Into the West December 2013

8/13/2019 Into the West December 2013

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2.50OFFICIAL GAA PUBLICATION

Vol 4. Issue 10

December

2013

Connacht GAA Council wish all Gaels a

very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and

Prosperous New Year

Carnacon and Claregalway

crowned All-Ireland club

champions

'A season

of joy'


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Page 3

Carnacons finest hour...............................................4

Mighty Mitchels are High Kings again........................6

Corofin well beaten ...................................................9

Kiltane capture first Connacht club crown.................10

Connacht Club Championship round-up.....................11

Noel McHale: Memories that will never fade..............16

All-Ireland glory for Claregalway Ladies....................17

Connacht Conventions round-up................................18

Connacht Coaching and Games..................................24Play and Stay Activity Days in Croke Park..................28

Pitch Maintenance with the Rossies ..........................34

Connacht GAA Man of the Match Awards ...................36

2013 Galway Cuman na mBunscoil competitions........38

Connacht Coaching wiht Denis OBoyle ......................40

Focus on Galway........................................................42

Turlough make no mistake in replay..........................45

Corofin complete fine year with U-21 title..................47

Burke brace seals win for Ballyhaunis CS...................48

Bohola Moy Davitts County U-21 A Champions...........49

Successful year for Cill Chomain club ........................50

St Gers hold out in five-star performance..................53

Breaffy minors reign supreme...................................54

Dermot Earley programme launched.........................55

Super season for Castleconnor ..................................56

Conor Brady - fondly remembered by St Pats ...........58

Handball: Sligo players claim Connacht titles ............59

Ladies Football and Camogie All-Star awards............60

Wheelchair Hurling interprovincial............................62

Personality of the Month winners..............................64

Connacht Man of the Match

Awards, 2013

Corofin U-21s complete fine year

with county title

Bohola Moy Davits Mayo

County U-21 A champions

Super season for Castleconnor

GAA

Cstlebar Mitchels take back title

after 20 year gap

Carnacon Ladies take fifth All-

Irelad title

Claregalway Ladies win All-Ire-

land Intermediate crown

John Tobin right of every child

to get an opportunity to play


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contained by the excellent CarolineMcGing) converted a free after the restartto nudge Donaghmoyne ahead, but thefun was only starting.

There were five minutes on the clockwhen the lively Aoife Brennan was broughtdown in the square, and Cora stepped upto drill a penalty down the middle of LindaMartins goal.

Carnacon were ahead for the first time,against the head.

Their two-point lead lasted only threeminutes as Rosemary Courtney and Ma-jella Woods nailed quickfire scores to levelthe match for the fourth time.

Carnacons policy of running at theheart of Donaghmoynes defence wasstarting to pay off though, and Stauntonlost both her shadow Sharon Courtney

and friends, to break through and fire overthe lead score again.

Inside four minutes, the Ulster champi-ons were ahead once more after Cathri-ona McConnell kicked a couple of frees inquick succession. It seemed that Carna-con had met their match.

The winners saved their best football

though for the last fifteen minutes as, allover the field, they upped their game.

Goalkeeper Michelle Higgins mar-shalled her troops impressively, while thefull-back line of Caroline McGing, NoelleTierney and Sharon McGing shut up shop,and Marie Corbett led by example in thehalf-back line.

Claire Egan, Doireann Hughes andMartha Carter also got a grip around themiddle while Michelle McGing rolled backthe years on the forty. Around them,Fiona McHale and Cora went to workagain too.

The tireless Michelle McGing levelled

the match for the sixth and final time on 47minutes and Cora swung over what turnedout to be the winning score less than sixtyseconds later.

The last quarter of an hour saw Carna-con under siege but they refused to sur-render. They got what they deserved.

CARNACON: M Higgins; S McGing, NTierney, C McGing; M Corbett, E Flan-nery, A Loftus; C Egan, M Carter; DHughes, M McGing (0-1), F McHale; ABrennan, C Staunton (1-5, 1-0 pen, 2fs),M Corbett.

DONAGHMOYNE: L Martin; J Geoghe-

gan, F Courtney, H Kingham; L King-ham, S Courtney, J Courtney; A Casey,C Courtney; E McElroy, F Lafferty, RCourtney (0-1); C McConnell (0-4, 4fs),M Woods (0-2), N Callan (0-1).Subs used: S McConnell for J Court-ney.

REF: P Kehoe (Carlow).

LADIES FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FINAL

Carnacon captain Marie Corbett lifts the Do-

lores Tyrrell Memorial Cup.

Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

hour


Page 5

Carnacon manager

Jimmy Corbett.

Photo: David Maher/

SPORTSFILE


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Castlebar ............3-13St Brigids ...........2-12

(After extra-time)

By MIKE FINNERTY Mayo News

WHEN it mattered most, one ofCastlebar Mitchels key menseized the moment. Just like theyhad done throughout the course of an epictest of mental and physical endurance thathad masqueraded as the Connacht ClubChampionship Final.

A remarkable game at Dr Hyde Parkhad been won by the Mayo champions,the Shane McGettigan Cup had been pre-sented, but the winning captain, DonieNewcombe, still had the presence of mindto mention some absent friends in hisspeech.

Ger Feeney and Donie McEllin, twoMitchels stalwarts who lost their lives theweek before the Mayo SFC Final in 2010,

CONNACHT SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Mighty Mitchels are

Neil Douglas beats St Brigid's goalkeeper Shane Curran to score his side's second goal from the penalty spot. Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

Richie Feeney celebrates

after scoring his side's

third goal.

Photo: David Maher /

SPORTSFILE


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were fittingly remembered in the clubs

finest hour.It was another example of both theminor details and the big picture being ut-most in Castlebar minds.

Their ability to think clearly, especiallyin pressurised situations, was a hallmarkof Mitchels latest landmark success. Theynever panicked, kept their composure atall times, and in the end prevailed aftermore than ninety minutes of an old-fash-ioned shoot-out.

After 20 years of hurt, they ended thewait for a Connacht club title in style. Theywon a classic.

The story of this topsy-turvy contest is

not easily told.In the end, four points without reply inthe second period of extra-time turned outto be the decisive scores as Castlebarsubs James Durcan (2) and Cian Costello,along with Danny Kirby,kicked the points that wonthe day.

St Brigids, who weredown to 13 men at thatstage after red cards for Dar-

ragh Donnelly (two yellows) and Richie

Blaine in extra-time, were unable to re-spond and surrendered their Connachtand All-Ireland titles in the process.

But these are only a handful of thefacts and figures that shaped a match thatwill live long in the memory.

Mitchels prevailed in the end becausethey refused, point-blank, to be beaten.Even when the odds were stacked againstthem, and defeat seemed the most likelyoutcome.

This mindset was epitomised by menlike Alan Feeney, who delivered a master-class in defensive excellence and bent thegame to his will with a display that was as

defiant as it was inspirational. Each andevery one ofhis colleaguesfollowed hislead.


High Kings again

St Brigid's goalkeeper Shane Curran in action against Neil Douglas. Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

Castlebar Mitchels captain Donal Newcombe

celebrates Mitchels' AIB Connacht Senior Club

Football Championship Final win.



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Page 8

The Mitchels recovered from a stand-ing start (falling 1-2 to no score behindafter seven minutes) but still trailed by 1-6to 1-1 at the first change of ends.

Senan Kilbride lashed in St Brigidsgoal and the specialists were so well-or-ganised defensively that it looked for quitesome time that Tom Kings eighth minutefree was all Castlebar might manage toscore in the first half.

However, a well-taken goal from DannyKirby, after Ray OMalleys surging run, on21 minutes proved crucial as it gaveMitchels a glimpse of what was possible.

An unpredictable game to begin with, it

took on a life of its own in the third quarteras Castlebar caught fire, gunning 2-5 inthe space of thirteen terrific minutes offootball.

Three quickfire points from Tom King(two frees) in the four minutes after therestart gave the match a completely differ-ent complexion, but it took another turnsoon after when Barry Moran was red-carded by the inscrutable Marty Duffy afterhe had collided with St Brigids Karol Man-nion.

Down to 14 men against a team aswell-coached and drilled as the All-Irelandchampions, Castlebar seemed to be in a

tight corner.Instead, they threw off the shackles

and rattled off a further 2-2 in the space of

five minutes, as if annoyed by Morans dis-missal.

Their first goal came on 40 minuteswhen Neil Douglas swept a penalty pastShane Curran after the elusive Tom Kinghad been fouled, to give Mitchels the leadfor the first time.

Three minutes later Richie Feeneyswooped to palm in another trademarkgoal after Kings perceptive pass. It was 3-6 to 1-7 and the tide had turned.

The energy expended during this pur-ple patch, especially with only 14 men,started to take its toll though and Brigidscame roaring back.

They preceded to rattle out 1-4 in eightminutes themselves; points from the inde-fatiguable Frankie Dolan (3, two frees) andSenan Kilbride supplemented by a well-taken goal from Richie Blaine in the 52ndminute.

Castlebar were two points down head-ing for stoppage time but up popped thenerveless Neil Douglas to guide over afine score from play, allied to a free threeminutes into added time to level the gamefor the first time.

Perhaps the less said about the confu-sion and chaos that unfolded at the finalwhistle as the referee appeared to signal

for full-time, before awarding Castlebar afree, and then sending off St Brigids IanKilbride, the better.

Extra-time was a war of attrition; theteams still all square at half-time beforeCastlebars superior fitness and mentalsharpness started to tell and they kickedfor home in style.

In a year that they will remember for-ever, this was their day.

CASTLEBAR MITCHELS: C Naughton;D Newcombe, T Cunniffe, A Feeney; ROMalley, E OReilly, P Durcan; BMoran, A Walsh; N Douglas, T King, GMcDonagh; N Lydon, D Kirby, RFeeney.Subs: F Durkan for McDonagh (52); S

Hopkins for Walsh (56); D Joyce (startof extra-time); J Durcan for OMalley(70); C Costello for Lydon (76); A Walshfor OReilly, 78 inj).

ST BRIGID'S: S Curran; R Stack, D Don-nelly, J Murray; N McInerney, G Cun-niffe, N Grehan; K Mannion, G Ahern; IKilbride, G Dolan, P Kelly; F Dolan, SKilbride, C McHugh.Subs: A Gleeson for McHugh (29); RBlaine for G Dolan (half-time); D OCon-nor for Kelly (58); R Kelly (start ofextra-time); P Kelly for Grehan (65); MOCarroll for Mannion (68); S Mannion

for Curran (73, inj).

REF: Marty Duffy (Sligo).


Castlebar Mitchels players and supporters celebrate at the end of the game. Photo: David Maher / SPORTSFILE


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Castlebar ....2-8

Corofin ......1-10

By JOHN FALLONMedia West Ireland

THE GAA cycle is never-endingand now, 20 years after play-ing a pivotal role in Castle-bar Mitchels' only provincialsuccess, Pat Holmes is on the cuspof leading the club back to glory asa manager.

Castlebar have failed to comeout of Mayo since that success in1993, but at Tuam Stadium theylooked like an outfit revelling inbeing liberated from their county;they were worthy winners over aCorofin side bidding to reach theirfifth Connacht final in eight years.

Maybe the bookies, who pricedCastlebar as 3/1 outsiders, paid abit too much heed to history.

Corofin, even with the infusionof a lot of youth, have always hada battle-hardened shell thatmakes teams earn their victoryand Castlebar were pushed to thewire before they escaped fromTuam with victory in a crackingcontest despite the wind and rain.

Castlebar can now end Mayo'syear on a high and for all the re-cent dominance by the Green andRed at inter-county level, no clubfrom the county has come out ofConnacht since Ballina Stephen-ites in 2007.

Holmes said Mitchels paid littleheed to the bookies and that thetwo goals they nabbed in the sec-ond quarter, from Ritchie Feeneyand Neil Lydon, were the keyscores of the game, helping themlead by 2-4 to 1-5 at the break de-spite playing against the wind.

"The two goals were crucial goals win games, and they broughtus right back into it and gave us acushion at half-time. We knew Co-rofin were going to have to comeout after half-time and try andcarry the ball against the breeze,"he said.

"They played all the football inthe first quarter, they got the goaland it looked like the bookies hadgot it right; but we knew there isgreat character in this side and weknew they would dig deep andthey did dig deep in the last 15minutes of the first half and cameout after half-time and continuedit."

Corofin's early dominanceyielded a goal from their bestplayer all season Gary Sice, whocollected a high ball and blastedhome after eight minutes.

Castlebar goalkeeper CiaranNaughton kept his side in thegame when he denied Alan O'-Donovan moments later, but theCorofin man pointed the resultant'45' and Sice landed a free to givethe Galway champions a 1-3 to 0-1lead after 14 minutes.

But then the game was turnedon its head. Castlebar worked aseries of handpasses up the fieldagainst the wind and gaps openedin a Corofin defence badly missingthe influence of former Tribesmendefender Kieran Fitzgerald, whowas injured.

Castlebar would probably havebeen content with a point but aseach pass was slipped inside, theopportunity of a goal arose andNeil Douglas handpassed acrossgoal for the excellent Feeney tofist home after 17 minutes.

Corofin suffered another mas-sive setback four minutes laterwhen Donal Newcombe soloedthrough to crack an effort off thecrossbar before Lydon pounced todispatch the rebound to the net toleave the Mayo champions leadingby 2-4 to 1-5 at the interval.

Sice pulled back a point threeminutes after the restart butCastlebar won the third quarter by0-3 to 0-2 as the conditions deteri-orated.

Tom King, who kicked four frees

and one point from play, put fourbetween them with 12 minutesleft, although Castlebar failed toscore after that.

Corofin piled on the pressurebut the Castlebar defence wassolid, with Tom Cunniffe, who hada great second half, scramblingone ball off the line.

Corofin got the margin down toa point deep into stoppage-time

but they couldn't save the day toset up another battle with old ri-vals St Brigid's.

Instead, that honourwill fall to a Castlebarside who are revellingunder the guidance ofHolmes as much now as

a manager as they didtwo decades ago when he

was leading matters onthe field.

SCORERS CastlebarMitchels: T King 0-5 (4fs), RFeeney 1-1, N Lydon 1-0, RO'Malley, J Durcan 0-1 each.Corofin: G Sice 1-3 (0-2fs), IBurke 0-4 (3fs), A O'Donovan('45'), R Steede, J Canney 0-1each.

CASTLEBAR MITCHELS: CNaughton; D Newcombe, AFeeney, T Cunniffe; R O'Mal-

ley, E O'Reilly, P Durcan; AWalsh, B Moran; N Douglas,G McDonagh, T King; J Dur-can, R Feeney, N Lydon.Subs: S Hopkins for J Durcan(55), D Joyce for Douglas(59).

COROFIN: T Healy; M Comer,P Kelly, A Lawless; B O'-Donovan, G Higgins, L Silke;R Steede, K Comer; G Sice, AO'Donovan, M Farragher; IBurke, J Canney, R Burke.Subs: A Burke for B O'Dono-van (30), D Burke for R Burke

(30), M Lundy for A O'Dono-van (42).

REF: P Neilan (Roscommon).


Corofinwell beaten

Favourites ousted from Connachtchampionship by rampant Mitchels

Barry Moran goes flying as Kieran Comer of Corofin

wins possesion in the Connacht senior club semi-final.



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AIB CONNACHT INTERMEDIATE CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Kiltane ...............3-10Boyle ...................2-4


A

FTER 51 years of honest endeav-our, hard work, and blood, sweat

and tears, often without any greatreward, Kiltane GAA club have blazed atrail through Mayo and Connacht this year.They are writing their own history.

A first county Intermediate title for fourdecades was followed by an historic firstConnacht club championship title, and thisgroup of ambitious, dedicated and focusedyoung men show no sign of stopping justyet.

Their latest success story followed afamiliar pattern; Kiltane playing an attrac-tive brand of football, a number of talentedindividuals catching the eye, and, ulti-mately, the team getting the job done.Nine championship games and countingnow have been won since last May.

And just like theyve done all year long,Kiltane took care of business here withstyle, panache and goals.

The team that Martin Barrett haspainstakingly assembled have developeda knack for breaking teams with decisivegoals, and Boyle were their latest victims.

The swashbuckling Sen Gaughan gotthe ball rolling on eleven minutes (with alittle help from a deflection) and MartinGallagher and Mikie Sweeney both fin-ished flowing moves to the Boyle net dur-ing the second half.

All three goals epitomised just howcomfortable Kiltane players are on theball, and how capable they are of retainingpossession, and making ground, at thesame time.

The Mayo champions could even affordto see the mercurial Mikie Sweeneysmack a penalty wide ten minutes into thesecond half, and still end up freewheelingto the title.

That luxury was made possible by theherculean efforts of their defence, a unitthat has had its fair share of criticism in re-cent weeks after big leads were lost due tounforced errors and basic mistakes.

This was different though, as goal-

keeper, Michael John Reilly, pulled off astring of saves in the first half to frustrateBoyles marquee marksmen, and Kiltanes

back six of Kevin Ginty, Dara Carey, RoryCorrigan, Martin Gallagher, Tony Gaughanand Sen Gaughan worked in unison toshut up shop.

Believe it or not, this magnificent sextetrestricted Boyles toothless attack to justone point (from a free) in a 45-minute pe-riod either side of half-time. Enough said.

The signs were ominous for theRoscommon guests from an early stageas Kiltane, playing their sixth successivegame in Castlebar, settled quickly andeased into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Jason Healy thumped over the openingscore from distance with John Reilly (free)and Mikie Sweeney also hitting the targetbefore Sen Gaughan arrived from deepto goal.

Boyles response suggested that theywould be a lot closer than they actuallywere at the end.

They played their best football duringthe second quarter, and Mark OConnorfired in a 13th minute goal that reeled Kil-tane back in.

It was a short-lived state-of-play thoughas Kiltane kicked on with three unan-swered points in five minutes from ShaneLindsay, Tommy Conroy and PJ Gaughanto set themselves up for a big second halfdisplay.

Ahead by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break, theMayo standard-bearers tagged on a fur-ther 2-3 without reply after the restart andclosed the game out in the process.

Mikie Sweeney helped himself to 1-2 of

that tally, despite having to dig deep intohis box of tricks to wear down corner-backColm Brennan.

There was no shortage of perspirationfrom a well-drilled Boyle outfit, but theywere woefully short of inspiration up front.

Their scoring issues were underlinedby the fact that Roscommon forward,Donie Smith, failed to score from play andnone of his colleagues were able to takeup the slack.

Boyles perseverance was rewardedwhen team captain, David Callaghan,palmed in a consolation goal in the dyingmoments.

But this was merely a footnote on thestory of Kiltanes day, and the bonfireswere already being prepared long beforethe final whistle sounded.

KILTANE: MJ Reilly; K Ginty, D Carey(0-2, 45, f), R Corrigan; S Gaughan (1-0), T Gaughan, M Gallagher (1-0); JReilly (0-1, 1f), J Healy (0-1); U Corri-

gan, E Barrett, PJ Gaughan (0-1); TConroy (0-1), S Lindsay (0-1), MSweeney (1-3). Subs: S Gallagher for MGallagher (56); S Carey for Lindsay(56); O Munnelly for Barrett (60); CCarey for Ginty (60); J Scanlon for DCarey (60).

BOYLE: T Lowe; C Brennan, DCallaghan (1-0), C Cox; M Hanmore, SPurcell, T McKenna; C Cox, E Smith (0-1); M OConnor (1-1, 1f), C Smith, J Suf-fin; D Smith (0-1, 1f), D OConnor, MODonohoe. Subs: R Hannon (0-1) for CSmith (46); A Sharkey for Hanmore (54);

C Beirne for Cox (55); M Goldrick forODonoghue (59).

REF: Michael Duffy (Sligo).

Kiltane capture first

Connacht club crown

Kiltane's Tommy Conroy in action for Mayo during their All-Ireland minor final win.

Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE


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Page 12

Kiltane ...........................2-12

Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point ..4-5


THE hardest part of trying to tell thestory of a game like this is finding thebest place to start.

Five minutes into the second-half itseemed like Kiltanes supporters could startpainting Bangor, Doohoma, Mount Jubilee,Geesala, and everywhere in between, blueand gold in anticipation of the clubs firstConnacht Club Final.

Martin Barretts driven and focused groupof players had just gone 11 points clear,courtesy of a second goal from Mikey

Sweeney, a young man who is in the form ofhis life these days.At 2-11 to 1-3 down, Drumcliffe/Rosses

Point seemed just about ready to begin thetrip back to Sligo. All that remained was forthe referee to blow it up early, and let us beon our way too. There was nothing to seehere.

Or so we thought.Less than half-an-hour later and Kiltane

were hanging on for dear life, just a point updeep in injury-time, whenDrumcliffe/Rosses Point substitute, ColinGinty, flashed a shot wide that would havesent this semi-final into extra-time had it hitits intended target.

The final whistle blew seconds later, leav-ing plenty of issues to be debated.

Ironically, the only issue Kiltane had inthe first half was that they didnt haveenough time to rack up more scores.

With Mikey Sweeney in one of thosemoods, the Erris lads had engineered a 1-10to 1-2 lead by the change of ends.

Sweeney helped himself to 1-4 before thebreak, all from play, and between his outra-geous angled points, sharp movement, cush-ioned, defence-splitting passes, andwell-taken soccer style goal, it was hard toknow where to look.

He was on fire.The other half of Kiltanes dynamic duo in

the full-forward line, Tommy Goals Conroy,was also leading Drumcliffe/Rosses Point amerry dance.

Truth be told, the visitors from Sligo werein dire straits at that stage. Their first scorecame in the 15th minute when Kevin Daveyghosted in to flick a delivery from John Har-vey past a flat-footed MJ Reilly, and a coupleof frees from Paul Logan was all they man-aged in the second quarter.

They were unable to break down Kiltanes

well-organised defence and couldnt copewith their freestyling attacking flair, andSweeneys trickery and touch, in particular.

Things went from bad to worse in theopening minutes of the second half as UltanCorrigan fired over a point before Sweeneygoaled in style again in the third minute.Drumcliffe/Rosses Point were being takenapart.

Over the next twenty minutes though,everything changed, changed utterly.

Kiltane hit the snooze button, relaxedtheir grip on the game, and the Sligo ladsupped the ante, their pride hurt and egosbruised, perhaps.

There were 43 minutes on the clock whenNeil Ewing slalomed his way through the Kil-tane cover before thumping a low left-footed shot past MJ Reilly.

Eight minutes later and Niall Colleary didlikewise, rippling the Kiltane net from close-range to leave just three points between thesides.

By that stage Kiltanes Stephen Sweeney

and Drumcliffes John Bellew had both beenred-carded; Sweeney for a high challenge onBellew, and the latter for retaliation.

The extra space on the field meant thatthe last ten minutes were wild and loose,but Mikey Sweeney restored some orderwhen he won a free that Ultan Corrigan con-verted to end a 21 minute wait for a Kiltanescore.

That looked like it might break Drum-cliffe/Rosses Points resolve but, instead,they held a nervous-looking Kiltane score-less for the last ten minutes and plundereda fourth goal at the other end.

Corner-forward Niall Colleary bundled theball over the line in the 60th minute afterAlan ODowds flick cannoned off the post,as the Sligo standard-bearers thundered to-wards the finish line.

Kiltane were fading fast, but just man-aged to see it through.

KILTANE: MJ Reilly; D Carey, R Corrigan,S Sweeney; PJ Gaughan T Gaughan, MGallagher; J Reilly (0-2, 2fs), J Healy; UCorrigan (0-3, 1f), S Carey (0-1), E Bar-rett (0-1); S Gaughan, T Conroy (0-1), MSweeney (2-4). Subs: S Lindsay for Bar-rett (37m); S Gallagher for M Gallagher(40m, inj); J Scanlon for R Corrigan(43m).

DRUMCLIFFE/ROSSES POINT: B Holland;C McLoughlin, C Kivlehan, S Payton; J Mc-Gowan, G Feeney, J Harvey; B Og Murphy,

M Horkan; N Ewing (1-0), P Logan (0-5,5fs), P Gallagher; K Davey (1-0), J Hester,N Colleary (2-0). Subs: J Bellew for Gal-lagher (23m, inj); D Long for Kivlehan(34m); C Ginty for Murphy (45m); N Can-ning for Hester (55m); A ODowd forDavey.

REF: M Flaherty (Galway).


Kiltane .....................1-15

Menlough .................0-9

By COLM GANNON Mayo Advertiser

KILTANE booked their place in the finalfour of the Connacht Intermediate Foot-ball Championship with an impressive

display in MacHale Park.

The north Mayo men ran out six point win-ners over the Galway champions Menlough,thank in no small part to Mikey Sweeney's goal12 minutes into the first half.

Sweeney swept the ball to the net afterJason Healy intercepted a poor clearance fromJason O'Neill in the Menlough goal and fed theball to Sweeney who made no mistake fromclose range.

The goal put Kiltane into a 1-2 to 0-2 leadand got their tails up, after an even-stevenopening ten minutes of the game. It was theGalway side who opened the scoring with a

pointed free from close range less than aminute in from the boot of midfielder RobertHughes.

His opposite number John Reilly levelledthe game up seven minutes later also kicking afree into the Bacon Factory end of the ground.The north Mayo men pushed themselves intothe lead a minute later, when Martin Gal-lagher, galloped up the pitch from his wing-back berth, before driving the ball over thebar from distance.

Hughes responded again from a placed ballto tie the contest up just after the ten minutemark, but the next time a flag was raised byan umpire it was a green one for Sweeney'smajor.

Hughes did kick his third point of the gameshortly after Sweeney's goal, but Martin Bar-rett's side swiftly went through the gears and

pushed home for victory early on and kickedsix unanswered points before the break.Sweeney, who picked up the official man-of-

Kiltane escape to a narrow win

Kiltane keep upwinning ways


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Page 13

Boyle ......................4-22Eslin ..........................1-5

By IAN COONEY Roscommon Herald

FARCICAL fare on a beautiful wintersday in Carrick-on-Shannon as Boylerouted Leitrim side Eslin to reach theConnacht club final against Mayos Kiltane.

Boyle were professional but they willhardly thank the opposition for providingsuch a feeble effort. David OConnors menwere as well off back in the Abbey Parktesting each other out in an A v B match.

Eslin were beaten in the Leitrim countyfinal six weeks ago. In their own minds,thats where their season ended because it

was blatantly obvious that they had doneprecious little since.

The Roscommon champions did as theypleased from the first whistle to the last.Leading by 3-13 to 0-1 at the interval,David OConnor took off marquee forwardDonal Smith. By the 40th minute, all fivesubstitutes were used. In truth i f Boylechanged their entire team at the break, itwouldnt have made any difference. Eslinwere just that bad.

Enda Smiths performance at midfieldwas noteworthy. He controlled the gamefor Boyle in this sector. His high energylevels saw him bomb forward at every op-

portunity. He was through on goal at leastfive times, netting once. In the other in-stances, he saved Eslin from further humil-iation by simply fisting the ball over thebar.

Mark ODonohoe and Donal Smith weregiven the leeway they thrive on to kicksome eyecatching scores. Mark OConnorenjoyed a productive second half and sub-

stitute Ray Hannon made a positive contri-bution, kicking three points from play.

Further back the field, Sen Purcells at-tacking option from centre-back wasutilised on numerous occasions and theRoscommon defender helped himself totwo goals. The full-back line, especiallyDavid Callaghan, was very solid. IndeedCallaghan easily won his battle with ConorBeirne and the Leitrim forward, exiled bythe county alongside his brother Tomsand two other players as a result of abreach of discipline last season, hardly in-fluenced the game apart from a fine goalfour minutes from time.

Boyle kicked four points inside theopening five minutes through Cian Smith(2), Donal Smith and Mark ODonohoe be-fore Joseph Stenson opened Eslins ac-

count in the ninth minute.But the respite for the Leitrim side was

short-lived as another glut of scores ar-rived. ODonohoe found the range spectac-ularly to the right of goal and he addedanother in the 12th minute.

Jim Suffin was unlucky to see his fero-cious low shot come back off the post butit didnt take long for the first green flagto be raised. Cian Smith and Darren OCon-nor combined before Enda Smith had thesimplest of tasks to flick the ball into theempty net.

Donal Smith landed a fine score from 40metres before OConnor had all the time in

the world to fist a score. The second goalarrived in the 21st minute when ODonohoeheld off his marker to find Donal Smithand the Roscommon forward fired spectac-ularly to the net.

A third green flag followed inside aminute when Purcell fastened himself toanother flowing move to pick his spot.There was still time for Cian Smith (a free),

OConnor, Enda Smith (2) and Purcell tofind the target to give their side a stagger-ing 21-point lead at the break.

Boyle enjoyed the luxury of makingchanges in the second half. The scoringrate dropped but the North Roscommonside, driven on by Enda Smith, still heldthe edge. Ray Hannon announced his ar-rival with a few fine points. Mark OConnoralso tagged on three points, including twofrom play. Purcell grabbed his sides fourthgoal in the 51st minute when he was pickedout by OConnor after Smith started themove.

Boyle goalkeeper Tadhg Lowe, who hadmade a smart save minutes earlier,couldnt keep out Conor Beirnes stingingdrive in the 56th minute but it matteredlittle. Boyle had been home and hosed a

long time ago.

BOYLE: T. Lowe; C. Brennan, D.Callaghan, M. Hanmore; A. Sharkey, S.Purcell (2-1), T. McKenna; C. Cox, E.Smith (1-4); M. OConnor (0-3, onefree), C. Smith (0-4, one free), J. Suffin;D. Smith (1-2), D. OConnor (0-2), M.ODonohoe (0-3).Subs: R. Hannon (0-3) for D. Smith(half-time), M. Goldrick for Hanmore(half-time), C. Beirne for Brennan (half-time), D. Kelly for Donohoe (37 mins),K. Feighan for Suffin (40 mins).

ESLIN: E. Turbitt; P. Kilcrann, C.

Reynolds, R. Reynolds; P. McNulty, E.Stenson (0-1), B. Bohan; T. Beirne, J.OFlynn; J. Stenson (0-2), D. Ward, B.McLoughlin (0-2, one free); A. McCaf-frey, C. Beirne (1-0), S. Beirne.Subs: T. McLoughlin for McCaffrey (half-time).

REF: L. Devenney (Mayo).


he-match award followed up his goal with alose in effort after the ball was workedcross the 21 yard line. Nine minutes beforehe break John Reilly powered the ball overhe bar from out on the right to register hisrst score from play. Then Ultan Corrigan got

n on the act, with an arcing effort that wentver the with aid of the inside of the post, be-ore Pat Joe Gaughan cut across the ball withhe outside of his boot to put his side sixoints to the good, three minutes before thereak.

Kiltane kept the foot down for the final fewminutes of the half with Sweeney's hard workesulting in another fine score. The Kiltaneumber 12 chased down a ball that looked toe going wide, kept it in play and from a tightngle swung the ball over the bar expertly.he final word on the half was left to Edmund

arrett who pointed a free to send his team int the break leading by 1-8 to 0-3.The Galway champions came out for the

second half with a lot more bite in them thanthey showed in the opening 30 minutes andtwice in the opening ten minutes Michael JohnReilly was called on to pull off top drawersaves to keep the ball out of his side's net.

The first time he was called into actionafter four minutes, Menlough centre-half for-ward Kevin Reilly found space for a shot closein and Reilly saved well with his foot. The Men-lough attacker could possibly have been betteroff passing to his full-forward Hugh Keeleywho was in a better position unmarked.

Nine minutes into the half, Reilly was forcedto pull off a diving save to stop an effort fromMark Costello after the Menlough wing-backhad cut in from the wing.

The Galway champions kept chipping awayat the Kiltane lead during the early stages ofthe second-half, but only ever brought it as

close as six points at any stage and Kiltanewere able to hold them away at distance.It was a comfortable afternoon in MacHale

Park for the Bangor Erris based club whoeased their way into the Connacht semi-final.

KILTANE: MJ Reilly; D Carey (0-1,1 45), RCorrigan, S Sweeney; M Gallagher (0-2), SGaughan, T Gaughan; J Reilly (0-3,2f), JHealy; PJ Gaughan (0-2), S Carey, MSweeney (1-3); U Corrigan (0-1), T Conroy, EBarrett (0-1 ,1f). Subs: S Lindsay (0-1) for SCarey, S Gallagher for E Barrett, D Conroyfor D Carey, B McAndrew (0-1) for T Conroy,J Scanlon for U Corrigan.

MENLOUGH: J O'Neill; Con Lucey, S Lawless,B Laheen; M Costello, T Mannion (0-1), JGlynn (0-1) ; R Hughes (0-4,4f), D Reilly; CO'Brien (0-3), K Reilly, J Craughwell; BCostello, H Keeley, D Costello. Subs: P Kellyfor J Craughwell, P Quirke for H Keeley, C

Kenny for S Lawless.

REF: M Duffy (Sligo)

Boyle stroll past Eslin challenge


14/64

Page 14

Kilnadeema/Leitrim ...1-14

Tooreen .......................2-9

By BILL KIELY Media West Ireland

THE free-scoring of Brian Molloy andDavie Tierney's first-half goal en-sured Kilnadeema/Leitrim were able

to fend of a late comeback from Tooreento take the Connacht intermediate clubhurling title.

Two late Kenny Feeney goals in thesecond-half almost saw the Mayo winnerstake their first Connacht title, but thanksto Molloy's 11-point haul, the Tooreen re-covery fell slightly short.

In blustery first-half conditions Tier-

ney's goal was all that separated thesides as Kilnadeema/Leitrim took a 1-4 to0-4 lead in at the break.

Despite his large final tally Molloy onlymanaged two first-half points, but he stilllinked up well with Tierney for their goalon eight minutes, with the former county

player rattling the net from distance.But in the second period Kil-nadeema/Leitrim upped their efficiencyand with Molloy and Shane Lawless who hit three points in better form theypulled well clear with time running out.

However, Mayo senior Feeney goaledfrom a close-range free late on, before hehit his second in added-time to pullTooreen within two points, but the clockhalted their spirited recovery.

SCORERS Kilnadeema/Leitrim:B Molloy 0-11 (9f), D Tierney 1-0, SLawless 0-3.

Tooreen: K Feeney 2-3 (2f), F Boland 0-3 (2f), C Freeman 0-2, R Larkin 0-1.

KILNADEEMA/LEITRIM: K Boyle; PDeely, D O'Donoghue, P Stapleton; DTierney, E Hyland, A Spaight; M Kelly,D Herlihy; A Mitchell, L Geraghty, TTierney; B Molloy, S Lawless, M Dono-hue. Subs: D Donoghue for MDonoghue 54, G Winters for Herlihy 55.

TOOREEN: A Hession; C Finn, S Mor-ley, B Delaney; S Coyne, M Morley, GNolan; C Freeman, C Charlton; DKenny, R Larkin, F Boland, K Feeney, PHunt, J Ganley. Subs: S Boland for

Ganley 39, S Markham for Hunt 49, CEnglish for Larkin 53.

REF: T Carroll (Offaly).

CONNACHT INTERMEDIATE CLUB HURLING FINAL

A cut abovethe restTooreen (Mayo) ..............0-16Four Roads .....................2-9

(Roscommon)

ALAST-MINUTE converted sideline cut byTooreen's Stephen Coyne propelled theMayo Senior Hurling Champions to theConnacht GAA Intermediate Club Hurling final -as the blues held out to win by the minimumagainst Roscommon champions Four Roads.

Playing with the strong breeze in the open-ing half, Tooreen led by 0-10 to 1-4 at the breakwith the Four Roads goal coming from closerange by Johnny Coyne. Tooreen's scorer inchief on the day, Kenny Feeney, registering 0-8

of his side's first half total.Four Roads drew level in the 45th minute

when a Micheal Kelly penalty found the back ofthe Tooreen net, but a late surge of Tooreenpoints from Paul Hunt, Fergal Boland andFeeney again kept the East Mayo side in frontbefore Stephen Coyne justified his return fromAustralia with his second converted line ball ofthe day to win the game for Tooreen.

Tooreen now go forward to play Kil-nadeema-Leitrim of Galway in the ConnachtGAA Intermediate Hurling Final.

TOOREEN: Adrian Hession; CiaranFinn, Shane Morley, Ciaran Charlton;Stephen Coyne (0-2sl), Michael Morley,

Brian Delaney; Gary Nolan, CathalFreeman; David Kenny, Ray Larkin, JoeGanley; Fergal Boland (0-2), Paul Hunt(0-1), Kenny Feeney (0-11):Subs: Conor English for Larkin, SeanMarkham for Kenny.FOUR ROADS: D Dowd; S Curley, PKelly, D Fallon; J Rogerson, B Donnelly,C Coyle; M Kelly (1-0 pen), J Moran (0-1); J Lawlor (0-2), S Beirne (0-1), CDolan; D Dolan (0-3f), J Coyne (1-2), ERogerson;Subs: B Kelly, R Kelly, M McLoughlin.

Kilnadeema/Leitrimtake Connacht title

CONNACHT CHAMPS: Kilnadeema/Leitrim had plenty to celebrate as they added the Connachtintermediate club hurling title to their Galway title. Photo: Joe Keane.

Tooreen Captain Shane Morley (Right) con-

gratulates his team-mate Stephen Coyne

(left), who returned from Australia for the

summer to help the Tooreen side, and turned

in a Man of the Match performance as he con-

verted two line balls.

Kilnadeema/Leitrim captain Tom Tierney is

presented with the Connacht intermediatehurling title by Connacht GAA President,

Frank Burke. Photo Joe Keane.


15/64

Page 15

Fuerty ................0-18

Headford ............0-12AFTER EXTRA-TIME

By DECLAN ROONEY Media West Ireland

FUERTY picked up their first Con-nacht junior club football title thanksto some blistering scoring from NiallKilroy and Gearoid Ennis at Pearse Sta-dium.

Headford looked sure to pick up theprovincial honours for Galway for a thirdyear in succession when a late comebackgave them the lead approaching full-time,

but Niall Keenan's injury-time score forcedextra-time and the Roscommon men tookthe initiative from there on.

Fuerty started with great intent and bythe 11th minute they had opened out a 0-3

to 0-1 lead with two Kilroy scores eitherside of a free from Ennis giving them theupper hand.

But Headford soon found their feet andthey hit five points in a row before half-time, from Sean and Niall Meeneghan sawHeadford led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.

Headford then failed to score until the51st minute and in that time Fuerty hit sixpoints without reply and looked certaintiesto take the title. But five points in sevenminutes gave Headford the upper handafter an Aaron McDonagh-inspired come-back was halted as Kennan forced extra-time.

And four points from the Roscommonmen in the first period of extra time sealeda first provincial football title of the year for

Roscommon clubs as Fuerty took a de-served win.

SCORERS Fuerty: G Ennis 0-8 (5f), NKilroy 0-6, N Keenan 0-2, P Leahy 0-2,

Headford: N Meeneghan 0-7 (6f), SMeeneghan 0-5 (1f)

FUERTY: J Fallon; P Neilan, P Kelehan,M Keaveney; S Melia, T Bannon, D De-laney; E Bannon, F Hanlon; N Keenan,N Kilroy, P Leahy; G Ennis, G Fallon, RFallon. Subs: A Moore for M Keaveney26, N Connolly for G Fallon h-t, E Whytefor Delaney 60, M Connaughton forHanlon 68, M Keaveney for Melia 78.

HEADFORD: N Walsh; J Leahy, R O'-Toole, F Joyce; P Joyce, K Carey, BCarey; D Bane, E McHugh; NMeenaghan, C Sullivan, P Walsh; SMeeneghan, A Meeneghan, E Flynn.Subs: A McDonagh for Flynn 40, E Han-non for Walsh 46, D Corbett for Bane

46, D Moran for F Joyce 50, N Cunning-ham for Sullivan 58, P Walsh for AMeeneghan 68.

REF: Liam Devenney (Mayo).

Headford ....................1-11Cill Chomain .................1-7

By COLM GANNON Mayo Advertiser

THE first of a double header in MacHalePark saw heartbreak for the north Mayoclub looking to book a spot in the Con-nacht final, as Cill Chomain came up shortagainst Galway champions Headford.

Ciaran Moran's side who had played withsuch vim and verve in the Mayo final, failed toreach the same heights on Sunday as a smartand strategic Headford side under the guid-ance of Mayo man Tom Flynn ran out four pointwinners.

The Headford full -orward line ofMeeneghan's Sean and Niall along with PadraicPat Walsh were instrumental to the Galwaysides win.

Headford started the game brightest andmounted a number of attacks, but skewedtheir efforts either wide of the posts or shortinto Aaron Healy's hands in the Cill Chomaingoal. The scoring was opened seven minutes inby the Mayo men with Terrence Moran slottingover a free. Sean Meeneghan levelled the gameup a minute later when he cut in down theright hand side to make some space for a leftfooted effort from close range.

The mounting Headford pressure on the CillChomain back line paid even more dividendswhen Padraic Pat Walsh found the back of thenet after 11 minutes. The ever dangerous NiallMeeneghan played the ball across the face ofthe Cill Chomain goal and Walsh went inbravely to get the vital touch to send the ballto the back of the net.

The game was held up for a lengthy periodof time not long after when Cill Chomain cap-tain David Coyle received a hefty challenge andneeded a lengthy period of treatment on thefield before he was taken off. Coyle did returnto the action in the second half once given theall clear. But the incident did turn bizarre asthe referee stopped play for treatment to beallowed for the injured Coyle, but restarted theplay with the player still receiving treatmenton the field only to call a halt to play againshortly afterwards.

When play resumed, Cill Chomain cut thegap back to two points when Rory Ginty kickeda placed ball between the posts. NiallMeeneghan kicked Headford's second pointwith a fine effort to establish a the three pointlead. The Galway men pushed that lead out tofive points at the break with Sean Meeneghanand Niall once again adding on scores beforethe break. The Galway champions went in lead-ing 1-4 to 0-2 at the turnaround.

Cill Chomain kicked the first two points ofthe second half as they charged back into theaction. James McAndrew with a booming effortand a Terrence Moran free closed the gap backto three points, but a nerve settling SeanMeeneghan free kept the north-Galway men infront. Both sides exchanged scores for the thenext 15 minutes, with Headford keeping theirnoses in front and at one stage pushing thelead pack out to five points. With NiallMeeneghan kicking two frees and Padraic PatWalsh adding another. While John F Coylelaunched one from way out the country overthe bar for Cill Chomain and Terrence Morankept the free count ticking over. With ten min-utes left in the game, Headford were 1-8 to 0-6up and Cill Chomain badly needed a goal. Along ball in by the now returned David Coyle

bounced around inside the small rectangle anda mass of bodies pounced on the ball. RefereeJohn Gilmartin saw some infringement by oneof the Headford defenders and awarded a spotkick to the Mayo side, which was duly dis-patched to the back of the net by Derek Moranwith some style to cut the gap back to twopoints and what looked like game on for thefinal ten minutes. Cill Chomain really neededto get the next score to really test the metal ofthe Galway men, but it was Sean Meeneghanwho raised the white flag next to push the gapout to three points once again. James McAn-drew did respond for Cill Chomain with an ef-fort that was tipped over the bar by Neil Walshin the Headford goal, but it was as close as CillChomain got as two late points from SeanMeeneghan and Enda Hannon booked the Gal-way sides place in the Connacht final andended the Mayo sides interest in the competi-tion.

CILL CHOMAIN: A Healy; J F Coyle (0-1), MBurke, D Fahy; J Healy, D Coyle, A Murphy;B Moran, D Moran (1-0, 1 pen); R Ginty (0-1,1f), James McAndrew (0-2), M Irwin; GRuddy (0-1), M Geraghty, T Moran (0-3, 3f).Subs: Alan Nolan for D Coyle, D Murphy forG Ruddy, D Coyle for T Moran, Jamie Cox forD Murphy, D McSweeney for J F Coyle.

HEADFORD: N Walsh; B Carey, J Leahy, KCarey, F Joyce, R O'Toole, P Joyce; EMcHugh, D Bane; A Watters, A Meeneghan,E Flynn; S Meeneghan (0-5,4f), NMeeneghan (0-4,3f), P Walsh (1-1). Subs: AMcDonagh for E Flynn, C Sullivan for A Wat-

ters, R Higgins for F Joyce, E Hannon (0-1)for A Meeneghan.

REF: J Gilmartin (Sligo).

CONNACHT JUNIOR CLUB FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Fuerty too strong in extra-time

Cill Chomain fail at final four stage


16/64

Page 16

Calry/St Joseph's(Sligo) .................... 2-12

An Spidal (Galway) 2-10

By LEO GRAY Sligo Champion

ANY day that a Sligo team cap-tures a Connacht title is a dayto be remembered. Any daythat a Sligo team wins a Connachttitle for the second time in succes-sion, and defeats Galway opposition

on both occasions, is one for the his-tory books.It was Calry/St Joseph's, the king-

pins of Sligo hurling over the pastten years, who did just that last Sat-urday afternoon at the ConnachtGAA Centre of Excellence, as theyhistorically retained the Connachtclub Junior Hurling Championshiptitle, courtesy of a two point defeatof An Spidal of Galway.

In what was a topsy-turvy affair,yet still of a high quality, the hour'saction served up excellent entertain-ment for the crowd at the Ballyhau-nis venue, with both sides playing an

attractive brand of hurling.The Galway champions had littletime to prepare for this encounter,having only won their county cham-pionship last weekend, but stilllooked fresh over the course of thehour, and indeed a sustained periodof pressure early in the second halflooked to have paid dividends, asthey held a one point lead after 39minutes.

However, Calry/St Joseph's experi-ence proved to be crucial, andthough at times An Spidal foundthemselves in the ascendancy, thewinners remained composed, with

an assured performance over thefinal twenty minutes key to this vic-tory.

Kevin Gilmartin, who was out-standing at wing forward and aunanimous choice for the man of thematch award, scored 1-1 for his side,and his three-pointer could not havecome at a better time. At that point,An Spidl had drawn level afterSen 'Curraoin's excellent 38thminute goal, but Gilmartin re-sponded with an equally impressiveeffort two minutes later to ensureCalry/St Joseph's three point leadhad been restored.

Keith Raymond soon added apoint from long range to extend thelead to four, but Fergal 'Mannn

pointed four frees in quick succes-sion to wipe out the Sligo championsadvantage. However, the resilienceof Calry/St Joseph's came to the forelate on, with Eolan McCarthy and theimpressive Conor Griffin pointing toensure the title was to remain withthe Sligo men for another year atleast.

And that was most definitely thecorrect result, based on the game asa whole. Over the course of a fast-paced first half, Calry/St Josephs,though into the breeze, worked hardand raced into a three point lead

through Kevin Gilmartin and ConorGriffin(2). An Spidal were slow tostart but soon found their feet - Fer-gal 'Mainnn, outstanding for theGaeltacht side throughout, scoredfour first half frees, while Cilln 'hEochaidh also added a point in theopening period.

Indeed, it was 'hEochaidh whoset up teammate Ciarn Breathanchfor the Galway outfit's first goal,after some terrific build up playfrom the full-forward. However, itwas only a matter of seconds laterwhen Calry/St Joseph's hit back witha goal of their own, Eolan McCarthy

the man on target in first half injury-time.Two points ahead at the break,

Calry/St Joseph's, though troubledat times by a valiant An Spidal out-fit, kept their composure over afrantic second half, and created sig-nificant hurling history in theprocess.

SCORERS Calry/St Joseph's:K Raymond 0-5 (2f, 2'65), KGilmartin 1-1, E McCarthy 1-1,C Griffin 0-3, D Burke 0-2.An Spidal: Fergal Mainn 0-10 (10fs), C Breathnach 1-, S Curraoin 1-0.

CALRY/ST. JOSEPH'S: C Mad-den; F Keown, M Larkin, NTreacy; F Coyne, L Reidy, JKenny; R Cox, K Raymond; CGriffin, D Cox, K Gilmartin; DBurke, D Collery, E McCarthy.

AN SPIDAL: M Duinn; D Flatharata, T Caoimh, P Mainn; S Fatharta, M Cur-raoin, M Breathnach , S Cur-raoin, L Conghaile, P E Curraoin, F Curranigh, F Mainn, A Curraoin, C hEochaidh, C Breathnach.Subs: E hEochaidh for L Conghaile 36.

REF: J McGrath (Westmeath).

CONNACHT CLUB JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

An Spidal denied bylate surge

Memories that

will never fade

THE journey through life brings oneinto contact with many great

people and one of those leg-

endary figures passed away recently

when Noel McHale slipped beyond

the clouds. The McHales from the vil-

lage of Garracloon in Knockmore

have been raling around in

my head for as long as I

can remember.

The Knockmore foot-

ball jersey caught my eye many years ago when theyd

come to play in the old pitch by the river in Ballycroy

and the spirit and desire that was encased in that saf-

fron and blue garment always appealed to me.

Chief among the Knockmore warriors would be the

McHales and the most prominent of the brothers, in

my view, was the man with the red hair Noel.

He played with great skill and style and had the bal-

ance and evasive abilies of an eel. In those days, the

ability to avoid big Ballycroy men was crucial for

teams coming into our kingdom and Noel was an ex-

pert in this regard.

On one visit, my father, Pat, was lining out at right

corner-back for the home side, while his good buddy

and partner in crime, Sean Murtagh was on the other

wing. Noel was causing all sorts of problems for the

home defenders in the opening minutes, so the twoboys came up with a plan theyd give him a taste of

their shoulders the next me he tried to waltz through

and thatd be the end of him.

So, the next me the ball came to McHale the two

friends were ready. Gallagher approached at speed

from the le, Murtagh came like a ger from the right.

McHale jinked his way up the middle with the ball,

seemingly oblivious to the impending disaster. The

ground was shaking as the defenders approached like

rugged hyenas aer a lile sinewy antelope and then,

just on the point of impact, McHale stepped aside and

the two great friends smashed into one another.

That moment, well-recalled recently, said a lot

about Noel McHale. He brought great spirit and styleto the Knockmore jersey and he didnt shirk a chal-

lenge when it was presented.

You could see the sparkle in his eyes when his team

was on the pitch. He was immediately immersed in

the game, in the wonderful web of intrigue being

fought out on the grass and you could almost see him

banking away moments, which he would recall again

long aer the final whistle.

Ive always liked the McHales. Theyre real people.

Theres a great love of life running through their veins.

Unfortunately, we wont encounter Noel again on this

earth, but he lebehind him memories that will never

fade as long as style, grace, determinaon and spirit

play a part in Gaelic football.

Michael Gallagher.


17/64

TESCO HOMEGROWN ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE LADIES CLUB FINAL

Claregalway(Galway) ................. 1-9

Thomas Davis(Dublin).................. 0-9

By FRANK KEARNEY Media West Ireland

C

LAREGALWAY captured the TescoHomegrown All-Ireland Intermediate

Ladies football club title when theydefeated an experienced Thomas Davisside from Dublin at St Lomas Park,Mullingar.

Ten minutes into the game the clashwas still delicately poised, but a CiaraNewell goal from the penalty spot provedthe decisive score that would eventuallyseparate the sides at the end.

The penalty was awarded when goal-keeper Louise Curran took down CharlotteCooney when bearing down on goal andThomas Davis were reduced to 14 playerswhen goalkeeper Curran was sin binned.

At that stage the Dublin side had taken

a one-point advantage when midfieldersOlwyn Carey and Miriam Liston hadreplied to Michelle Dunleavys openingpointed free for Claregalway.

After the goal Claregalway received aconfidence boost and Deirdre Brennanand Michelle Dunleavy added points in agame where scores were hard to come bywith both defences working solidly.

The Dublin side replied with two pointsbefore Ciara Burke and Sinead Deeganswapped points before the break to leaveClaregalway leading by 1-4 to 0-5 at halftime.

This was very much a case of youthversus experience and the younger Clare-galway side tore into the second-half withfire and purpose, chasing every ball andharassing their opponents at all times.Ciara Burke and Deirdre Brennanswapped points with Ciara McGuigan andthe outstanding Dublin centre back Siob-han McGrath.

The game was still very much in themelting pot eight minutes from the end asClaregalway led by 1-6 to 0-7, but onceagain indiscipline cost the Dublin sidewhen Karren Sweeney Lynch was sinbinned after a needless foul on DeirdreBrennan that saw Ciara Burke point theresulting free.

Within two minutes Burke had landedtwo further points from play and Claregal-way were on their way to victory. The

daughter of former Corofin stalwart GerryBurke who had picked up the Hall of Fameaward the previous night at the Claregal-way Hotel had given her side a five-pointadvantage five minutes from the end.

From there the Dublin side needed atleast a goal and although they piled on im-mense pressure there was no gettingthrough a defensive line where EmileGavin starred getting tremendous supportfrom captain Fabienne Cooney, EllieGlynn, Karen Dowd, Amy Rohan andplayer of the match award winner MichelleGlynn. Late scores from Miriam Liston andAmanda Shiels were too little too latedeep in injury time as Claregalway cap-tured All-Ireland honours.CLAREGALWAY: H Coen; F Cooney, EGavin, E Glynn; K Dowd, A Rohan, MGlynn; O Dixon, S Gavin; T Hession, CNewell (1-0 pen), C Cooney; M Dun-leavy (0-2frs), D Brennan (0-2), C Burke(0-5, 3frs).Sub: L Brennan for Dunleavy (27).THOMAS DAVIS: L Curran; K SweeneyLynch, M Shiels, S Roche; L Fennelly, SMcGrath, N Kirby; O Carey (0-1), M Lis-ton (0-2); A Shiels (0-1), S Deegan (0-2),K Fitzsimons; C McGuigan (0-2fs), CCollins McGinty, L Deasy.Subs: M Liston for Deasy (22), D Bren-

nan for Fitzsimons (40), J SweeneyKnott for Collins McGinty (52).REF: S Joy (Kerry).

All-Ireland gloryfor

ClaregalwayLadies

Claregalway's Marian Moran and Emer Joyce celebrate their win in the All-Ireland Ladies inter-

mediate final after their victory over Thomas Davis. Photo: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

CHAMPIONS: Claregalway captain Fabienne

Cooney lifts the All-Ireland Ladies intermedi-ate cup after their victory over Thomas

Davis. Photo: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

Page 17


18/64

GALWAY HURLING BOARD CONVENTION

By DECLAN ROONEYMedia West Ireland

GALWAY'S top hurling official hasadmitted they need to put theirhands in their pocket if the Tribes-men are to end their All-Ireland famine.

The chairman of the Galway hurlingboard, Joe Byrne, has warned that An-thony Cunningham's side will be left be-hind if they do not invest in the team inthe coming years.

Byrne, in his annual report to the Gal-way hurling board convention, promisedto financially weigh in behind the Tribes-

men for 2014, but also called on histhree managers to 'show leadership' intheir roles.

Byrne also called for a unified Galwayhurling to improve on a disastrous 2013,that saw a Leinster final defeat to Dublinand subsequent defeat by eventual win-ners Clare in the knock-out stages.

The demands to fund our county sen-ior team is challenging, but if we dont in-vest we will be left behind, and I knowthe wishes of every Galway hurling sup-porter is to achieve that ultimate suc-cess, said the chairman.

In 2014 we look forward to our inter-

county teams performing to the best oftheir ability. We have entrusted Anthony

Cunningham, Johnny Kelly and MattMurphy to show leadership with their re-spective teams and offer management

solutions which will ensure performance.In this regard we strongly support

their requirements, we will not or havenot in the past refused any request forsupport, be it monetary or otherwise.

And of course we do this taking cog-nisance that we do not wish to spend be-yond our means, but of course there isnothing wrong with getting value formoney. We should leave no stone un-turned in this regard, he said.

Byrne will again be Galway's top hurl-ing official in 2013 as he is once morenot being opposed for the chairman'srole. He vowed to continue the good

work that he has overseen for the pastfew years, with Galway last year histori-cally winning the Leinster title and com-ing so close to capturing the firstAll-Ireland senior title in almost a quarterof a century.

Byrne said if they were looking for anexample of how to transfer underagesuccess into adult glory, they had look nofurther than the county's Camogie teams,who won the senior and intermediatecounty titles in 2013.

Perhaps the wonderful exploits of ourCamogie teams this year can be the cat-alyst to drive on Galway hurling in 2014.

Didnt their wins at senior and Intermedi-ate give the whole county a lift, he said.


AMOTION to outlaw the use of goal-

keeper's hurleys for scoring hasbeen forwarded to the GalwayCounty Convention to be prepared for theGAA national congress.

The motion was initially proposed bythe Clarinbridge club for the Galway hurl-ing convention, but chairman Joe Byrnehas decided to refer it to the County Com-mittee, who prepare all motions for the na-tional stage.

The motion states: All scores fromplay and placed balls in hurling can onlybe scored from the standard size hurl andnot from an oversized goalkeeper's hurl, inaccordance with the Official Guide 2013Part 2 Rule 4 Equipment 4.5. the basof a hurley, at its widest points shall notbe more than 13cm.

Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash is oneof the leading exponents of the 21m freein the game of hurling he scored twogoals in this year's All-Ireland finals buthe has been criticised for his technique,which sees him lift the ball closer to goalbefore striking.

Nash also employs the use of hisoversized hurley when striking forgoal, and according to Clarin-bridge delegate, Donal Walsh,both issues could be eradi-cated if their motion ispassed.

There hasbeen a lot of

talk about wherethe free is being struck

from, but the reality of it isthat it's a major advantage for

the goalie to use a bigger hurl. Itis a lot easier to (lift the ball

closer) with a goalie's hurl becausehe has a greater margin for error.The top free takers rarely take more

than half a step forward before their strikewith a regulation hurley. If everyone usesthe same hurley I think the travelling for-ward issue would probably disappear aswell, he said.

The hurling board chairman confirmedhe will be sending the club's motion for-ward to be prepared for congress.

We have decided to send it on to theGalway County Convention so that it willbe sent forward as a motion for the GAA'snational congress. I imagine there will begood support for it there too, said Byrne.

Joe Byrne, chairman of the Galway Hurling

Committee. Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

Byrne ready to splash the cash

Hurley motion set to face Congress

Page 18

If everyone uses the

same hurley I think

the travelling for-

ward issue would

probably disappear

as well.


19/64

GALWAY FOOTBALL BOARD CONVENTION

Page 19

By JOHN FALLONMedia West Ireland

THE continued participation of NUIGin the Galway SFC is to be exam-ined as part of a review aimed at re-ducing the number of teams playing in thechampionship each year.

Galway football secretary SeamusOGrady urged that the number of teamstaking part in the senior championship be

reduced from 21 to 16 in a bid to improvethe standard of football in the county.

But the NUIG Gaelic Games officer,Michael OConnor, appealed for the col-lege to be allowed remain in the champi-onship, pointing out that the likes of CIT,UCC and UCD made big contributions inCork and Dublin.

OConnor said that if the Galway cham-pionship was run off over a particularschedule then might be easier for NUIG tomake an impact.

If championship matches were playedin April then no one would want to take uson, he said.

He said that the college fielded sixadult football teams, three of them atFresher level, and that the moment therewere 120 players from Galway playing onthe college teams.

NUIG won the Galway senior champi-onship three times, back in 1933, 34 and37 when they were known as UCG, butthey have not reached the final since1973.

The NUIG hurlers do not participate inthe Galway senior club hurling champi-onship.

Football secretary Seamus OGradystressed that he was not trying to get rid ofNUIG but wanted their inclusion to be con-sidered as part of an overall review.

We should look at NUIGs participationin the senior championship and what pur-pose it serves. Their have their ownHigher Education Leagues at this time ofyear, in January they participate in the

FBD League and then they have Sigerson

at the end of February.Then five or six months later, whenmost of the students have departed Gal-way for the holidays, they are recalled toplay in the Galway SFC, many of themhaving already played a game with theirown home clubs, said OGrady.

He said that the standard in Galwaywould rise if the number of clubs was re-duced to 16 and this could be achieved byrelegating an extra team over the next fouryears.

OGrady pointed out that none of theGalway teams who won the senior, inter-mediate and junior county titles went on

this year to win the Connacht title in theirgrade.

The matter is to be discussed in thecoming weeks when delegates get an op-portunity to digest a report drawn up by asub-committee.

Tommy Kelly, a delegate from city clubSt Michaels warned that the plan to re-duce the number of senior clubs would bevehemently opposed.

NUIG championship futureup for debate

Hynes eyes cost cutting measuresBy JOHN FALLONMedia West Ireland

ALEADING Galway GAA haswarned that they will have to cuttheir cloth in 2014 after a bigdrop in income this year.

John Hynes, the full-time GalwayGAA secretary, said they would have nochoice but to continue cutting costs asincome was continuing to fall.

The Galway football committee suf-fered a loss of over54,000 this year

after income fell from754,939 to696,027.

The drop for the Galway hurlingcommittee was much greater but theymanaged to stay in black after cuttingcosts.

Income of1,233,431 in 2012 fell to1,048,929 this year but the boardrecorded a profit of17,776.

This was down from a profit of over82,000 last year and was achieved byreducing expenditure.

Hynes told delegates at the county

committee convention that they wouldhave to continue cutting costs in 2014.

A review of our 2013 revenue andcosts shows clearly that an increasedfocus on cost reduction and cost avoid-ance in needed.

We have no option but to cut ourcloth to measure to ensure that we cansustain our activities and remain self-sufficient in the future.

In evaluating where we spend, andwhat we spend value for money needsto be a key consideration in all of ourdecisions, and if necessary, difficult de-cisions should be made to ensure that

we get a return on all of our invest-ments, he said.

when most of thestudents have departed

Galway for the holidays,

they are recalled to play

in the Galway SFC.


20/64

MAYO COUNTY BOARD CONVENTION

Page 20

By DANIEL CAREYMayo News

THE cost of preparing the Mayo sen-

ior football team jumped by almost170,000 last year, it was revealed

at the County Board Convention held inBreaffy House Hotel.

The increase was largely attributable tothe team holiday, treasurer JP Lambe tolddelegates, adding that the trip to Miamilast January had cost in the region of156,000. Later, the Garrymore clubmanclarified that that figure includes a grant of80,000 from Croke Park, meaning thecost to the County Board was76.000.

Travelling expenses in 2013 ran tomore than 405,000, compared to justunder 271,000 in 2012. Catering and

medical expenses for the senior footballteam also rose, while the cost of sports-gear was slightly down. That left total ex-penses for the senior team for 2013 at646,440, compared to480,334 lastyear.

Bord na ng secretary Sen Mac ilnoted the huge cost of preparing oneteam for one year when he backed a mo-tion calling for extra coaching personnel.He recalled comments made some yearsago by RT pundit Colm ORourke, whonoted on a visit to Mayo that if a fractionof what was spent on inter-county teamswent on coaching, it would make a big dif-

ference.Mac il added that set in the context ofsuch a serious increase in senior team

spending from 2012, savings should bemade within the existing system of expen-diture so that30,000 to40,000 couldgo towards hiring an additional coach. Mo-tions seeking additional coaching person-

nel were passed and will be referred to theCoaching and Games Committee. Theamount spent on coaching and games de-velopment in Mayo fell by almost40,000in 2013 to 277,498.

The County Boards overall income andexpenditure both topped the2 millionmark in 2013, with treasurer Lambe re-porting a small surplus of69,155 for thefinancial year of October 31, 2013. Com-mercial income and fund-raising activitiesbrought in considerably more than in2012.

Minor football expenses topped102,000, but as Lambe pointed out, theminors won the All-Ireland. The boardtried to cut back on all teams, he added,noting that the reduction of26,000 inspending on the county hurlers waslargely explained by the fact that they hadmade two trips to London in 2012.

Gate receipts were down almost20,000, with Lambe explaining that wasdown to a combination of increasedCirde Mhaigheo sales plus a number ofunderage games played under lights inOctober.

In his first report as secretary, VincentNeary noted that finance had dominatedthe County Boards agenda all year long.He admitted that the debt on MacHalePark in Castlebar is a constant struggle tokeep serviced in economic times like this,but noted that the board had managed to

do so with the help of clubs. The pitch andstand at the county ground are valued inthe boards balance sheet at almost18million, but the stand is calculated as hav-ing depreciated in value by150,000.

Mayo are due to travel to New York forthe Connacht Championship opener onMay 4. Asked by Ballaghaderreen dele-gate Con Moynihan about the financial im-plications of the transatlantic trip,chairman Paddy McNicholas replied thatthere is a grant for travelling to the BigApple and the board hope that fund-rais-ers will take care of any shortfall.

The Kiltimagh clubman noted that theseason tickets and County Board Devel-opment Draw had been very successful,but added that there had been a very dis-appointing response to other fund-raisinginitiatives.

JP Lambe confirmed there were nopayments made in grants and subscrip-tions to Cumann na mBunscol, Mayo Col-leges, Mayo Vocational Schools, MayoColleges, the promotion of Irish or MayoScr in the last year. This prompted aquestion from post-primary representativeJohn Horan, who asked: If clubs arelevied [for schools], surely that should bepassed on?

Replying to Sen Duignan (Moygow-nagh), the treasurer said the1,000 levythat gave clubs access to extra All-Irelandtickets was included under CirdeMhaigheo in the accounts. AuditorMichael McHugh confirmed that there wasno club money in the sundry debtors list,which increased by over 140,000 duringthe last financial year.

The price for Mayo reaching the All-Ireland final for the second year leaped by 170,000. Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

Mayo GAA count the costs


21/64

MAYO COUNTY BOARD CONVENTION

Page 21


ALL-IRELAND tickets andstarred league games domi-nated the motions submittedby clubs for Mayo GAA Convention atBreaffy House Hotel.

No fewer than six motions related

to the controversial issue of All-Ire-land final tickets, a hot topic afterMayo GAA Board discovered thattheir allocation in 2013 was lowerthan in 2012, despite the involve-ment of both the senior and minorteams on the big day.

Ballintubber called for currentmembers of the Mayo Ladies footballteam to be given the option of pur-chasing All-Ireland tickets, moretickets for the families of Mayominor players, and the allocation oftickets in the lower decks of theHogan and Cusack stands to elderlypeople.

Moygownagh proposed that in fu-ture, no GAA club be levied in returnfor All-Ireland tickets, presumably aresponse to the decision that clubswho raised 1,000 for the CountyBoard in the run-up to the last twofinals got the option to buy 20 addi-tional tickets. The North Mayo clubalso suggest that the extra allocationfor clubs who sell large number ofCounty Board Draw tickets be splitinto the top two senior, intermediateand junior clubs.

Four motions related to so-calledstarred league games, wherebyclubs play without their county play-

ers. Three rounds of the league werestarred this year, and motions fromBallaghaderreen, Swinford and

Knockmore call for an increase tofive or six, with Ballaghaderreensuggesting one round in June, one inJuly, two in August and two in Sep-tember depending on the progres-sion of the Mayo senior teamthrough the championship.

Meanwhile, the Ballintubber clubcalled for starred games to beabandoned, insisting that the leagueclearly has no value when notplayed with full-strength sides. TheWest Mayo side, who had five Mayosenior panellists and three minorpanellists in 2013, propose dividingthe top two divisions into threegroups of eight, and offering a train-ing weekend away for the winners ofthe Michael Walsh Summer League.

Westport, meanwhile, have sug-gested having three leagues senior,intermediate and junior dependenton championship status, with no rel-egation.

Ballycastle have revived the ideaof exclusive junior clubs enteringcombined teams in the Mayo SeniorChampionship under the banners ofNorth, East and West Mayo. Aslightly different version of that pro-posal comes from Moygownagh, whohave suggested that Ardagh, Bally-castle, Kilfian, Lacken and Moygow-nagh be allowed to enter a combinedteam in the Intermediate Champi-onship.

Ballaghaderreen want to see divi-sional boards abolished, home ad-vantage in the Mayo championshipquarter-finals given to the teamsthat top their groups, a calendar fi-nalised by the end of January 2013,and the under-21 championshipplayed over an eight-week periodcommencing in November.


NEXT year will be evenmore difficult than2013 for scheduling fix-

tures, Competitions ControlCommittee Chairman MikeConnelly told a recent meet-ing of Mayo GAA Board.

Noting that Mayo managerJames Horan had signalled

his intent in an interview withThe Mayo News to go afterthe National League bigtime, Connelly told delegates

that success in that competi-tion would reduce the numberof weekends available forclub matches. He added thatthe trip to New York in Maywould also take one or twoweekends out of the calen-dar.

The Hollymount/Car-

ramore clubman noted thatthey were considering playingthe Michael Walsh Leaguesearly in the year and the divi-

sional cups during the sum-mer.

While this year was diffi-cult, next year will be evenmore difficult, said Connelly,who appealed for the clubsco-operation. The MichaelWalsh is disappointing clubs seem to be losing heart

and faith in it. Its an impor-tant competition and givesthe opportunity to play duringthe summer, but clubs seem

to be happier going outsidethe county to play chal-lenges.

The CCCs success inhaving matches played in2013 were praised by CountyBoard Chairman Paddy Mc-Nicholas and Bord na ngSecretary Sen Mac il.

2014 will be difficult year for fixtures, warns Connelly

Going throughthe motionsClubs call formore coaches

By DANIEL CAREY Mayo News

MOTIONS from Kilmeena and Breaffy calling for more coachingresources were carried at Sundays Convention, and will nowbe referred to the Coaching and Games Committee.Introducing a motion calling for more coaching personnel to be

made available to clubs, Willie Keaveney (Kilmeena) said: If yourcoaches arent up to a good standard, youre goosed. Other codeswere sending coaches into schools and providing gear, while ourcoaching is not what it should be, he added, and called for morecoach education in clubs own local areas.

Sen Hallinan (Ballintubber) supported the motion, noting: Its along way from Moygownagh to Shrule and from Bonniconlon to Louis-burgh I know finances are tight, but Dublin have something like 100coaches. We should have at least one in each division by the end of2014.

Bord na ng secretary Sen Mac il said the Mayo coaches weredoing phenomenal work and the activities involved in the role hadmultiplied.

I see the treasurer cringing because the addition of one or twoextra full-time coaches means more money and, quite frankly, it isntthere. But if you can spend almost 700,000 on one team for oneyear [the senior inter-county squad], this area which is the buildingblocks of the future [does] not proportionally have as much moneyspent. And Im just beginning to think we may be on the wrong track.

Calling on the board to cut and trim in certain areas and spend inothers, Mac il suggested hiring an extra coach wouldnt cost a hugeamount of money, maybe 30,000 or 40,000.

Con Moynihan said the coaches were doing Trojan work, butneeded help.

Kevin McDonnell (Kilmaine) also commended their efforts, butnoted that much of their work is done with elite squads. We alsoneed to work smarter, he said, calling for the formation of a commit-tee to assist clubs and make it easier in terms of cost. There was aneed for joined-up thinking and a coaching plan.

Jim OShea, whose Breaffy club had a motion calling for employinga full-time coach in each division, said: The Academy is doing greatwork, but three guys cant cover the whole county If we had a divi-sional coach going into clubs, wed have a greater pool of talent com-ing through I know therell be a cost in this, but with a bit ofcreative thinking, we can cover the cost very easily.

County Board chairman Paddy McNicholas noted that Mayo cur-rently employs three coaches on a full-time basis, two part-time, plusa number of others who do ten-week stints in schools. He called onclub coaching officers to make contact with Eugene Lavin, Billy McNi-cholas and Pdraic Carolan.


22/64

Three motionsup fordiscussion at

Leitrimconvention

By JOHN CONNOLLYLeitrim Observer

LEITRIM clubs have sub-mitted just three motionsfor this years CountyBoard Convention.

With top table elections tak-ing centre-stage as MohillsStephen Flynn challenges in-cumbent Diarmuid Sweeneyfor the position of Secretary,only three motions are downfor discussion in what must bea record for the smallestamount of motions ever sub-mitted.

In their motion, Allen Gaelsare seeking That the deroga-tion allowing teams to field withless players than the statedcompetition number be re-moved. This would eliminatethe situation that occurred thisyear where an U-16 11-a-side

Final was actually played as anine-a-side final as one of theteams did not have enoughplayers.

Mohill have two motions infor discussion, one seekingthat all League finals to beplayed within two weeks of thefinalists being known and an-other asking that in the eventof Division 5 having only eightteams or less, it should beplayed on a home and awaybasis as to give teams ameaningful competition.

However, both motions maynot be in order as the Conven-tion is not allowed make ruleswhich could impinge on the du-ties of the Competitions Con-trol Committee although theycould go forward as recom-mendations for the CCC to im-plement.

In elections, there are onlytwo contests, the battle for theSecretary is the main item ofinterest although StephenFlynn is also nominated for theposition of Central Council del-

egate, challenging KiltubridsP.J. Meehan for the post

LEITRIM ROSCOMMON COUNTY BOARD CONVENTIONS

Ross secretarydismayed by Hyde snub


ROSCOMMON secretary Brian Stensonsaid everyone involved in Roscom-mon GAA took great encouragementfrom their side's display against Tyrone inlast year's Qualifiers despite their ultimateexit from the championship.

John Evans' side had earlier exited theConnacht championship after a heavy defeatat the hands of All-Ireland finalists Mayo, butStenson believes their ability to test MickeyHarte's side to their limits bodes well for thefuture.

After the encouraging Allianz FootballLeague campaign a first round champi-onship game away to the winners of Mayoversus Galway was the challenge ahead.Preparations and training went well and

after a number of worthwhile challengegames the indications were that we could atleast match what Mayo had to offer inCastlebar, despite their easy victory overGalway. Unfortunately on the day Mayoproved much too strong and ran out easywinners.

This was a huge disappointment toeveryone involved and was a very seriouschallenge to players and management asthey headed to the qualifiers.

Tyrone provided the opposition in thequalifier game and after a gallant effort wewere very unlucky to exit the championshipby two points.

This display against one of the top teamsin the country helped to erase the memoriesof the 12-point defeat in Castlebar and

should prove to both players and manage-ment that with continued effort success atsenior level is not far away, said Stenson.

Stenson buoyed byQualifier display


ROSCOMMON secretary Brian Sten-son said he was disappointed tosee Hyde Park rendered unfit to

host this year's Connacht final after suc-cessfully hosting the event in 2012.

In his final secretary's address to con-vention Stenson has completed his five-year term in the role he also said hewas saddened not to see the develop-ment of the Roscommon town ground fur-ther along the road to completion.

Having successfully hosted all provin-cial finals in 2012 it is very disappointingthat this year Dr Hyde Park has been de-

clared unfit to host a senior provincialfinal, said Stenson.Everyone is aware that the venue

needs to be upgraded both in terms of the

playing field and the facilities available,but why now deny Roscommon the possi-bility of hosting a final when there hasnever been a problem at the venue in its

40-year history?When I took over as secretary I wasnaive enough to think that when my fiveyears were completed the re-develop-ment of Dr Hyde Park would be well un-derway. Unfortunately this has nothappened and as yet we still await thecompletion of the ownership issue.

There is some dissatisfaction outthere with the pace of negotiations whichis understandable but I am well awarethat this is through no fault of the person-nel presently involved on either side.Croke Park officials and solicitors insistthat every minute detail must be in orderbefore it is signed off.

Who can argue with this when onelooks back on the history of previoushasty developments, he said.

Page 22


23/64

SLIGO COUNTY BOARD CONVENTION

Page 23


SLIGO County Board secretary, GerryO'Connor, told delegates at thecounty's recent convention that theircontroversial training centre in Scardenshould be ready for use in the New Year.

Work at the 3.2million Centre of Ex-cellence has ground to a halt for more thana year, but finally after getting their fi-nances in order, the final stages of phase

one of the project are due to be completed.A 22-acre site near Sligo Town was pur-chased for 560,000 in 2010 and despitethe sod being turned by former GAA Presi-dent Christy Cooney in April 2011, phaseone of the development has still to be fin-ished.

Work on the construction of three grasspitches, underground works, floodlightsand perimeter fencing was due to be com-pleted by June last, but no work has beenseen on the site in the last 12 months.

However, the secretary underlined theCounty Board's determination that the proj-ect be brought to a successful conclusion,

because he says, the centre is 'a neces-sity, not a luxury'.The finance committee in January

were faced with circumstances that did notallow for any further work to be commis-sioned at our new training facility at thattime. I am optimistic that the first phase ofthe project will now be completed andshould be in use in the new-year, said thesecretary in his convention report.

The decision to purchase land in order

to develop a training and administrativecentre to serve the whole County was un-doubtedly the correct one as these facili-ties are a necessity not a luxury.

The Finance Committee was prudentin not making plans to recommence workon the Scarden project until adequatefunds were in place. The decision not to

avail of more funding from our commerciallender was taken and the indebtedness toConnacht Council was ascertained and aschedule of repayments arranged.

Importantly Connacht Council and theNational Finance Committee were kept in-formed of developments at all times, hesaid.

Sligo Centre of

Excellence back on track


24/64

Page 24

Under Chairman, Denis

OBoyle, and his Provincial

Coaching Com-

miee the Coach

Educaon

courses are now

well embedded

and aract large

aendances in allcounes. All counes and

clubs need to be aware of the

Fundamental right for every child

to get an opportunity to play

The Coaching and Games Department in Connacht and all of the Connacht

Coaching Qualificaon Poli-

cies and Objecves for 2016.

In 2013 alone, the Con-

nacht Coaching and Games

organised 12 courses where

2,121 parcipants availed of

the courses.

By 2016 every inter-

county team must have ac-cess to an Award 2 Coach of

the appropriate type. By 2016

every club team must have

access to an Award 1 Coach

of the appropriate type.

In order to meet these tar-

gets it is imperave that

firstly, all the clubs are in-

formed about the require-

ments and subsequently that

they put in place a mecha-nism that will ensure that

their clubs and teams are

supported by appropriately

qualified coaches.

With the assistance of the

Provincial Master Tutors, 36

coaches are currently taking

the Award 2 Youth and and

Adult Coaching Courses in the

Connacht Centre. It is very re-

warding to see some of our

most senior managers and

coaches making the effort

and displaying the willingnessto engage in the Coach Educa-

on process. This year we

saw the introducon of the

first on-line course. This par-

cular course is designed at

Foundaon Level and to date

the reports from the counes

is that there is already a sig-

nificant demand for this new

format. To achieve cerfica-

on, all the academic mate-rial is delivered on line and

the praccal aspects of the

course are then conducted in

a workshop format.

It is the intenon of the

Coach Educaon Department

that all other courses will

take this path in the coming

years.

Most the Provincial Pri-

mary Schools connue to

avail of the part-me coach-

ing service provided by the

county boards. ConnachtCouncil are completely sup-

porve and commied to

Connacht Coaching & Games Manager, John Tobin, third from left, and John Prenty, Secretary, Connacht GAA, pictured at the Connacht GAA Centre,

with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, Ann-Marie Earley, and Mary Earley (daughter and widow of the late Dermot Earley).

Apart from the programme

of games that are sched-

uled for all ages and

grades, there are many other on-

going events and coaching proj-

ects that are provided to support

the player and the coach.

By Coaching & Games Manager,

John Tobin

Documents

Into the West December 2013