Achill Ladies GAA News
Cancellation and Postponements
At Griffin Community Park last Sunday only one game took place. The Currane and Achill Sound match was cancelled the evening before due to Achill Sound’s inability to field a team. But Bunnacurry/Cashel and Kildawnet/Saula met at 12 pm. The rain began to worsen as the teams took to the field, both teams only fielding 8 players per team. A tough task lay ahead with them also playing full size pitch. During the first the half conditions began to worsen and at half time the match was postponed.
AIB Connaght Club Football Championship Semi-final
Crossmolina 1-12 Bunninadden 1-6
Crossmolina Deel Rovers are through to the AIB Connaght Club Football
Championship Final again. But they will have to improve on Sunday’s display if they are to become the first Mayo team to win this competition back-to-back. Bunninadden started the game with the wind in their favour and started the better of the two teams, at one stage they were leading by 4 points due to a blunder by Damien Mulligan which allowed Padraig Doohan in to score a goal. Bunninadden were winning by 1-4 to 0-5 at this stage, but a goal by Kieran McDonald just before half time narrowed the gap to 1 point. All six Crossmolina attackers were very much involved in the game but special mention must go to McGuinnes, McDonald, Gardiner and Enda Lavelle as they played exceptionally well. The defence made a lot of blunders however, Francis Costello, Damian Mulligan and Tom Nallen all had passes intercepted. The playing conditions did not help though, causing a lot of the blunders.
In the second half, Crossmolina began to get the edge on their opponents, with McDonald and Moyles scoring crucial points. However, Bunninadden did scare the local fans as they came close to scoring a goal on more than one occasion. Man of the Match went to Bunninadden Goalkeeper Michael Finn. He pulled off some great saves in the first half to keep his side in front. In the end Crossmolina won by six points and Bunninadden went away proud after a impressive display in their first ever match in this competition.
Scorers for Crossmolina were; Francis Costello (0-1), Gereard O’Malley (0-1), Micheal Moyles (0-2), Kieran McDonald (1-2), Peader Gardiner (0-2), Paul McGuinness (0-4).
Crossmolina are to meet either Galway’s Corofin or Leitrim’s Aughavas in the final on November 19th.
My prediction: A Corofin win (Aughavas and Corofin match). If Corofin win, the final will be held in Crossmolina. If Aughavas win, the final will be held in Carrick-on-Shannon.
I will have all the news on the Club Championship here on “The Ruddy Report”.
Ladies National Football League Division One
Mayo 0-9 Tyrone 1-6
Mayo ladies travelled to Carrickmore in north Tyrone to play Tyrone last Sunday in their opening game of the season. Mayo went to Tyrone with an understrength side, players such as Cora Staunton, Maria Staunton, Niamh Lally and Orla Casby missing through injury. However, Louisbourghs’ Clare Egan played exceptionally well in midfield with the help of Assumpta Bohan, Yvonne Byrne and Niamh NíShé who played superbly in the difficult conditions. At half time the sides were level at (0-5) each. Scores for Mayo in the first half came from Diane O’Hora and Martha O’Malley.
Score’s from substitute Sabrina Bailey, Diane O’Hora and Martha O’Malley put Mayo into a strong position in the second half, they lead by three point’s going into the final quarter with the scores at (0-9) to (0-6). In injury time Tyrone scored a valuable goal to share the points.
Mayo’s next game in the National League is against Monaghan in Monaghan on November 19th.
Crisis for Mayo Football Selectors
Once again success for a Mayo club in the Connaght Club Championships is to cause selection problems for the Mayo Selectors. It is likely that Pat Holmes (Mayo football Manager) will have to select his team for the National League clash on Sunday against Fermanagh without the Crossmolina players.
The Mayo and Connaght Champions will be appearing in their second successive Connaght Club final on November 19th. This is causing difficulty for Pat Holmes as he faces a difficult away trip to Fermanagh on Sunday. Holmes is to meet the Crossmolina manager this week to discuss if his players are available for selection for the Allianz National Football League match in Irvinestown, but it is highly unlikely seemingly with the club championship two weeks away.
This it is not the first time this has happened to Mayo Selectors with the recent success of Mayo Clubs in All Ireland Competition.
But why should Crossmolina release their players? They were defeated last year by Na Fianna of Dublin in the all Ireland semi-final, but this time they would like to go one step further. With All Ireland Champions Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh knocked out, the door is left open with Crossmolina, Na Fianna and Cork’s Nemo Rangers favourites to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup.
Prediction: Mayo and Fermanagh, tough one this with Mayo having a very young and inexperienced side, but I have heard a lot about the morale in the team so I am going to stick my neck out and say a Mayo win.
GAA News In Brief
- Jimmy Barry Murphy step’s down as Cork Hurling manager.
- Bellaghy win the Ulster Club football Championship.
- Knockmore U-17’s win Mayo County title.
- Castlebar Mitchels and Charlestown to contest U-15 League County Final.
- Balinrobe’s Sinead Costello was announced as Mayo Ladies Captain for the coming season.
- Sacred Heart, Westport defeated Scoil Muire, Tourmakeady in the Connaght Colleges Ladies Senior Football Championship round 3.
- In the Guinness Hurling Writers Awards, Kilkenny hurling stars DJ Carey and Noel Hickey stole the show. DJ Carey won hurling player of the year and Noel Hickey won Young Hurler of the year.
- Connaght Club Hurling Championship: Tooreen of Mayo take on Four Roads of Roscommon this Sunday in the provincial Semi-final. The winners will play Galway’s All Ireland Champions Athenry in the Final.
- Liam McHale is reported to be making himself available for selection for the Mayo Senior football Team. Liam who is 35, retired last season.
- Abbot’s of Sligo defeated Allergan of Westport to win the Connaght Football Inter Firm’s Title.
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