blankplayinmyboots.ie, #playin-
myboots
For more information contact Colin Regan,
GAA Community & Health Manager, on 00353-
87-2945705 or HYPERLINK
"mailto:colin.regan@gaa.ie" \n
_blankcolin.regan@gaa.ie
Annaghdown claim Division 2 Tain title
Into the West
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Page 37
Clare ..................1-10
Galway ................0-8
By Daragh Conchir
C
LARE got their bid to seal the last
semi-final berth in the Irish Daily
Star Camogie League off to a suc-
cessful start as they defeated All-Ireland
champions, Galway in the first of the play-
off games at Corofin by 1-10 to 0-8.
The opening half was a very evenly-
matched affair, ending with the sides level
on 1-3 to 0-6. Rebecca Hennelly was re-
sponsible for five of Galways points from
frees. She had two by the eighth minute
and when Orla Kilkenny scored the west-
erners only score from play in that period
in the 11th minute, they lead by two points.
Niki Kaiser was magnificent for Clare
though in accumulating a tally of 1-5 and
when Niamh ODea offloaded to her after
a strong run, the sharpshooter buried a
rising shot to the net from a tight angle.
That put two points between the teams but
Hennelly restored parity at the interval
from a brace of placed balls.
Chloe Morey was making her seasonal
reappearance after suffering a cruciate
knee ligament injury last year and she ex-
celled in an outstanding full-back line that
also included Mire McGrath and Carol
OLeary. Whats more, her long-distance
free-taking was right out of the top drawer
and she defied her long absence by lofting
over three 60m frees as the Banner-
women pulled clear.
Kaiser added a couple of points and
Risn McMahon split the posts from 45m
to put seven points between the teams en-
tering injury time. Galway were unable to
escape the shackles placed on them by a
Clare unit hunting in packs and they didnt
score in the latter period until injury time.
Those two points were never going to
threaten a remarkable turnaround how-
ever.
FOCUS ON CAMOGIE FOCUS ON CAMOGIE FOCUS ON CAMOGIE
Tribesgirls slip in battle for league semis
Camogie minors lose out in semi-final
By Daragh Conchir
C
ORK and Limerick will contest the All-Ire-
land minor A camogie final after two
hard-fought victories over Tipperary and
Galway respectively.
Limericks defeat of the only non-Munster
outfit in the last four was the surprise result
but there was no questioning its merit, as the
Shannonsiders were the better team through-
out in Corofin.
Their pace caused the hosts untold problems
but it was the brilliant senior player, Caoimhe
Costelloe that Galway had no answers to. The
Limerick skipper scored ten of her teams
points as they cemented their place in the de-
cider, 0-12 to 0-6.
It was 0-5 apiece at the end of a tight first-
half, with Costelloe and Ciana N Churraoin
scoring four points each.
Limerick inflicted the most damage on Gal-
way in the third quarter, winning the majority
of breaking balls to feed Costelloe, who added
two frees to two scores from play as the girls in
green moved into a double-score lead.
N Churraoin slotted Galways only score of
the second half in the 46th minute and though
the westerners wasted four good goal chances
that might have made a difference, it was
Costelloe who struck with the last two scores of
the game.
Tony Ward camogie seniors.
FOCUS ON LADIES GAA FOCUS ON LADIES GAA FOCUS ON LADIES GAA
Page 38
By NOELLE GORMLEY
ON Saturday the 31st of May the Con-
nacht Club Development 9 aside Blitz
took place in the Connacht Centre of Ex-
cellence.
For the third year in-a-row the sun
was shining as each team got over 60
minutes of football and there was over
100 girls participating on the day from all
five counties.
There were three pitches running
throughout the facility and each team
got to experience playing against teams
from other counties.
Due to this been a development blitz
and a learning environment for all in-
volved it was non-competitive.
The blitz was 9-a-side and you were
only allowed two plays of the ball.
This allows players to explore a new
dimension of the game and they have
more time on the ball.
It was unlimited substitution so team
mentors got the chance to play all play-
ers and allow them game time in a non-
competitive environment.
Our referees on the day were stu-
dents who completed the TY programme
this year.
They were: Jack Haugh, Glena-
maddy CS, Laura Keane Mount St
Michael, Caoimhe Groarke and Grace
Mullaney Scoil Muire agus Padraig,
Swinford and Ann-Marie Murray and
Nicole Dolan Convent of Mercy,
Roscommon .
It is great to see young referees offi-
ciating as it is important at this age to
make mistakes, ask questions and
learn.
They did a great job and hopefully
we will see them refereeing in their
Counties in the near future.
Thanks to Liam Costigan, Aine
Gormley, Laura Gillespie, Francie Keane
and Ita C Hannon for their help co-ordi-
nating the blitz on the day.
These girls can now bring back what
they have learned to the training fields
and practice it and we may see some of
them featuring within their own Counties
in the months ahead.
Connacht Intermediate Championship
Leitrim ...............2-6
Roscommon ........0-6
By JOHN CONNOLLY
Leitrim Observer
O
N an evening when Ballinamore
was basked in sunshine the
opening-half proved to be a war
of attrition in a largely uninspiring open-
ing 30 minutes.
The sound of the referees whistle was
the most memorable feature of that half
but when the game opened up in the sec-
ond-half it became a more enjoyable con-
test.
While Aine Tighe was once again cru-
cial to her sides cause it was the impact
of centre back Lorraine Brennan which
was really pivotal and those behind her in
the full-back line all had a big say in pro-
ceedings while goalkeeper Michelle
Guckians incredible double save will live
long in the memory of all who witnessed
it.
Roscommon, who were marginally
better in that half, opened the scoring in
the fourth minute with a Martina Freyne
free before Tighe replied with two frees in
quick succession to give Leitrim the lead.
The first score from play arrived in the
eight minute when Jenny Higgins pointed
after incisive play involving Emer
Callaghan and Siobhan Tully and Jenny
Higgins was on hand to level matters.
Leitrim edged back in front when Aine
Tighe converted a free after she was
fouled but chances were proving to be at
a premium for Leitrim.
Michelle Guckians incredible double
save midway through the half maintained
Leitrims lead but Roscommon levelled
when Jenny Downey converted a free
and they retook the lead.
That completed the first-half scoring
with Roscommon leading 0-4 to 0-3.
The second-half was a much more
open affair and a much more enjoyable
spectacle.
Aine Tighe opened the second-half
scoring with a well taken point, Leitrims
first from play before Roscommon replied
with a Jenny Downey free and a Claire
Raftery point to retake the lead.
Leitrim Ladies on song to reach decider
U12 Connacht Club Development Blitz
FOCUS ON LADIES GAA FOCUS ON LADIES GAA FOCUS ON LADIES GAA
Page 39
Nine minutes into the second-half
both sides were reduced to 14 players
when Deirdre Ward and Caitriona
Regan were both shown yellow cards.
Leitrim coped much better with the
loss of a key player and two minutes
later they struck for a decisive goal.
Aine Tighes quick turn of pace saw
her carve her way through the de-
fence before firing her shot past Carol
Manning.
Midway through the second-half
Leitrim took a big step towards secur-
ing their place in the final when they
struck for their second goal.
Anna Conlans shot from distance
seemed as though it would have been
straight forward for the goalkeeper but
possibly blinded by the sun, the ball
squirmed away from Manning and into
the goal.
That score put Leitrim four points
clear and two late Roisin Fowley
points put the result beyond doubt.
LEITRIM: M Guckian, M Farrell, S Kerrigan,
F Bohan, A Bohan, L Brennan, E McWeeney,
S McLoughlin, A Conlan (1-0), D Ward, C
Owens, C McPartland, R Fowley (0-2), A
Tighe (1-4), M Heslin. Subs: S Tighe for Mc-
Partland (HT), M Hewitt for Ward (59), C
Rowley for Heslin (60).
ROSCOMMON: C Manning, F Beirne, S
Brady, C Raftery (0-1), N OBeirne, A
McLoone, R Finlass, C Regan, S Kenny, E
Callaghan, J Higgins (0-1), L Fleming, S Tully,
M Freyne (0-1), J Downey (0-3).
Subs: G Dufficey for Freyne (43), S Bruen
for Raftery (50), C Beirne for Fleming (55), R
Timothy for Manning (56).
Connacht
Ladies
miss out on
inter-pro title
Ulster ..........................2-8
Connacht .....................2-7
By JACKIE CAHILL
G
EMMA Begley played a captains part as
Ulster claimed a third successive MMI In-
terprovincial ladies football crown.
Tyrone star Begley scored 2-3, including 2-1
from play, as Paula Cunninghams Ulster repeated
last years final victory over Connacht.
Not even a personal haul of 1-7 from Mayo ace
Cora Staunton was good enough to prevent defeat
for Connacht as their long wait for a first inter-
provincial crown since 2000 continues for at least
another year.
Despite playing with the breeze from the start,
Ulster were just a point ahead at half-time, 1-5 to 2-
1.
Connacht got their noses in front with the
games opening score in the seventh minute a
goal from Leitrims ine Tighe after Grace Kellys
shot smashed off the crossbar.
But Ulster settled and four points without reply,
including a brace from Monaghans Caoimhe
Mohan, pushed the champions in front.
Connachts response was to score a second
goal, with Staunton finishing left-footed from close
range after her initial effort was saved.
In the 19th minute, Begley lashed the ball into
an empty net for Ulsters second goal in a seesaw
opening half.
Stauntons free and a point from Monaghans
Cora Courtney completed the first half scoring and
it was Begley who got the ball rolling in the second
half with a point.
Two frees from Staunton levelled matters but Ul-
ster regained the advantage when Therese Mc-
Nally scored her second point and Begley netted
again.
Staunton hit back for Connacht with two points,
including a free, before Begleys free ensured a
three-point buffer for Ulster 2-8 to 2-5.
Connacht got back to within striking distance
with a late brace of points from prolific forward
Staunton but the clock was against the Westerners
as Ulster held firm.
SCORERS FOR ULSTER: G Begley 2-3 (0-2f), C
Mohan & T McNally 0-2 each, C Courtney 0-1.
SCORERS FOR CONNACHT: C Staunton 1-7 (0-
5f), A Tighe 1-0.
Leitrim Ladies on song to reach decider
Page 40
By MICHAEL COMMINS
Mayo News
B
ALLYHAUNIS hurler Christy McCrudden
made a dramatic comeback to the play-
ing fields.
McCrudden spent several weeks in the Beau-
mont Hospital in Dublin two years ago, where
he underwent a major operation and was un-
conscious for many days after a bad fall at his
place of residence just hours after helping Bal-
lyhaunis win the Mayo senior hurling title in
2012.
And his comeback game was a highly emo-
tional occasion for McCrudden when he led
Ballyhaunis out on the field in their Genfitt
League game away to Westport at St Patricks
Park.
Team manager Pete Higgins, father of Mayo
dual star Keith, handed McCrudden the cap-
taincy for this special day.
It marked an amazing transformation for
McCrudden who has almost defied medical sci-
ence by making a full recovery from the very
serious injuries sustained in the fall.
He also underwent many weeks of therapy
sessions in the Rehab Hospital in Rochestown
Avenue, Dun Laoghaire.
We were all thrilled for Christy, says Bally-
haunis club man and selector JP Coen.
He lined out at wing-forward and scored
three points from play in our 0-18 to 0-7 vic-
tory.
He was like a man walking on air, he was so
happy to put on the jersey and play the game
he loves again, he continued.
When Christy sustained the injury on the
night of our county title win, and when we re-
alised how serious it was, we honestly could
never have envisaged that he would be able to
play hurling again but from once he began to
show signs of recovery, he also showed great
battling qualities.
Christy started training on his own some
months ago and this was the culmination of all
that hard work, it really is an unbelievable
comeback.
We want to thank Dr Young and his medical
team in the Beaumont and Dr Glen Lecky here
in Ballyhaunis for their great work, help and
encouragement. All of us in Ballyhaunis GAA
circles and the wider community are delighted
to see Christy back in action again, Coen con-
cluded.
Westport
U-12s in
Croke Park
THE Westport U12 hurling
panel travelled to Dublin re-
cently to represent Mayo
GAA at the launch of the
National GAA Go-Games
week in Croke Park.
In all 18 Westport
hurlers took part in the
event which was organised
by the National Coaching
and Games Committee.
The Westport side had
three games on the hal-
lowed ground featuring
against St Brides (Antrim)
and Roanmore (Waterford)
over the days events.
The event was also run
as part of the Give Respect
Get Respect initiative within
the GAA - on a day which
saw over 1000 children
from all 32 counties in Ire-
land taking part.
FOCUS ON MAYO FOCUS ON MAYO FOCUS ON MAYO
CAPTION 1:
CAPTION 2:
Go Games: Ballyvary NS have taken to Go games Hurling in their school very well. Pictured are the 3rd/4th Class boys in action at a recent coaching
session on the Ballyvary Astropark.
Ballyhaunis hurlers
welcome back McCrudden
Page 41
Pictured are the 3rd/4th class girls of Ballyvary NS also got in on the act.
Page 42
WESTPORT retained the Mayo GAA
U14A Feile na nGael Title with convincing
wins over Caiseal Gaels and Tooreen to
claim the Adrian Freeman Memorial Cup
for the second year in succession at the
Tooreen Hurling Club Grounds.
In the opening game of the day, a
young Tooreen side took on Caiseal Gaels
- with the blues eventually coming out on
top on a 4-7 to 3-2 scoreline.
Next up it was holders Westport
against Caiseal Gaels.
After a slow start, Westport eventually
broke down the challenge of the Green
and Whites to win on a 1-7 to 0-3 score-
line - setting up a battle against the host
club in the final.
Westport hit the ground running in the
final and recorded an amazing six goals in
the opening half - a hat-trick apiece from
Matt Horan and Jack Carney.
Tooreen did respond well in the second
half but the result was never in doubt.
Final score: Westport 7-7 Tooreen 0-5.
Round 1: Tooreen 4-7 Caiseal Gaels 3-2
Semi: Westport 1-7 Caiseal Gaels 0-3
Final: Westport 7-7 Tooreen 0-5
Pictured are the Tooreen U14 Hurling team who took part in the U14A Feile Blitz for the Adrian Freeman Memorial Cup.
Pictured are the Westport GAA U14 Hurling side who regained the Adrian Freeman Memorial Cup for the Mayo GAA 14A Feile na nGael Title.
Pictured are
the Caiseal
Gaels U14
Hurling team
who took part
in the U14A
Feile Blitz for
the Adrian
Freeman Me-
morial Cup in
Tooreen.
Feile na Gael U14 A hurling blitz
Page 43
Cathal OShea (Castlebar) winner of the Mayo
GAA U10 Skills Competition, being presented
with his prize by Eugene Connolly (Mayo GAA
Hurling Secretary).
Cormac Phillips (Ballyhaunis) winner of the
Mayo GAA U14 Feile Skillstar Competition,
being presented with his prize by Eugene Con-
nolly (Mayo GAA Hurling Secretary).
The U16 Poc Fada competitors. LtoR: Aaron Hayes (Castlebar), Bobby Douglas (Tooreen), Niall
Walsh (Belmullet), Luke Hurley (Ballina) and Eugene Connolly (Mayo GAA Hurling Secretary).
Bobby Douglas (Tooreen) winner of the Mayo
GAA U16 Poc Fada Competition, being pre-
sented with his prize by Eugene Connolly
(Mayo GAA Hurling Secretary).
Skills on
show at
MacHale Park
THE Mayo GAA Hurling Underage Skills competi-
tions took place in MacHale Park recently as a cur-
tain raiser to the Christy Ring Cup tie between
Mayo and Armagh. In total 24 players from all ten
hurling clubs were present for the event which
catered for players from U10 to U16 level.
U-16 POC FADA COMPETITION:
The U-16 Poc Fada competition saw Tooreen
goalkeeper Bobby Douglas claim the title with
Aaron Hayes (Castlebar) in second place. Both
Bobby and Aaron now go forward to represent
Mayo GAA at the Connacht GAA Poc Fada competi-
tion in July. Other participants were Keelin Horkan
(Caiseal Gaels), Luke Hurley (Ballina), Stephen
Walsh (Westport) and Niall Walsh (Belmullet).
U-14 FEILE SKILLSTAR COMPETITION:
Cormac Phillips (Ballyhaunis) retained his title
which he picked up twelve months ago. The Bally-
haunis player was clear winner in this grade ahead
of John Heraty (Tooreen), Dara Fehilly (Castlebar),
Bryan Kelly (Westport) and Sean Heaney (Clare-
morris).
U-12 SKILLS COMPETITION:
Winner: Kevin Kenneally (Tooreen), Runner-up:
Thomas Keane (Claremorris), Also taking part were
Evan Heraty (Moytura), Matthew Walsh (Belmul-
let), Paddy Dozio (Caiseal Gaels), Tomas Fahy
(Castlebar), Ray Walsh (Westport) and Liam Byrne
(Claremorris).
U-10 SKILLS COMPETITION:
Winner: Cathal OShea (Castlebar), Runner Up:
Moise Finn (Tooreen), Also taking part were:
Padraic ONeill (Moytura), Conor Joyce (Ballyvary),
Eoin Walsh (Belmullet) and Cian Gallagher (Belmul-
let).
Moise Finn (Tooreen) runner-up in the Mayo
GAA U10 Skills Competition, being presented
with his prize by Eugene Connolly (Mayo GAA
Hurling Secretary).
Kevin Kenneally (Tooreen) winner of the Mayo
GAA U12 Skills Competition, being presented with
his prize by Eugene Connolly (Mayo GAA Hurling
Secretary).
Page 44
Pictured is Robbie Hennelly (Special Guest) as he receives his
Mayo GAA U21 Hurling medal from 2010 at the recent Tooreen
Hurling Club Easter Camp - from Dom Greally - Chairman of
the Tooreen Bord na nOg. Robbie was on hand on the final day
of the camp to show off his silky hurling skills which he picked
up during his years playing with Tooreen Hurling Club.
Pictured are the U10 girls enjoying the fun at the recent Tooreen Hurling Easter Camp along with coaches Aisling Lynskey and Daniel Cunnane. The
event was part of the 'Every child gets a Go' week within Mayo GAA.
Pictured are the U10 boys enjoying the fun at the recent Tooreen Hurling Easter Camp. The event was part of the 'Every child gets a Go' week within
Mayo GAA.
Pictured is Aaron Henry enjoying the fun at the Tooreen Easter Camp as part of
the 'Every child gets a Go' week within Mayo GAA.
Page 45
Pictured are the
Tooreen team and
management who
defeated
Tourlestrane in the
Connacht GAA Tain
Hurling League Divi-
sion 3 final in the
Connacht Centre.
Pictured are the
Castlebar Minor
Hurling team who
claimed the Mayo
GAA Minor A Hurling
League title with a
4-8 to 0-11 win over
Westport in Tooreen.
The team is pictured
here with the Connor
Memorial Cup.
The Tooreen U16
Hurling side who re-
cently won the Mayo
GAA U16 Hurling
League to
claim the Eugene
OShea Memorial
Cup. Tooreen over-
came neighbours
Caiseal Gaels in the
final on a 1-9 to 0-4
scoreline.
Pictured are the
Tooreen Minor Hurling
team who claimed the
Mayo GAA Minor B
Hurling League title
with a 0-8 to 1-4 win
over Caiseal Gaels in
Ballaghaderreen re-
cently. In tricky un-
derfoot conditions
due to the persistent
rain, Tooreen went on
to garner the Connor
Memorial Shield for
the first time. The
Tooreen team is man-
aged by Joey Ganley.
Page 46
Pictured are the Logboy NS Hurling side who were in Cumann na
mBunscol Hurling action in the Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan
recently - pictured along with principal Mr Aiden Brennan.
Pictured are the Ballyhaunis NS Hurling side who were in Cumann na
mBunscol Hurling action in the Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan recently.
Pictured are the Aghamore NS Hurling side who were in Cumann na
mBunscol Go Games Hurling action in the Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan
recently.
Pictured are the Dernabroc NS Hurling side who were in Cumann na mBunscol
Hurling action in the Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan recently.
Pictured are the Behy NS (Ballina) Hurling side who were in Go-
Games Hurling action in MacHale Park recently.
Pictured are the Kilmaine NS Hurling side who were in Cumann na mBunscol
Hurling action in the Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan recently.
Page 47
Pictured are the Kilmovee NS Go Games Hurling team at a recent blitz in
the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
Pictured are the Knock NS Go Games Hurling team at a recent blitz in
the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.
Pictured are the
Claremorris BNS 'B'
Go Games Hurling
team at a recent blitz
in the Connacht GAA
Centre of Excellence.
Pictured are the
Barnacarroll NS Go
Games Hurling team
at a recent blitz in
the Connacht GAA
Centre of Excellence.
Page 48
Manulla NS at a recent Cumann na mBunscol Go-Games Hurling blitz in MacHale Park.
Tavrane NS at a recent Cumann na mBunscol Go-Games blitz in the Connacht GAA Centre.
The Carracastle NS hurling side who were in action recently in Claremorris GAA Grounds. Scoil Raifteiri (Castlebar), with teacher ConallO'Domhnaill.
Kilkelly NS in the Connacht GAA Centre.
Page 49
The St Pats NS (Castlebar) side at the Cumann na mBunscol hurling blitz in Claremorris GAA grounds. Mountpleasant NS (Ballyglass) .
Scoil Raifteiri (Castlebar), with teacher ConallO'Domhnaill.
Pictured are the participants of the Mayo GAA Hurling Skills Competitions who took part in the Respect Initiative Guard of Ho-
nour recently for the Christy Ring Cup tie between Mayo and Armagh in MacHale Park. The Guard of Honour was done to pro-
mote the Respect Initiatiative to welcome both teams to the field along with the match officials. Back (L to R): Matt
Schwertfeger (Coach), Naill Walsh (Belmullet), Aaron Hayes (Castlebar), Kevin Kenneally (Tooreen), Ray Walsh (Westport),
Luke Hurley (Ballina). Front (L to R): Bryan Kelly (Westport), Cathal OShea (Castlebar), Moise Finn (Tooreen), Evan Heraty
(Moytura), Padraic ONeill (Moytura), John Heraty (Tooreen), Paddy Dozio (Caiseal Gaels).
Kilkelly NS in the Connacht GAA Centre. Cloonlyon NS (Charlestown) at a recent Cumann na mBunscol Go-Games hurling blitz in the Connacht GAA Centre.
Ballagh native preaches GAA gospel
Page 50
By MIKE FINNERTY
Mayo News
T
HE Mayo teams first pit-stop after
they touched down in New York was
Frank Golden Park in Queens as
James Horan and company paid a visit to
the home of Shannon Gaels GAA club.
One of the organisers of this significant
stopover was John McKenzie from Bal-
laghaderreen, a Mayo GAA fanatic who
has lived in New York City for the past 18
years.
McKenzie was one of the founding
members of Shannon Gaels in 2002,
when just ten children were registered,
and now he serves as PRO of a thriving
club that togs out 250 kids on a weekly
basis.
The chance for many of those children
to meet the Mayo players in the flesh
couldnt be overstated, according to
McKenzie.
Every player in the Mayo panel are
positive role models for our kids, he ex-
plained.
My son goes to every game and
watches Mayo with me, its hugely impor-
tant that the players make an effort. It
helps to develop the game over here.
The Mayo flag was on the back of the
truck when the Mayo team arrived at
Frank Golden Park, and it was great to
see them get a guard of honour from
around 200 people, the kids were pulled
out of school early, theyll remember that
for years.
Shannon Gaels sprung up in Sunny-
side in Queens but its catchment area has
grown immensely over the last twelve
years.
First-generation Irish children now play
Gaelic football with their American friends,
and a Scr division was formed earlier this
year.
Its going from strength to strength,
explains McKenzie.
GAA on TV has played a huge part in
this too, the reach of Gaelic Games has to
expand across the world, its getting easier
and easier to watch the games and its
hugely important that the kids get to see
their heroes on television.
It connects them with their culture, its
By DANIEL CAREY
Mayo News
A
PROPOSAL by the Football Review
Committee to play the club champi-
onship earlier in the year drew little
support at a meeting of Mayo GAA Board.
Some delegates initially backed the sug-
gestion that counties be required to reach
the semi-final stage of the senior and inter-
mediate football championships by the first
weekend in August.
But when County Board chairman
Paddy McNicholas called for a show of
hands, the measure drew no support.
Ollie Dillon (Ballintubber) and Kevin Mc-
Donnell (Kilmaine) voiced their support for
having a significant amount of club champi-
onship activity between mid-April and early
August.
Arguing that the club championship is
run well in this county, Schools delegate
John Holian suggested the wording be
amended so that the championship reach
the quarter-final stage (rather than the
semi-finals) by early August, which was
supported by Pat McManamon (Bur-
rishoole).
But former Central Council delegate
Paddy Muldoon warned that Football Re-
view Committee chairman Eugene McGee
will not take amendments to the motion
and that his successor Jerry Henry will
have to say yes or no to the proposal as
stated.
He predicted that a Special Congress
will be called to discuss the FRC sugges-
tions.
Bord na ng secretary Sen Mac il
said Mayos competitions ran quite well
last year despite the senior team reaching
the All-Ireland final, and he was no so sure
about tying it down to the proposed time-
frame.
Paddy McNicholas noted that backing
the proposal meant a lot of clubs wouldnt
have championship football after July.
Jerry Henry noted that it was only a dis-
cussion document.
The motion drew no support when a
show of hands was called for.
An FRC proposal to complete the All-
Ireland club championship by December
was backed without a formal vote, but their
call to move an Ulster team into the Con-
nacht Championship was defeated, as was
the idea of reducing the minor age limit
from 18 to 17.
The FRCs suggestion to have second-
level senior competitions concluded earlier
in the school year was defeated.
Schools delegate John Holian said it
was hard to play games as it is and chang-
ing the calendar was unfair and will re-
duce the amount of football played.
Mayo delegates also opposed the
FRCs proposal to continue the Interna-
tional Rules series, with Sen Mac il say-
ing he would love to know what the
expenditure on it was. I know there was an
audience there when they were batin each
other around Croke Park, but Im very dubi-
ous on it, he concluded.
Manager can hijack half a club, says
delegate
Mayo GAA policy allows the county sen-
ior team manager to hijack half a club, one
delegate told last weeks meeting, and the
County Board secretary agreed that was
the case.
Ollie Dillon who, ironically, is a mem-
ber of Mayo manager James Horans club
Ballintubber was seeking clarification on
whether players not in the official champi-
onship squad will be released to their clubs
for league matches this summer.
He suggested a motion requiring such a
move had been passed at Convention, but
County Board secretary Vincent Neary re-
jected this.
A clarification from the floor suggested
that Dillon may have been referring to a Kil-
timagh/Davitts motion passed at the De-
cember 2012 Convention (which led to the
re-introduction of starred league games
without county players).
County Board PRO Aiden McLoughlin
had earlier told delegates: I dont think it
should be a problem.
For starred games, none of the county
players will be available to the clubs. For
non-starred games, all players will be avail-
able.
McLoughlin rejected Dillons accusation
that he was trying to sidestep the ques-
tion.
All motions to do with the league are
Mixed views on FRC pr oposals
Ballagh native preaches GAA gospel
Page 51
referred to the CCC, said County Board
chairman Paddy McNicholas.
Vincent Neary said that so-called in-
house games may mean the panel is ex-
tended.
So what happens he hijacks half a
club, is it? asked Ollie Dillon. Youre right,
replied Vincent Neary. And yell sit there
and let him have it, Dillon concluded.
No willy-nilly postponements
Postponments wont be granted willy-
nilly in this years Mayo Senior Football
League, County Board PRO Aiden
McLoughlin has warned.
The Swinford clubman, a member of the
countys Competitions Control Committee,
said no postponements will be granted to
clubs unless there is a specified date for
the re-fixture which has been agreed by
both clubs and must fall within 16 days.
He told delegates at last weeks County
Board meeting that a club unable to find a
suitable alternative date must concede the
game, and that no referee has the authority
to grant a postponement.
Were going to be vigilant and strict on
these points, McLoughlin added.
Clubs must forward their list of nomi-
nated first 15 players by 5pm next Thurs-
day, May 8.
Twelve of the 15 (who are ineligible to
play in a lower division) must have played
championship last year. The deadline for
re-grading up to five players per club is also
5pm on Thursday.
Weak clubs need help
Some clubs are structurally and demo-
graphically very weak, Bord na ng secre-
tary Sen Mac il told last weeks meeting
of Mayo GAA Board.
Noting that one under-16 club had al-
ready had four walkovers, Mac il said that
while fines would have to be imposed on
teams that failed to field, clubs who were
struggling for numbers also needed assis-
tance. Some clubs wont be able to field in
July because of lack of numbers, he
added.
Mayo GAA Board chairman Paddy Mc-
Nicholas said it was very worrying that
some clubs had failed to field at under-16
level, given the further fall-off that would
happen at minor level.
Some clubs have amalgamated at
minor level only, he noted.
These clubs should be brought in and
talked to.
Heffernan re-appointed
Niall Heffernan will return as manager of
the Mayo U-21 football team for next year
after his re-appointment was ratified without
dissent at last weeks meeting.
County Board chairman Paddy McNi-
cholas revealed that the Claremorris man,
whose initial season in charge ended in de-
feat by Roscommon, was interested in
serving for another year, and that the Ex-
ecutive were recommending that be ac-
cepted.
The re-appointment was proposed by
Danny Kelly (Kilmovee) and seconded by
Pdraig Campbell (Hollymount/Carramore).
A vote was taken, with no hands raised
against the proposal.
Sloyan transfers
Darragh Sloyans transfer from Kil-
timagh back to Castlebar Mitchels was
among those announced by County Board
secretary Vincent Neary at last weeks
meeting.
Other transfers ratified by the Competi-
tions Control Committee were: Enda
Lavelle, Parke to Breaffy; Christopher
Hickey, Balla to Kilmaine; Brian Kelleher,
Charlestown to Kilmovee; Darragh Conway,
Castlebar Mitchels to Ballinrobe; Oran
Flynn, Westport to Louisburgh; Donal Corri-
gan, Crossmolina to Achill.
Sen Regans request to play senior
hurling with Tooreen this year was also
granted.
Officer training
There will be training for health and
wellbeing officers in the first quarter of
2015, Seamus Tuohy told last weeks meet-
ing.
Tuohy, the chairman of the County
Health and Wellbeing Committee, who
spoke passionately on the subject of sui-
cide and mental health at the previous
meeting, was responding to misgivings ex-
pressed by John Farragher.
Tuohy also called for the banning of
electronic cigarettes at all GAA facilities in
Mayo, a proposal seconded by Danny Kelly
(Kilmovee).
Juniors badly treated
The lack of a function to present the
Mayo junior football team of 2012 with their
medals came in for criticism from Bur-
rishoole GAA Club.
A letter from club chairman Gerry Mc-
Nulty read out at last weeks County Board
meeting said the team which included five
Burrishoole players had been badly
treated.
There should, he concluded, be no re-
peat in the future.
important we get the diaspora to go back
and support Ireland, I have an older
daughter and shes talking about going to
UCD, there are 35,000,000 people in
America with Irish ancestry.
Shannon Gaels next big undertaking is
their Field of Dreams project, an ambi-
tious overhaul of their facilities at Frank
Golden Park, which will take the club into
the 21st century.
Its something weve been working on
for four or five years, hopefully when the
Mayo team visit Frank Golden in five years
theyll run on to a solid field of Croke Park
dimensions. Were hoping to have a senior
club in the future too, he added.
And I have no doubt that the Irish
community will come together to make it
happen.
Mixed views on FRC pr oposals
Page 52
C
ONGRATULATIONS to Sen
Lenehan, from Elphin, who was the
winner of the top prize of 25,000
in our Grand Prize Draw, which took place
recently in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon.
The event formed part of a very enjoy-
able night for Club Rossie members and
also included a question and answers ses-
sion hosted by Willie Hegarty and featur-
ing a host of well know local and national
GAA personalties including Michael
Finneran, Mark Nally, Ciarn Kilkenny,
Kevin McStay, Marc S and Ollie Baker.
The night began with the 3,2,1 Draw
for Clubs who reached their special sales
target and the winners were Kilmore,
Roscommon Gaels and Shannon Gaels -
each will receive a discount on their 2015
Club affiliation fees. Next up was the
Rossie Abroad draw and Val McGlynn,
who currently resides in New York, was
the winner of two return flights home and
tickets to a Championship game involving
Roscommon.
The first ticket to be selected from the
Cash Prize Draw, under the watchful eye
of independent adjudicator Noel Carr, was
the for the top prize of 25,000, however
the audience was kept in suspense as the
ticket was placed in an envelope until all
other winners had been announced. Next
out was Pat Carroll (Kilbride) who won
5,000, follow by five winners of 1,000
each - Kevin Campbell (St. Brigids), Mary
Clifford (Boyle), Mary Maguire (St. Faith-
leachs), Kevin Ward (Boyle) and Brendan
O'Connor, (Ballinameen). There were 10
winners of 500: Mary Flanagan
(Castlerea St. Kevins), Joe Kelly (Kilglass
Gaels), Enon Gavin (St. Dominics), Phil &
Denis O'Brien (St. Dominics), Rory Curley
(Padraig Pearses), Noel Duffy (St. Faith-
leachs), Frank Giblin (ire g), Vincent
Pierse (St. Dominics), Tommy & Terry Cox
(Kilglass Gaels) and Clifford McDonald
(Roscommon Gaels). Finally, the envelope
containing the big winner was opened and
Sen Lenehan from Elphin was an-
nounced as the lucky recipient.
The organisers would like to thank ob-
server Noel Carr, MC Willie Hegarty, all
the guests who took part in the Q&A ses-
sion, the staff of the Abbey Hotel and all
who attended the event.
Roscommon GAA would like to thank
everyone who joined Club Rossie, the Co-
ordinators in each Club and in cities at
home and abroad who sold memberships,
the venues that hosted the Road show
events and all those who contributed in
any way to the success of this new ven-
ture.
FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON
Pictured at the Club Rossie Draw and Championship preview were, from Left to Right, Marc S,
Kevin McStay, Roscommon GAA Vice Chairperson Seamus Sweeney, Ollie Baker, Ciarn Kilkenny
and MC Willie Hegarty
Patrick Curran, left, Managing Director of BNP Paribas Real Estate, with
Roscommon Minor Football Team Manager Fergal O'Donnell, John Gan-
non, Roscommon Minor footballer and Thomas Carthy, Director of BNP
Paribas Real Estate, at the Roscommon GAA Sponsorship Photocall.
Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
Elphin man takes the top prize
BNP Paribas Real Estate revealed as minor sponsors
B
NP Paribas Real Estate
one of the worlds largest
Financial and Real Es-
tate Institutions have increased
their commitment to Gaelic
Games by becoming the main
sponsors of the Roscommon
Minor Football team for 2014.
Earlier this year they were un-
veiled as associate sponsors
of the County's Senior Football
team and subsequently made
the decision to get involved at
Minor level to assist in the de-
velopment of a new generation
of players.
Speaking at the announce-
ment Thomas Carthy, Execu-
tive Director of BNP Paribas
Real Estate Ireland said "We
are delighted to be Sponsors
of the Roscommon Minor Foot-
ball Team in 2014 and proud to
offer our support to all the
players and Management
Team
Roscommon GAA Chair-
person, Michael Fahey said
We are delighted to extend
our agreement with BNP
Paribas Real Estate Ireland.
We both share similar values,
especially in the areas of so-
cial inclusion, health promo-
tion and offering opportunities
to people of all ages. Their
support will contribute greatly
to the development of our
young players and will have
long term benefits for Gaelic
Games in the County.
This is the latest in a series
of sponsorship and partnership
agreements which has been
delivered by Club Rossie the
new commercial and fundrais-
ing arm of Roscommon GAA.
The group have taken an inno-
vation approach to the area
and will also be contributing to
the areas of player welfare and
social inclusion.
Page 53
T
HE 2014 Senior and Intermediate Football
Championships were launched at the Hod-
son Bay Hotel on Saturday morning last to
mark the news that the Hodson Bay Hotel
Group are the new sponsors of the Roscommon
Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Cham-
pionships.
Speaking at the launch of the competitions
Tim Hayes, General Manager of the Group, said
We have a long association with Gaelic Games
in the county through our sponsorship of St.
Brigids and we are delighted to have the oppor-
tunity to partner with Roscommon GAA to fur-
ther promote our brands among the wider GAA
community by sponsoring the Club Champi-
onships.
The Group owns and operates the Hodson
Bay Hotel on the shores of Lough Ree, the Sher-
aton Hotel in Athlone and the Galway Bay Hotel
in Salthill and the Senior, Intermediate and
Junior Football Championships will bear those
names, respectively.
Roscommon GAA Chairperson Michael Fahey,
thanked the Hodson Bay Hotel Group for their
commitment to supporting the competitions
and Club Rossie for delivering this partnership,
which is the latest in a series of sponsorship
agreements which have been announced since
the establishment of the commercial and
fundraising arm in February.
The Hodson Bay Hotel Senior Football Cham-
pionship gets under way this Friday night and
sees 2013 Intermediate Champions Boyle meet
in Elphin in Croghan at 8pm with the highlight
of the weekend being the double-header in
Johnstown on Saturday which will pit reigning
Champions St. Brigids against 2012 Finalists
Padraig Pearses at 6:30pm and reigning
League Champions Clann na nGael hosting Kil-
more at 8pm.
2014 All-Ireland Junior Finalists Fuerty begin
their Sheraton Athlone Intermediate Football
Championship campaign against 2012 Roscom-
mon Junior Champions Oran in Dr. Hyde Park
on Saturday at 6:30. See Fixtures Section for
details of the full fixtures programme.
The event was rounded off by David O'Con-
nor, Chairperson of Club Rossie, who said We
look forward to working closely with the Hod-
son Bay Hotel Group to promote their facilities
and achieve their aims and we would encourage
other local businesses to contact us to talk
about sponsorship and partnership opportuni-
ties.
ROSCOMMON GAA has received widespread ac-
claim following the Official Sponsorship
Launch of their Team Coach at GAA Headquar-
ters in Croke Park recently.
The Coach was sourced locally through
Westward Scania in Strokestown via a lease
agreement and is expected to be cost neutral
to Roscommon GAA due to the generous intro-
duction and sponsorship by six new Travel
Partners. The new sponsorship income stream,
secured for the next 3 years is believed to be in
the order of 90,000 and a comprehensive
Maintenance Agreement and panel of ap-
proved and qualified volunteer drivers is also
in place.
According to Roscommon GAA Chairperson,
Michael Fahey the generous new income
stream secured by attracting six new Travel
Partners, coupled with the resultant savings
achieved in transport costs, will allow Roscom-
mon GAA to put additional resources in to the
day to day running and promotion of Gaelic
Games across all codes in the County.
Roscommon GAA are in the process of ap-
pointing a Logistics Officer who will take pri-
mary responsibility for the operation of the
Coach and will be the liaison between Commit-
tees, Team Managements and Clubs. Full con-
tact details and information will be circulated
to all Clubs shortly.
Pictured with Tim Hayes and staff of the Hodson Bay Hotel, at the launch of the 2014 Senior and Intermediate Football Championships, were
Roscommon GAA Chairperson Michael Fahey; Michael McDonnell (St. Brigids Chairperson); Robbie Fallon (Fuerty), Senan Kilbride (St. Brigids) and
Mary Clifford (Boyle Secretary) Photo: Brendan Hynes
Hodson Bay Hotel Group to
sponsor Club Championships
Roscommon GAA praised for Innovative
Solution to reduce Travel Costs
Page 54
T he Pepper Mill Minor Hurling Final
Athleague-Tremane ..2-12
Padraig Pearses .........2-8
O
N a perfect evening for hurling
and in front of a crowd of passion-
ate hurling fans, Athleague-Tre-
mane and Padraig Pearses battled it out
for the title of 2014 County Minor Hurling
Champions.
Padraig Pearses got off to the better
start with points after the sixth and eight
minutes.
Athleague-Tremane then notched up
four points in a row with the best from
Dylan Keavney at number 6; from a 65
and a stylish point from Toms Clayton.
Points were exchanged between the two
sides with Daniel Glynn, the Padraig
Pearses sharpshooter, beginning to exert
more influence on the game with two
pointed-frees.
On the 18th Minute and with the tie in
the balance, Shane Dowd took the game
by the scruff of the neck and hammered
home a goal for Athleague-Tremane and
this score seemed to bring new life to the
Athleague-Tremane players.
The midfield duo of David Mullen and
Cathal OMahony were beginning to get a
foothold in the middle of the park and with
better ball was going into the Athleague-
Tremane forwards and they tagged on two
more points.
Padraig Pearses responded with a
point from Glynn but then came the sec-
ond goal from Athleague-Tremane.
Good inter-play from John Brennan
and Shane Dowd eventually saw the ball
drilled across the square to Christy Leahy
who was unmarked and he calmly pulled
on the ball past the helpless Padraig
Pearses goalkeeper, Kelvin Kelly, and
suddenly Athleague-Tremane were in the
driving seat leading by 2-9 to 0-6 at the
half-time whistle.
Padraig Pearses knew they would
have to up their game in the second-half
and no doubt their management team of
Padraig Dooley, Sean Finnerty and Paddy
The Athleague-Tremane U-18s that defeated Padraig Pearses in the Pepper Mill Minor Hurling decider.
An Athleague-Tremane attacker shows a clean pair of heels to the Pearses defence.
Athleague-Tremane take
memorable victory
Page 55
Hennricks had strong words for them at
half-time.
It had the desired effect and within five
minutes of the restart Dillon Ryan had the
ball in the net.
The energy was now with Padraig
Pearses and although Athleague-Tremane
notched up a good point from John Bren-
nan, Padraig Pearses struck for goal again
within three minutes.
A great catch from Sean Dunne, who
held off a strong tackle from Michael Kel-
leghan, was followed by a shot which took
a horrible twist and despite the best efforts
of Liam Og Murray in the Athleague-Tre-
mane goal the sliothar managed to sneak
in to the net.
Now Padraig Pearses were within four
points of Athleague-Tremane with the
score line at 2-10 to 2-6.
The game became a titanic battle as
both sets of defenders outplayed their for-
wards and each score had to be earned.
Despite some goal chances missed
from both teams they only scored two
points each for the remainder of the game.
Defenders from both sides hooked,
blocked and made life very difficult for the
forwards and space was at a premium.
Padraig Pearses probably went for
goals when the better option would have
been to take their points.
Kevin Gavin scored two crucial frees
and despite the best efforts of Padraic
Downey and Leon Fehilly of Padraig
Pearses eventually, to the audible relief of
their management and fans, Athleague
Tremane, ran out winners on a score line
of 2-12 to 2-8.
This is the first time that Athleague-Tre-
mane have captured the crown since
2000.
Their management team of Frank Carr,
Mossy Connaughton, Sean Melia, David
Flaherty and Paraic Cronin were delighted
with their players after the game and es-
pecially with their resolve in the face of a
very strong Pearses attacking line-up.
In presenting the Cup to the winning
Captain, Kieran Farrell, Chairperson of
Coiste Iomana, thanked the two teams for
their fine display of hurling.
He outlined his appreciation to the
sponsor of the tournament, Sean Mulry, of
The Pepper Mill Restaurant in Roscom-
mon town and paid special thanks to Ref-
eree, Martin Beirne, his linesmen Francis
Kelly and Michael Hogarty and his um-
pires.
He also thanked the Athleague Park
Committee for having their facilities in fine
condition.
Although there was a lot of contenders
for the the man-of-the-match award with
Shane Dowd, Dylan Keavney and Christy
Leahy the votes eventually went in favour
of David Mullen, who had an outstanding
game in the centre of the park. Best for
Padraig Pearses on the day were Ben Fal-
lon, Padraic Downey and Sean Dunne.
PADRAIG PEARSES: K Kelly, O Costello, I
Goldrick, M Naughton, T McEvelly, B Fallon, S
Downey, A Finnerty, L Fehilly(0-1), D Ryan (0-1), P
Downey, P Whelan, M Fehilly, S Dunne (1-1), D
Glynn (0-6), Subs: C Fehilly (47 min) J Kenny, J
Donoughue, M Molloy.
ATHLEAGUE-TREMANE: L Og Murray, O Lyons,
M Kelleghan, C Gore, T Clayton (0-2), D Keavney
(0-4), J Neilan, C Mahony, D Mullen (0-1), S Dowd
(1-0), J Brennan (0-1), M Ward, C Leahy (1-1), K.
Gavin (0-3), B.- McGahon, Subs: N Gately, E
Quinn, B Fallon (48 min), E Coyle (52 min), J
Coyle, R Coyle, A Lyons, P Gaffney, D Arnold.
The Padraig Pearses U-18s that lost out to Athleague-Tremane in the Pepper Mill Minor Hurling final.
INTO THE WEST
To obtain an electronic copy of the
magazine each quarter,
FREE OF CHARGE
, email
magazine@connachtgaa.ie
Page 56
C
LUB Rossie are delighted an-
nounce that both Casey's
Centra, Roscommon Town
and The Pepper Mill Restaurant,
Roscommon Town have renewed
their sponsorship of the Minor
Hurling Team and Minor Hurling
Championship respectively.
Chairperson of Coiste Iomana,
Kieran Farrell, thanked Jim Mc-
Causland and John Haughey of
Casey's Centra and Sen Mulry of
The Pepper Mill for their continu-
ing support and said that funding
through sponsorship is critical to
the continued development of
Hurling in the county.
Club Rossie are inviting expres-
sions of interest from local busi-
nesses who are involved in the
areas of Fuel Distribution, Fruit
and Veg, Bottled Water, Photogra-
phy/Video Production, Sign-writ-
ing or Printing and who may be
interested in sponsorship oppor-
tunities for 2014, tendering for
goods and services or getting in-
volved in an upcoming partner-
ship and affiliation scheme.
Three-year sponsorship opportu-
nities for the 2015 season will be
available for negotiation in the
autumn.
The group would also like to
hear from other retailers who
may like to get involved in the
afore-mentioned partnership and
affiliation scheme. Interested par-
ties can contact Club Rossie by
calling 086 839 9584, by emailing
info@clubrossie.ie or via the
Roscommon GAA Offices, Race-
course Road, Roscommon
E
LPHIN GAA Club re-
cently held its annual
senior team sponsor-
ship draw, which offered local
businesses and individuals the
opportunity to see their name
or logo on the Team Jersey.
This year's draw was the
most successful to date and at
the end of a very entertaining
draw event Adrian Rhattigan
Bus and Cab Hire was drawn
as the winner with Elphin Live-
stock Mart finishing as run-
ners-up - their name now fea-
tures on the back of the
Jersey.
Elphin GAA Club would like
to thank all who entered the
Draw and encourages their
members and supporters to
support those who entered the
Draw.
The full list of businesses
are on display at www.elphin-
gaa.com and will also be on
display at the Club Grounds
Sponsors come back on board
John Haughey pictured presenting a sponsorship cheque to
Ciarn Farrell, Coiste Iomna Chairperson. Also pictured is Jim
McCausland of Caseys Centra.
Photo: Andrew Fox www.andrewfox.ie
Pictured below, at the presentation of the new kit are from (L-R): Back Row: Elphin Senior Team Manager Brendan Guckian; Club Chairperson
Coman Brady, and Frankie Cregg. Front Row: Paddy O'Connor; Draw winner Adrian Rhattigan, Jason Carney; with Gerry Connellan, Cyril McDermott
and Carmelita Caslin, representing associate sponsors Elphin Livestock Mart.
Sen Mulry, The Pepper Mill Restaurant
pictured presenting a sponsorship cheque
to Ciarn Farrell, Coiste Iomna Chairper-
son.
Page 57
By BERNARDINE MCGAURAN
T
HE new format of the Scr Trth na
gCeist has proved to be a major
success allowing clubs if successful
at their county finals, enter directly to the
All-Ireland Finals.
For the Calry/St. Josephs Club, Sligo
this was a first in 30 years on reaching an
All-Ireland final and was a huge boost to
the club.
The standard at the Sligo GAA County
Final was very high and the successful
team met with their former All-Ireland final-
ists at a presentation at the Clarion Hotel,
Sligo.
The former All-Ireland finalists Anne
Cummins, Tom Devaney & Paddy Coen,
reached the All-Ireland finals of Scr Sin-
sar on a number of occasions the last ap-
pearance in 1984, the Club was then
known as Calry Gaels.
The Quiz Team were presented with
tops by Nicky Broujos of Jako Sports,
Sligo to mark the occasion.
FOCUS ON SLIGO FOCUS ON SLIGO FOCUS ON SLIGO
Calry/St Josephs quiz team reach
All-Ireland Scr na ng final
Pictured from (L to R) are: Nicky Broujos, Jako Sports, Sligo; Colm Tuohy; Cit Devaney; Helen Smith; Seamus Devaney; Eddie MacHale, Chairman,
Calry/St Josephs GAA Club; Bernardine McGauran, Cultural Officer.
Pictured from (L to R) are: Back Row: Tim Hynes; Nicky Broujos, Jako Sports; Seamus Devaney; Cit Devaney; Colm Tuohy; Helen Smith; Eddie
MacHale; Bernardine McGauran. Front Row: Gerry Tuohy; (Paddy Coen; Anne Cummins; Tom Devaney 1984 Finalists); Seamus Cummins.
Page 58
St Johns ..............4-9
Castleconnor .......4-8
T
HE Minor B League Final took place
between St Johns and Castleconnor
in St Farnans, with the Cararoe men
emerging victorious by the slenderest of
margins.
Despite St Johns having wind assis-
tance in the first-half, Castleconnor started
the better team, with an excellent point
from play by Matthew Cullen in the open-
ing minute.
Following this, St Johns were unfortu-
nate to lose centre-forward Stephen
Kerins for a black card.
He was replaced by Cameron Keaney
and St Johns went on to dominate the re-
mainder of the first-quarter with goals from
Gavin Sweeney and Paul McNamara.
Castleconnor responded well with a
well worked goal by Jack OHora to re-
duce the deficit.
In the second quarter Cillian Gallagher
found the net for St Johns and Gavin
Sweeney settled the ship with three points
from play.
However, Castleconnor finished the
first-half strongly with four points without
reply.
This left St Johns leading on a half-
time score-line of 3-4 to 1-5.
St Johns started much more brightly in
the second-half with Paul McNamara con-
verting a long-range free.
This was followed by a crucial goal by
inspirational substitute Cathal Jordan who
managed to score despite being under ex-
treme pressure.
In the third-quarter Castleconnor
worked some clever 45s and punished St
Johns with a brace of well-taken points.
Referee, Michael Duffy, advanced frees
forward on a number of occasions when-
ever any indiscipline was shown.
Alex Selby burst forward to score a
much needed point for St Johns with the
outside of his boot.
The game was turned on its head at
the end of the third quarter when Castle-
connor intercepted a pass in midfield,
which ended up with a goal by Matthew
Cullen.
However, the St Johns lead was re-
stored to eight points with five minutes re-
maining after two converted frees by Paul
McNamara.
Castleconnor set up a grandstand fin-
ish with two superb goals by Matthew
Cullen to reduce the deficit to two points.
In injury time, Castleconnor were
awarded a close in free after goalkeeper
Ryan Blake was harshly adjudged to have
picked the ball off the ground outside the
square.
St Johns lined the goals and the ensu-
ing free went narrowly over the crossbar.
St Johns held on to win by the minimum
margin on a final score-line of 4-9 to 4-8.
ST JOHNS: R Blake, E Tuffy, C Clancy, A Selby, B
McGowan, C King, C Sweeney, P McNamara, K
Kelly, S Kerins, G Sweeney, C Gallagher, M Spratt,
C Keaney, C Jordan, C Haugh, C.McGovern, A
Clerkin, E Flannagan.
CASTLECONNOR: K Flynn, C Gallagher, S
Durkan, J Boland, C Barrins, B Foody, K Foody, J
Earlis, S Carrabine, J OHora, M Cahill, D OHora,
M Cullen, P Flynn, L Bearbshsall, E Kilcullen, O
Quinn.
FOCUS ON SLIGO FOCUS ON SLIGO FOCUS ON SLIGO
St John's edge tight Minor B decider
Pictured are the victorious St John's team after their Sligo Minor B league final win over Castleconnor.
Following the full time whistle, the cup was
presented to the St.Johns captain Paul
McNamara by Bart Barrins of Coiste na nOg.
Page 59
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
T
HE first round of the Galway senior
football championship was not with-
out its shocks as last year's losing
finalists Salthill/Knocknacarra tasted a sur-
prise 1-4 to 0-6 defeat to An Cheathru
Rua.
An Oisin O Griofa goal a minute after
the restart gave the Gaeltacht side the up-
perhand, and despite the introduction of
Sean Armstrong at the break, the
Seasiders were unable to peg the 1996
champions back and they now face Kil-
conly in the losers group.
Defending champions Corofin had little
trouble in getting the defence of their Gal-
way SFC title under way with a 3-14 to 0-
10 victory over Mountbellew/Moylough.
Corofin will be thrilled to pick up such a
straightforward win as two goals from
Gary Sice and another from Kieran Mc-
Grath helped them to the win and htey
now take on Tuam Stars in a re-run of the
2011 final.
Stars twice runners up in the last
three years also got their season off to a
winning start, but they were made work
hard for a 1-13 to 1-7 win against Carna
Caiseal after John Casey hit the net in the
34th minute for the Gaeltacht men.
Cormac Bane and Eric Monahan were
in form as Caherlistrane defeated Micheal
Breathnach's by 0-16 to 0-11 at Pearse
Stadium on Saturday. After trailing by
three points at the break, Caherlistrane
continued to struggle after the break and
it wasn't until late on that Bane edged
them across the line with a flurry of late
scores.
Without Michael Meehan in their ranks
Caltra will be thrilled to pick up a 1-11 to
0-12 victory over Kilconly, with Shane
Hogan's penalty just before half-time
proving the difference between the sides.
Elsewhere, a late goal from Shane
Walsh was not enough to rescue Kilker-
rin/Clonberne as Greg Rogan's second-
half goal helped St Micheal's into the hat
with a 1-12 to 1-9 win.
Killererin needed an extra-time goal to
eventually get past Bearna by 1-12 to 0-13
and set up a tie with St Michael's, while
Annaghdown were also in goal scoring
form as their 3-14 to 1-7 win against Leitir
Mor sees them meet An Cheathru Rua
next.
Four points from Michael Martin saw
Milltown destroy Menlough by 0-13 to 0-3
at Tuam Stadium and set up a second
round tie against St James. Even without
former Kildare star James Kavanagh Mill-
town were too strong and held a 0-10 to 0-
1 advantage ten minutes into the
second-half.
Loughrea .............1-15
Gort ...................0-12
By DARAGH SMALL
Media West Ireland
A
JOHNNY Coen-inspired Loughrea
defeated Gort by six points at
Kenny Park, Athenry sealing their
spot in the group stages of the competi-
tion.
However, the scoreboard flattered the
victors who relied on nine wides from their
opponents in the second-half as Johnny
Mahers goal sealed it for Loughrea late in
the game.
Niall Kearys free got Loughrea up and
running before the referee, John Keane
awarded a penalty to Gort which Michael
Mullins failed to convert.
Aiden Hartes side-line got Gort on the
scoreboard for the first time and the teams
went point for point for the first half-hour.
Coens four points were a joy to behold
with Micheal Mullins and Galway county-
star Harte offering something in return for
Gort.
Maher put Loughrea ahead in injury-
time and Niall Kearys free, his fourth point
of the day gave his team a vital two point
cushion, 0-9 to 0-7, at the break.
Gort had all the possession after half-
time and they could have pulled away, es-
pecially when substitute Albert Mullins tied
the game up for the fifth time with 12 min-
utes left on the clock.
Nevertheless, to their credit Loughrea
held their heads and the combination of
Coen and Niall Keary helped them to a
hard fought victory.
LOUGHREA: N Murray; O Coyle, D McClearn,
Eoin Mahoney; A Cormican, B Mahoney, J Coen
(0-5); P Hoban, N Keary (0-8, 0-7f); Emmet Ma-
honey, S Sweeney, G Keary; G Loughnane, J
Maher (1-1), J Ryan (0-1).
Subs: J Mooney for Loughnane (46), C Jennings
for P Hoban (63).
GORT: G Lally; N Forde, M McMahon, M Cum-
mins; D Roche, G Lally, C Helebert; S Forde, S g
Linnane; M Nestor, A Harte (0-2, 0-1sl), P Killilea
(0-1); G ODonoghue, R Cummins (0-1), M Mullins
(0-7, 0-7f).
Subs: A Mullins (0-1) for ODonoghue (42), R
Burke for M Cummins (63).
REF: John Keane (Rahoon-Newcastle).
FOCUS ON GALWAY FOCUS ON GALWAY FOCUS ON GALWAY
Seasiders stunned by
An Cheathru Rua
Coen in form for Loughrea
Page 60
Portumna ...........1-29
Castlegar ............1-19
By DARAGH SMALL
Media West Ireland
PORTUMNA sent out a warning as they
demolished the 14 men of Castlegar but
the loss of Andy Smith early on to an ankle
injury is a worry for the champions.
Joe Canning gave an exemplary dis-
play from midfield, and hit 12 scores while
Ronan OMeara and Damien Hayes were
impressive for the All-Ireland club champi-
ons.
Smiths great score was a sign of
things to come as Portumna raced into a
three-point lead as OMeara and Joe Can-
ning scored early on.
Kevin Brady and Jason OGorman of-
fered some bit of respite for Castlegar but
Portumna continued to thrive and bagged
seven of the next nine points.
By the time Ger Farragher hit his 65 in
the 19th minute Portumna were cruising
and Castlegar were held scoreless until
just before half-time.
Late in the first-half Dean Higgins was
shown red for a wild pull on Joe Canning
and OMearas goal in stoppage-time
looked to have ended the contest.
From then on Portumna relaxed and al-
lowed Enda Concannon to hit the net for
Cashel to make it, 1-18 to 1-8 at half-
time.
When Ger Farragher reduced the ar-
rears to four points with nine minutes left it
looked as though Portumna were in trou-
ble but they hit back once more and
scored six points without to reply to win it
by ten in the end.
PORTUMNA: J Keane; C OHare, O Treacy, L
Smith; P Smith, M Dolphin, E Lynch; J Canning (0-
12, 8f), A Smith (0-1); K Hayes (0-3), D Hayes (0-
5), O Canning (0-1); N Hayes (0-1), R OMeara (1-
4), P Dolphin. Subs: O Royston (0-2) for Smith 7.
CASTLEGAR: J Connor Jr; B Hartnett, P Connell,
P OFlynn; T Mannion, K Keane, D McGreal; K
Brady (0-3), R OFlynn; G Farragher (0-11, 0-10f,
0-1 65), D Higgins (0-1), B Fahy; J OGorman (0-1),
M Cullinane (0-1), E Concannon (1-1)/
Subs: S Connolly for B Fahy 43, M Fahy (0-1) for
O'Flynn 54.
REF: Alan Kelly (Rahoon-Newcastle).
Champions cruise past Cashel
Injuries and surprises in first weekend of championship
BACK AGAIN: Portumna defender Eoin Lynch was back in championship action for the champi-
ons less than six weeks on from their All-Ireland final victory. Photo: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
G
ALWAY'S Andy Smith and Ronan
Burke both picked up injuries in
the opening round of the Galway
SHC, while defeats for St Thomas' and
Turloughmore were the major shocks.
Smith limped off with an ankle injury
in the third minute of Portumna's win
over Castlegar, while Burke also fell foul
to a calf injury.
First-half goals from Eamonn Hayes
and Stephen Page helped Tommy
Larkins to a 2-15 to 0-19 win over St
Thomas', while Tony Considine's Tur-
loughmore will have to qualify through
the back door, after goals from Padraig
Robson and Niall Moloney gave Ty-
nagh-Abbey/Duniry a 2-15 to 0-15 win.
Eanna Ryan goal proved the differ-
ence for Killimordaly in their 1-15 to 0-14
win against Kiltormer, while Davy Glen-
non's goal saw Mullagh beat Clarin-
bridge by 1-18 to 0-19 in a tight
encounter at Loughrea on Friday
evening.
Jason Kennedy's brace of goals saw
Ardrahan to a 2-10 to 0-9 victory against
Padraig Pearses, while second-half
goals from Jack Carr meant Athenry
easily accounted for Liam Mellows in a
2-19 to 0-15 win.
Beagh proved far to strong for
Craughwell on Saturday evening as a
powerful first-half and goals from Kieran
Diviney and Joe Gantley gave them a 2-
18 to 1-13 win.
Page 61
By JOHN FALLON
Media West Ireland
L
AST years All-Ireland
club champions St
Thomas are back in the
running for the Galway SHC
after seeing off Castlegar in a
backdoor tie.
St Thomas were stunned in
the opening round by
Tommy Larkins but saw
off the most prolific
winners of the
Galway title
Castlegar
by 0-17 0-
11.
The 2013
All-Ireland
champions
failed to score a
goal for the sec-
ond game in a
row but some
excellent points
from Conor
Cooney and sub
Kenneth Burke
saw them
through against
a Castlegar side
trained by former Galway and
Offaly manager John McIntyre
but who have not won the
crown since 1984 and who are
now in relegation trouble.
Gort, who preceded St
Thomas as champions in
2011, conceded 4-11 against
city side Liam Mellows but
staged a great second-half
comeback to advance by two
points.
Liam Mellows seemed
poised to advance when they
led y 3-7 to 1-4 at the interval
thanks to two goals from
Aonghus Callanan and one
from Adrian Morrissey.
But Liam Mellows lost their
way in the final quarter and
Gort triumphed by 4-13 to 4-11
when Gerard ODonoghue got
his second goal and Michael
Mullins and Paul Killilea also
found the net.
Kenny Park in Athenry
staged three backdoor en-
counters on Sunday and the
competitive nature of the Gal-
way SHC was evident when all
three were decided by a single
point.
The 2011 All-Ireland club
champions Clarinbridge held
off the challenge of Kiltormer
by 0-13 to 1-9 when Shane
Burke shot a late winner after
a Derek Dervan had given the
1992 national champions a
great start.
Tony Considines Turlough-
more are also back in the hunt
after edging out Kinvara by 1-
12 to 0-8 after Conor
OShaughnessy cancelled an
early goal from a penalty by
Galway goalkeeper Colm
Callanan for Kinvara.
Conor Whelan got Kil-
tormers second goal but Dar-
ren OShaughnessy was sharp
in keeping Turloughmore on
course.
Thomas Flanagan twice
found the net for Padraig
Pearses but they bowed out as
nine points from Kevin Killilea
guided Carnmore to a 0-16 to
2-9 win.
POWERFUL: Paul Killilea was in goal scoring form for Gort at the weekend as they edged past Liam Mellows
to avoid a relegation play-off. Photo: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
Thomas survive through
the back door
Page 62
By JOHN FALLON
Media West Ireland
A
LL-IRELAND champions Portumna
continue to defend their Galway
SHC title in style and with Joe Can-
ning in superb form they cruised to a 2-28
to 2-14 win over Carnmore.
Inspired by Canning and Damien
Hayes, Portumna led by 1-12 to 2-7 at
half-time and after the restart the defend-
ing champions upped their efforts and ran
out easy winners in the first of their group
games.
Gort were in rare form in front of goal
and fired four past Tommy Larkins in an
impressive 4-14 to 2-13 win.
First-half goals from Mike Mullins and
Richie Cummins helped Gort to a 2-8 to 0-
5 lead at the break and they held that ad-
vantage after the interval to take the win.
Cummins and Paul Killilea wrapped up
the win with two early goals after the break
and held solid despite Larkins' comeback.
Johnny Mahers two late scores were
part of a five-point blitz that helped
Loughrea to a 0-15 to 0-13 victory over
Sarsfields in Athenry.
The win took the 2006 county champi-
ons to second in Group A with top spot
being occupied by Killimordaly.
They are the surprise leaders after they
put Mullagh to the sword in Ballinasloe on
Saturday evening winning 1-19 to 0-20.
Clarinbridge got their campaign up and
running with a 1-15 to 0-13 win over last
years intermediate champions Kil-
nadeema-Leitrim in Loughrea on Saturday
with the 2010 All-Ireland champions put-
ting in a strong second-half display.
Craughwells superb run of form contin-
ued with a 0-12 to 0-10 victory over the
Tony Considine coached Turloughmore,
with Brian Holland seeing red for the los-
ers.
Craughwell led by three points at the
break despite losing county player Niall
Healy to a serious injury and they held an
edge after the restart having last week
sent 2013 All-Ireland club champions St
Thomas into the relegation dogfight.
Beagh and Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry
played out a classic on Sunday in the
other game in Group C with the scoreline
reading 1-16 to 1-16.
Former county-underage star, Shane
Moloney, hit the net for Tynagh while
Kevin Keehan provided the reply for last
years surprise package.
Ardrahan drew first blood in Group D at
Loughrea on Friday evening as they de-
feated a young Athenry side 1-13 to 1-11.
A goal from Jonathan Glynn early in
second-half helped Ardrahan overturn a
six-point half-time deficit and Jack Carr's
late strike was insufficient to deny Ardra-
han.
By DECLAN ROONEY
Media West Ireland
L
AST year's All-Ireland club hurling
champions, St Thomas', face a rele-
gation play-off in the Galway senior
hurling championship after defeat to
Craughwell.
A late rally was not enough for John
Burke's side who are trained by former
Clare All-Star Colin Lynch as they hit the
last five points of the game in the closing
stages, but still lost out by 0-22 to 1-17 at
Athenry.
St Thomas' now join another two for-
mer All-Ireland champions, Kiltormer and
Castlegar in the relegation play-offs along
with Kinvara, Padraig Pearses and Liam
Mellows, while Craughwell have qualified
for the group stages of the competition,
where they will meet Beagh, Tynagh-
Abbey/Duniry and next weekend's oppo-
nents Turloughmore.
With county panellists Conor Cooney,
David Burke, James Regan and Darragh
Burke to call on, St Thomas' were ex-
pected to secure their place in group C,
but a storming first-half from Craughwell
saw them lead 0-15 to 1-8 at the break.
Indeed, only for Cooney's goal from a
20-metre free midway through the
half, St Thomas' would have been
further adrift at the interval.
But Craughwell continued to
dominate in the third quarter and
opened out a 0-22 to 1-12 lead
with eight minutes remaining with
Niall Healy to the fore with a
13-point haul.
Cooney who landed
1-11 in total contin-
ued to pick off the
points for St Thomas'
as the 2012 champi-
ons ratcheted up their
efforts late on, but the
full-time whistle called a
halt to their charge and
consigned them to a des-
perate relegation fight.
Relegation fight beckons
for St Thomas
Portumna set the precedence once more
GIANT KILLER: Niall Healy hit 0-13 for
Craughwell as they ousted St Thomas'
from the Galway SHC before the group
stages. Photo: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
Page 63
Castleblakeney National School Cumann Na mBunscoil football winners. Back row (L to R): Mary Flaherty, Noel Loughery (Trainer), Shane Lough-
ery, Shaun Keane, Cathal Fleming (Captain), Keelan Lawlor, Ian Geraghty, Michelle Walshe (Manager). Front row (L to R): Katie Flaherty, Shane Mc-
Donald, Anna Mocklier, Tara Kilgannon, Alan Naughton, Jack Bellew, Gerard Madden, David Harrison
St Gabriels U-16 football team who defeated Caltra in the U-16 League final. Back row (L to R): Michael Malone, Manager, Sean Bleahene, Michael
Jennings, Cormac Coffey, Brian Coughlan, Jonathan Cunningham, Ryan Malone, Danny Reddan, Darragh Cunningham, Cian O' Rourke, Liam Brogan,
Gerard Donnellan, Manager, Front row (L to R): David Malone, Dylan Delaney, Ian Goode, Tommy Leonard, Darragh Malone, Calum Heneghan, Rory
Barrett, Alan Smith, Benjamin Sinclair.
Page 64
Pictured is Liam Challoner presenting Colm
Mannion with the Man of the Match award.
Pictured are the North Bord Minor A winners, Mountbellew-Moylough.
Pictured are Oranmore-Maree, U-21 B County Championa 2014. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEAMUS FINNERTY.
Pictured is Padraic Kelly, North Board Secre-
tary presenting the Cup to Eric McCormack.
Mountbellew-Moylough captain.
Tadgh O'Conghaile Football Chairman pre-
senting the Man of the Match award to
Nicholas Sheehan, Oranmore-Maree.
Page 65
Pictured are Oranmore-Maree, North Board U-21 'B' Champions.
Pictured are Corofin, U-21 North Board Champions 2014. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEAMUS FINNERTY.
Pictured is Tadgh O'Conghaile presenting the
cup to Donal Greene, Oranmore-Maree Cap-
tain.
Pictured is Austin Boyle presenting the Man of
the Match award to Jonathan Kellliher, Oran-
more-Maree.
Pictured is Padraic Kelly North Board secre-
tary presenting the cup to Oranmore-Maree
captain Donal Greene.
Page 66
Pictured is Ian Burke Corofin U-21 'A' Man of
the Match, presented by Liam Challoner.
Pictured are the Milltown Minor C North Shield Winners.
Pictured are Annaghdown North Minor B1 Shield Champions.
Pictured is J P Kelly presenting the U-21 Cup
to Corofin's Conor Langan and Aaron Molloy.
Milltown Captain Ronan Sheedy presented
with the Minor North Board Shield by Padraic
Kelly.
Page 67
Pictured are Caltra minors, winners of the minor B2 league title. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEAMUS FINNERTY.
Pictured is Milltown Minor C Man of the Match
Liam Costello presented by Liam Challoner.
Pictured is J P Kelly Chairman North GPC pre-
senting the cup to Caltra captain Niall Sam-
mon.
Pictured is Padraic Kelly Secretary North GPC
presents the Man of the Award to Mark
Kelly, Cartra.
Annaghdown cap-
tain Michael De-
vaney is presented
with the winners
shield by Padraic
Kelly, Secretary of
North GPC.
Pictured is Ryan Forde Annaghdown who was presented
with the Man of the Match award by Seamus Finnerty.
Page 68
N
OTHING beats being there has
been the GAAs promotional slo-
gan to encourage supporters to at-
tend the Provincial and All Ireland
Championships. Truth to tell, there is little
to compare to the excitement of the foot-
ball and hurling championships in the
build up to September.
The high regard in which inter-county
players are held was emphasised at Pirc
Mac Diarmada, when Leitrim GAA hosted
an Open Day for supporters, but particu-
larly for children. The inter-action be-
tween the players, their managements
and backroom teams and the youngsters
was quite a promotional exercise and
thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
Coiste na ng had the Allen Gaels,
Carrigallen, Melvin Gaels and Balli-
namore Sean OHeslin Juvenile teams in
attendance to play a series of blitzes, with
county players acting as coaches, selec-
tors, referees and water boys, much to
the delight of the four teams. For once,
the results of the games didnt matter, a
fun day was what it was all about.
But better was to come when every
child in Pirc Sen had the opportunity to
join a team that played a challenge
against the Leitrim Senior footballers ---
hundreds against 15!
The referee was none other than foot-
ball manager Sean Hagan, who certainly
let the game flow and kept the black
cards in his pocket. Doing the commen-
tary on the game was current centre half
back Gary Reynolds, who was the unani-
mous choice of the players for the task.
Correction he was actually second
choice, but Gerry Hickey had baulked at
the proposition --- he would rather face
the wild tackles from the Juveniles than
do a commentary on a game his team
mates were certain to lose. And lose they
did, with the kids scoring at will, due to
some dodgy refereeing and umpiring de-
cisions.
Then it was time for piggy back races
and all kinds of hilarity, with the foot-
ballers and hurlers intermingling with their
young fans. James Molloy had everyone
lined up for the customary High Fives,
but sudden incessant rain put paid to that.
However, all was not lost, as everyone
retreated to the shelter of the stand,
where the main organiser, County Board
PRO Collette Fox, had goodies and pro-
motional material ready for distribution to
all the kids and the players were be-
sieged for autographs. You see, these
players are the local sporting heroes for
our young generation.
Thanks is due to everyone involved
Terence Boyle and Barbara Byrne from
Coiste na ng, Thomas Keenan, Games
Promotion Manager, the Leitrim County
Board, James Molloy, Brian Blake and all
those who helped out on the day. But
special gratitude must go to the team
managements and particularly all the
players who made the Championship
Open Day one to remember.
Some photographs from the day are
available at
www.facebook.com/GAALeitrim.
Juice
Plus Dawn
Run
L
EITRIM Ladies GFA launched
their annual Juice Plus Dawn Run
on Thursday June 5th in The
Landmark Hotel.
Leitrim LGFA are delighted to have
Damien Brennan and Juice Plus on
board again as their main sponsor.
This is the fourth year of the Juice
Plus Dawn Run and it takes place on
June 21st at 6am from St Mary's Club
House.
Along with first man and lady Juice
Plus Dawn Run have introduced four
new categories, first man and lady over
55 and first junior boy and girl U-20.
Hot showers and refreshments will
be provided in St Mary's Club Rooms
after the run.
Register online www.runireland.ie or
on the morning from 5am. All joggers
and walkers welcome. For more infor-
mation check out our Facebook page
Leitrim Ladies GFA.
FOCUS ON LEITRIM FOCUS ON LEITRIM FOCUS ON LEITRIM
Leitrim players are local heroes
Leitrim's Gerry Hickey is outpaced by this young flyer at the Leitrim GAA open day.
Photo: James Molloy.
Leitrim senior Kevin Conlon comes under pressure from some young supporters at the Leitrim
GAA open day. Photo: James Molloy.
CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL CAMOGIE CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL
Page 69
Scoil Nisinta Cholmcille, An Tulach, Baile na hAbhann. Back row (L to
R): Siobhn N Neachtain, Kianna N Mhrta, Chlo Bhreathnach Nic
Eoin, Risn N Chonghaile Kasey N Mhrta. Front row: Risn N
Dhiomsaigh, Fdhla N Bhraonin, Aoife Nic Dhonnacha, Grainne N
Ghaoithn.
Ballinderreen NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens camogie final-
ists. Back row (L to R): Pataire Crawford, Aimee Burns, Meghan Cummins,
Aoife Coen, Anna Mooney, Chloe Keane, Katie Melia, Hannah Henry-Gal-
lagher, Louise Coen, Leona Higgins, Patricia Mannion, Emma VanOoster-
hout, Alanna Reynolds, Clodagh Keaveney, Keisha Duffy, Alia Joyce.
Mullagh NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens camogie finalists.
Back row (L to R): Tegan Canning, Katie Manning, Cathy Callanan,
Risn Kelly, Shelley Fagan. Front row: Roma Fagan, Aimee Hardiman,
Jane Hobbins, Hannah Smyth.
Tynagh Killeen N.S. Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens camogie
finalists. Back row (L to R): Amy Lyons, Rebecca Casey, Katelyn
Power, Ornait Coen, Aisling Donnellan. Front row: Amber Lyons, Aoife
Robinson, Ailbhe Salmon, Chloe Farragher, Lorna Callanan.
Portumna NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens camogie Run-
ners Up. Back row (L to R): Natasha Hynes, Niamh Costello, Risn
Cowan Madden, Sarah Brien, Sinad Lohan, Catherine OSullivan. Front
row: Shannon Gaffey, Alannah Kelly, Courtney Duane, Alanna Williams,
Grace Hackett, Orla Molloy.
Athenry NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens camogie final-
ists. Back row (L to R): Colm Wallace, Natasha Murphy, Sarah Dowl-
ing, Sarah Ryan, Annabell Tear, Aoife Hallissey, Darrelle Burke, Front
Row: Nessa Kelly, Maria Donohue, Eimear Tully, Leah Crotty, Katelyn
Tuffy
CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL MINI SEVENS HURLING CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL
Page 70
Ardrahan NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens Hurling finalists.
Back row (L to R): Teacher Mr. Joe O'Leary, Mark Curtin, Danny Brouder,
Eoin O'Shaughnessy, Mark O'Hara, Conor McGrath. Front Row: isin
Quinn-McMahon, Michael Walsh, Conor Slevin, Eoin Murphy, Cathal Wal-
she.
Carnmore NS who also took part in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol
mini sevens hurling
Carrabane NS Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens Hurling Winners
2014. Back row (L to R): Ciarn Connaughton, Sen Connaughton, Cathal
Bryan, Niall Martyn, Conor Brann. Front Row: Gary Randals, Mark Ran-
dals, Ben Keane, Alex Evans, Mark Keogh.
Scoil anna, Bullaun, Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens Hurl-
ing Runners Up (2nd Place). Back row (L to R): Evan Kilroy, Evan Cox,
Sen Kyne, John Cooney, Robert Connaire, Calum Plower, Jack Walsh,
Mark O Regan, Gemma Flynn. Front Row: Darren Shaughnessy, Alex
Connaire, Cian Warde, Jordan McMahon, Cian O Regan
Scoil Naomh Bride, Tullykyne, Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens
Hurling finalists. Back row (L to R): San Mc Nerney, Jason Mc Donagh,
Louis Corr, Enda Mc Donagh, Conor Hynes. Front Row: Dylan Joyce,
Aaron Mc Donagh, Paul Kearns, Cian Thomas, Noel Thomas
Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Allianz Cumann na mBunscol mini sevens
Hurling finalists. Back row (L to R): Diarmuid Maolrua, Conchubhair
Bruada, Kian Mac Fhloinn, Brian Maolfhoghair, Conchubhair Mac
Riocaird. Chun tosaigh: Rnn Cathin, Dara Coinceannain, Aaron
Mainn, Airt Cathin & Daniel Seoighe.
CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL MINI SEVENS HURLING CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL
Page 71
Eyrecourt NS Allianz
Cumann na mBunscol mini
sevens Hurling finalists.
Back row (L to R): Kevin
Connelly (trainer), Evan Go-
hery, Toms Flynn, Mark
Larkin, Colin Downey, ilis
Treacy (Principal), Fran
Lyons (SNA). Front Row:
Tiernan Gohery, Shea Sloan,
Mark Loughnane, Patrick
Duffy, Michael Kelly, Niall
Fleming
Gaelscoil na bFhili, Gort,
Runners Up (3rd place).
Back row (L to R): Riada
Mac Donnacha , Aindri
Muir , Maitti Rosengrave,
Jason Donnacha, Praic
Cuimn, Dara Clirigh,
Roibeard O hanaigh. Front
row: Keith Maoilchire,
Caoimhn Mearin, Tier-
nan Mac Fionn, Adam
Conchir, Peadar Cong-
haile , Fiachra Tuathaigh
Kilconly NS Allianz Cumann
na mBunscol mini sevens
Hurling finalists: Back row
(L to R): Daniel Concannon,
Eoin Daly, Nathan King,
Brendan Farrell, Cathal Bro-
gan, Cody Igoe.Front Row:
Ethan Griffen, Nathan
Creaven, Eoin Burke,
Frankie Connern, Iarlaith
Farrell.
GALWAY VERSUS LONDON GALWAY VERSUS LONDON GALWAY VERSUS LONDON
Page 72
(L to R) are: John McParland, John Tobin and Fr Pat Donnellan.
(L to R) are: Dennis Carr, John Tobin and Adrian Hassett.
Mattie Kilroy and Steve Callannan. Shane Walsh Galway's Man of the Match against London.
Pictured are the Officials at Ruislip.
Fr Pat Donnellan, Milo Costello, Donal O'Fatharta and Seamus Connelly.
(L to R) are: Michael Monaghan, John McParland and Noel Treacy.

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