Author: Jane

Champions at Last!!!!
Mayo 0-13 Galway 0-12
30/04/01: Mayo’s hot streak continues.

Since the run of disappointments stretching back to Penal times or thereabouts was seen to end a fortnight ago with Crossmolina’s All-Ireland club final victory, the County has been on a roll. Latest up was yesterday’s Allianz National Football League final at Croke Park.

A poor match came to a gripping conclusion as Pat Holmes’s team hung on grimly while Connacht champions Galway desperately tried to pull back the one-point deficit. The favourites enthusiastically dug their own grave with a catalogue of squandered chances in the first half and having established what was looking like a decisive three-point lead towards the end of the third quarter, they promptly downed tools and failed to score for almost half an hour.

Despite being opened up frequently by the pace of the Galway attack, Mayo held on and slowly began to overhaul the deficit. As was the case with last week’s semi-final, substitutes made a big difference. James Nallen came in after half-time at centre back and made a significant impact and Maurice Sheridan kicked two of the comeback points.

This was a deserved win. Mayo showed tenacity and never stopped working – three times retrieving three-point margins – whereas Galway’s was a flashier, less consistent effort. By the end of the match, a number of familiar faces had returned. Tomás Mannion made only his second appearance since returning to the intercounty scene, Jarlath Fallon had his first run for the county since injuring his cruciate ligament last summer and Richie Fahy came in at corner back. Mannion and Fahy looked solid but Fallon was obviously just feeling his way.

Useful as it undoubtedly was to give a run-out to such players, Galway manager John O’Mahony admitted afterwards that the changes were less for reasons of rehabilitation than because “we were under pressure a bit”. All of the substitutes took the place of youngsters and cast some cold light on the likely composition of Galway’s championship team.

Before the start Crossmolina’s Tom Nallen came in at full back in place of Aidan Higgins with Kevin Cahill switching to the left corner and setting the scene for a major battle with Derek Savage. The Galway corner forward started in red-hot form.

In the opening three minutes, he kicked the first score of the match, was beaten to a one-on-one goal chance by the run of the ball and got fouled for a pointed free. Several times in the opening half he manoeuvred openings but couldn’t quite finish the chance. Yet all the while Cahill wasn’t losing heart in the struggle to mark him, principally because Galway insisted on firing high ball into the corner – placing someone of Savage’s less-than-imposing physique under pressure against the lanky Cahill.

The match’s tortoise-and-hare pattern started early with Galway running away with things, taking a rest while Mayo scrapped their way back into the match. During their less engaged periods, Galway came up with some frightening wides and missed opportunities, while Mayo let off some warning signals.

By the 21st minute, Mayo had caught up with Galway – David McDonagh getting his team’s first score from play. But it seemed like only a matter of time before Galway found their range and started to inflict some real damage. Padraig Joyce began to play himself into the game and worked some fine moves with Savage; still the scores didn’t come in profusion.

While not exactly free-scoring, Mayo’s forwards were eking out enough to keep pace. In injury-time at the end of the first half, Savage got on the end of another quick move but was blocked by Cahill and the ensuing ruck ended in a free out despite some Galway grievances about a possible penalty. The teams broke with a point in it, 0-8 to 0-7 for Galway. By now the Mayo defence was looking more assured. Marking was tighter and players swarmed back to cut off options. Even Michael Donnellan found space hard to come by.

His great, thumping deliveries helped initiate more fruitful attacks but Mayo were giving less and less away. In the 48th minutes, Donnellan set up a score for Joyce to push the team three points clear, 0-12 to 0-9. It was – astonishingly – to be their last score of the match. When the lengthy injury-time was taken into account, that added up to 28 minutes. Mayo’s recovery was hard earned.

James Nallen provided a platform and beside him Noel Connelly had an excellent game driving the team forward, snapping up loose ball and chipping in two excellent points as well as setting up the winning point. At centrefield David Brady put in an enormous amount of work and bore frequent physical punishment as a reward. Still Mayo made heavy duty of closing the deal. Sheridan and Connelly cut the margin to a point with an hour gone.

Pat Holmes later paid tribute to the gutsy nature of the comeback – strewn as it was with demoralising inaccuracies, each of which could have become a turning point had the team allowed heads to drop. Eventually and within the 67th minute the tables had turned. Sheridan kicked a 45 and Marty McNicholas came on to a ball from Noel Connelly and took what turned out to be the winning score.

As the clock ran down, Galway launched wave after wave of frantic attacks but they were undone by calm defending and inaccuracies. Savage made one last raid but kicked a wide. John Divilly was done for charging on a galloping foray from the back and finally Michael Donnellan’s huge, last minute launch was gathered by Ray Connelly. All over bar the shouting and there was quite a bit of that to come.

 

An Interview with Kevin McStay, Mayo U-21 manager and former Mayo Senior Footballer

Congratulations on your superb Hastings Cup win! Did you expect the team to do so well in the competition?
Yes

What do you think are the chances of the U-21’s winning the All Ireland this year or in the next few years?
Quite good this year – probabaly better next year. Unfortunately getting out of the Province is very difficult every year.

Who do you believe are the key players in your U-21 team which could have a vital role to play in the Mayo Senior team in the near future?
David Clarke, MJ Meenaghan, Ronan Loftus , James Gill and all the forwards have possibilities. But it is very difficult to be definitive – ones you expect often disappoint, injury , etc

How do you rate Crossmolinas chances on St. Patrick’s day?
Very highly – they will win by a few points if they don’t freeze and as they are a mature team that is very unlikely. They have NO Under 21s so you can see how experienced they are.

Do you believe the Mayo championship is strong enough to keep producing clubs which will challenge for the All Ireland Club Championship yearly in the future?
Definitely – just look at the recent record; Castlebar, Knockmore, Ballina and now Crossmolina

The Mayo Senior Team are doing very well in the League. Do you believe there will be many changes in the squad which will feature in the championship panel?
Very few as Pat will have to show faith in a squad that has progressed fairly well

How do rate Mayo’s chances in the All Ireland this year and do you think Mayo are capable of getting Sam back in the next 5 years?
Not great this year but in about three years or so there will be alot of very talented players around
the scene.

There is a lot of concern about Mayo’s run in the League, for example Derry did very well in it last year but they were flops in the Championship. Do you think Mayo may suffer the same hangover?
Nobody knows for sure how the new championship will pan out but Mayo will be in for a difficult time against Sligo and then possibly a difficult draw if they were to lose to them.

How do you rate Mayo Minors chances of bringing home the bacon this year?
No idea

Who in your honest opinion do you believe will be All Ireland Champions 2001 and why?
Galway – they will have JA Fallon back and that was all they were missing this year.

Thanks very much Kevin for your time.

 

Apologies to my readers!
I would like to extend my apologies to my loyal and dedicated sports readers for my delay in bringing you the latest sports news, due to post Christmas exams I have been very busy studying and have been unable to get the time to fit in both “The Ruddy Report” and my revision. But this week I will make amends by bringing you a bumper packed “Ruddy Report” .
So sit back and enjoy!!!

Ladies National Football League
Monaghan 2-8
Mayo 1-7
Mayo Ladies Football got a well-deserved defeat in Monaghan. The Ulster Champions made it clear to Mayo that they will have to work hard to retain their double this coming year. Mayo did go into the game missing Helena Lohan, Rachael Barrett and Claire Egan due to a variety of reasons. By half time Mayo were trailing the home side by one point. Diane O’Hora clinched a superb goal for the Mayo Ladies, and also contributing to Mayo’s first half points tally were Sabrina Bailey, Cora Staunton and Diana O’ Hora herself.
Cora Staunton brought the sides level midway through the second half with a well taken point. Cora Staunton and Diana O’Hora’s scoring threat wasn’t enough to keep up with Monaghan; the best efforts from Niamh Lally, Nuala Ni She , Assumpta Bohan, Marcella Heffernan, Sabrina Bailey and Orla Casby were not good enough on the day for Mayo to sneak into the lead.
Monaghan on the other hand netted a second goal, took their point from a penalty kick and scored a late point to wrap things up for the Ulster Champions.

Allianz National Football League Division 1B
Mayo 2-14
Clare 1-9
Mayo went top of Division 1 B after giving Clare a whipping at McHale Park, Castlebar. Apologies to any Clare supporters reading this but a “whipping” is what Clare got!
Clare were playing with no purpose or style, their pattern of football was all over the place. On the other hand Mayo were playing with a bit of style and were moving forward with the ball nearly all the time. The Forwards were exceptional with Maurice Sheridan looking very impressive in his first start in a Mayo shirt since the defeat to Cork in the All Ireland Semi Final in 1999, as were Stephen Carolan and Micheal Moyles.
Carolan played a superb game scoring 1-3, Micheal Moyles who came on as a sub in the first half scored 1-2. Mayo went into the game with a job to do and like any other dedicated worker they had it done by half time. To put it one way Clare’s football was brutal: Pat Spillane would say that it’s Junior Level, but taking no credit away from the defence who also played a great game with Kevin Cahill, Aidan Higgins and Alan Roche dealing with everything superbly. Colm Mcmanamon and David Brady along with Michael Coleman, who was taken off prematurely, had a lot of possession in the middle of the field. The forwards were so spoiled with ball supply that they were leading by 1-7 to 0-5 at half time. Stephen Carolan scored Mayo’s first goal after 4 minutes with a superb finish. Four points from Maurice Sheridan with Trevor Mortimer, James Gill and Micheal Moyles adding the others. Clare snatched scores wherever they could get them basically. Denis Russell tacked on two frees while Ger Quinlan and Ger Keane added a couple more but it was scant consolation.
In the second half Mayo did some extreme damage by getting a goal and 5 points in succession and it left Clare crawling behind. David McDonagh, Micheal Moyles and Stephen Carolan (3) all drilled over points from a variety of angles and distances as the lead was swollen to double figures. Micheal Moyles made up the crowds mind that they had seen enough when he fired in a goal that left Clare shattered and wishing they were on their way home on the N17.
Trailing 2-12 to 0-6 Clare had nothing else to play for but pride. They brought on some subs and started to put some scores on the board. Des Molohan, Ger Keane and Denis Russell all scored points and then midfielder David Russell scored a goal which somehow went under Peter Burke. James Gill and Maurice Sheridan wrapped things up for Mayo with two points. It’s a good job they have dual carriage ways on their way to Clare or it would have been long trip home for the men from the banner county.

Genfitt Connaght Colleges Senior A Football Championship Quarter Final Results
Carrick On Shannon 2-10 St Colmans, Claremorris 0-9
Ballyhaunis Community School 1-7 St Nathys College, Ballaghaderreen 0-8
St Jarlaths College, Tuam 5-15 Balinrobe Community School 0-6
O’Mara Cup Round 1 Results
Mayo Gaels 0-9 Ballinrobe 0-5
Garrymore 2-11 Claremorris 1-7
Hollymount 0-10 Davitts 0-7
Carramore 1-10 Kilmaine 0-6

Allianz National Football League Preview
Sligo vs Mayo
Mayo will travel to Markievicz Park this Sunday to take on Sligo in the Allianz NFL.
Pat Holmes will go head to head with ex-colleagues Peter Ford and T.J Kilgannon, and last weeks win over Sligo in the FBD Connaght League will mean nothing this Sunday. Revenge will be on the cards for it was last year in the same competition that Sligo defeated Mayo, and this gave the Yeats county a boast in morale which no doubt had a part to play in the next meeting between the sides in the Connaght Championship. Both teams are doing quiet well in the League, which will add an edge to this epic encounter. Fergal Costello and Noel Connelly, who missed the Clare match, will both be available for selection. Colm McManaman will be a worry after hurting his ankle in a 50-50 with Eamon O Hara against Clare. Crossmolina have made available four players including James Nallen, Tom Nallen, Peader Gardiner and Micheal Moyles. Kieran McDonald is not expected to play.
Three members of the U-21 squad are expected to feature: James Gill, Martin McNicholas and Trevor Mortimer. These three will be playing on Saturday in the Connaght U-21 Championship opener with Roscommon. Mayo should be strong enough to keep their 100% record. So I Predict a Mayo Win.

Mayo Senior Football Championship Odds
Last week the draw was made for the Mayo Senior Championship and these are some of the odds a bookmaker gave!
Crossmolina 5/2
Ballina 3/1
Castlebar 6/1
Knockmore 6/1
Hollymount 6/1
Swinford 8/1
Kiltane 8/1
Charlestown 8/1
Burrishoole 10/1
West Mayo 12/1

AIB All Ireland Club Football Championship Semi Final
Crossmolina went to Brewster Park in Enniskillen on Sunday last to go one step further than they did last year. A large following headed up from Crossmolina to follow their local Football team as they have all year. Bellaghy, who have got to the Semi Finals by playing some good football, decided to mix it with the Connaght Champions but the boys from Mayo, as ever, were well capable of matching them. Crossmolina refused to let their football suffer and played a nice fair game, although Bellaghy tried their best to vex the men from North Mayo.
Crossmolina controlled the game from the Throw-in and gave Bellaghy a limited number of chances. The first half was more of a physical battle than anything with both teams trying to put their foot down, although the method Bellaghy were using was letting their football suffer. Pat McAndrew finished off a rampage in front of the Bellaghy goal and smashed a loose ball into the back of the net. Beforehand Joe Keane, James Nallen, Peader Gardiner, Johnny Leonard and Micheal Moyles all notched up scores. At half time it was 1-5 to 0-4 in the Deel Rovers Favour. Gavin Diamond scored 3 points for the Derry men and looked capable of scoring more. Things began to get dirty in the second half with Bellaghy putting in vicious challenges, which the ref let go too many times.
Crossmolina stood firm but Gavin Diamond scored two consecutive points for the Derry men. To the delight of the Crossmolina contingent, in stepped Kieran McDonald but after a missed free Kick and a misplaced pass the crowd were having second thoughts. Liam Moffat ended Crossmolina’s goal drought with a well taken point in the 52nd minute. The Kieran McDonald scored his first point to put a bit of a gap between the teams. Tom Nallen, Damien Mulligan and Francis Costello were all kept busy in the backs. Kieran McDonald then confirmed Crossmolina’s place in the Final with a 45-yard kick.
Next are Cork’s Nemo Rangers who beat Castlebar in ’94.
Prediction: If the Deel Rovers don’t do it this year they won’t for a long time to come.

Hastings Cup U-21 Football Final
This is the method which Kevin McStay chose to prepare his team for the Championship which starts next week. Whether his commitment to this method pays off we will have to wait until Saturday next to find out. Mayo U-21’s travelled to Micheal Fay Park in Longford to take on the All- Ireland Champions in the Final of the Hastings Cup. Tyrone fielded a team consisting of a bulk of the members who won National medals last season, plus one Senior, so Mayo knew they had a tough match in front of them. The last time these teams met they drew in a hard fought game in Omagh.
Tyrone took advantage of Mayo’s disastrous start to the game through Eoin Mulligan and Aidan Lynch. Mayo were not winning balls in Midfield, not making space in attack and conceding frees in Midfield. Trevor Mortimer scored Mayo’s only first Quarter score from a free. Tyrone defended well and gave Mayo as little space as possible, which forced Mayo to take their chances, and most of them were wides. Mayo began to work around this obstacle and Breaffy’s Marty McNicholas scored a beauty of a point after 16 minutes and James gill followed up with a long-range effort, which closed the gap to 1 point. But the Tyrone forwards were not lying down and Mulligan stretched the lead with two points from free kicks followed up by Ryan Mellon’s point.
Mayo’s Conor Mortimer responded with 3 points to bring the gap back to minimum. Mayo were trailing 6 points to 7 points at half time. In the second half Mayo tore into the opposition, although Tyrone’s Eoin Mulligan pointed straight away from the throw-in but it did not deter the Mayo men. McNicholas and Trevor Mortimer hit beauties from 30 yards and Trevor’s brother Conor hit two. A Lynch Free Kick for Tyrone slowed things down temporarily but James Gill drove a massive point to leave two between the teams. Lynch added another free for the Tyrone Boys but McNicholas replied to put Mayo even clearer. Tyrone began to respond with Mullin and Lynch (2) all getting scores to put the Ulster men 1 point ahead. James Gill equalised with three minutes left, then Peter Donnelly seemed to have won it for the Ulster men on the stroke of Full Time until Shrule-Glencorrib’s Conor Mortimer sent the tie into extra time with a 35-yard free kick.
Tyrone began the opening half of extra time with three free- Kicks from Stephen O’Neill, but McNicholas and the Mortimer brothers made it 0-18 to 0-17 in Mayo’s favour at the break. O’Neill levelled matters soon after the break for the Tyrone men, Mayo’s defence consisting of Pat Kelly, Alan Moran and M.J. Meneghan began to get to grips with the opposition. Team Captain Ronan Loftus and Micheal Keane gave Mayo the initiative once more, but O’Neill fired home another free kick for Tyrone immediately after. Then Alan Dillion with the help of a short free kick from Loftus secured the Hasting’s Cup for Mayo for the first Time.

Connaght U-21 Football Championship Match Preview
This Saturday Mayo face Roscommon in the Championship opener at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon. Three changes are made for the Hastings Cup Champions side with M.J. Meenaghan of Tourmakeady, Pat Kelly of Kilmaine and Micheal Keane of Balinrobe coming in, while Ronan Walsh, Enda Casey and Brian Maloney all drop down into the substitutes.
The knowledge of Roscommon’s team is minimal. John Hanley at Centre Half Forward, a Sigerson Cup player with UCD, seems to carry the biggest threat in the forwards for Roscommon. In Midfield they have Seamus O’Neill and Karl Mannion, two strong footballers not noted for their mobility. Stylish Fergal Carroll from Kilmore is captain of the team. Mayo should win this one comfortably.

2nd Round O’Mara Cup Results
The Neale 1-11 Balinrobe 0-9
Claremorris 2-5 Shrule/Glencorrib 1-8
Garrymore 0-17 Kilmaine 0-9
Mayo Gaels 2-14 Hollymount 1-6

SuperMacs Mayo Senior Football Championship Draw
Castlebar Mitchels vs South Mayo
Knockmore vs Ballinrobe
Ballina Stephenites vs Burrishoole
Charlestown vs Crossmolina
Garrymore vs Ballintubber
Moy Davitts vs Swinford
East Mayo vs Hollymount
Byes:
Kiltaine, Mayo Gaels, North Mayo, Davitts and West Mayo

Coming Soon to The Ruddy Report:

The Ruddy Interview

First up will be an Interview with the Mayo u-21 manager and former Mayo Senior Footballer
Kevin McStay.

This is your chance to participate – just email your questions to me at johnruddy@currane.net before the
30th January and I will put them to Kevin.

Hastings Cup (U-21 Football) Football Preview: Mayo Vs Tyrone
This Saturday Mayo U-21’s face their toughest test this season with a long trip up to Omagh to play defending All Ireland Champions Tyrone. This will be a hard match for Mayo and will test their strength of character, particularly as several of their most important players are missing including Shrule/Glencorribs Trevor Mortimer, Billy Padden and Micheal Webb are also doubtful.
The fact that Kevin McStay was involved in a car accident recently means their most instrumental person injured. Mayo have kept themselves busy over the Christmas period training very hard and after already defeating Leitrim and Donegal they should be looking good for this game.
With all the injuries there will be a lot of new players in for contention, including Paul Finnerty, Sean Grimes, James Gill, Alan Dillion, and Micheal Keane. Mayo manager Kevin McStay believes this game will be an important one for Mayo as it will determine where they stand in comparison to the best team in the country at the moment!!
Prediction: Mayo have been playing well lately but this is the reigning All Ireland Champions and with players missing we will be asking a lot for them to win, but I have stuck by Mayo all year and they haven’t let me down yet so I’ll hope for a Mayo win!

FBD Connaght League Preview: Mayo (Seniors) Vs Leitrim
Mayo head off this Sunday to Carrick on Shannon to start off their FBD Connaght League Campaign for the year 2001. Mayo are believed to be heading there with a fairly strong squad with a few U-21 players missing (Marty McNicholas, Ronan Loftus, James Gill, Sean Grimes and Paul Coady) due to an U-21 Fixture on the Saturday. They will only be missing Peter Burke and Trevor Mortimer through injury and they will also be missing their Crossmolina contingent as they are holidaying in the canaries. Mayo are supposedly enjoying their second week on weight training this year and looked very good in a challenge match last week when they thrashed Tralee IT.

The game begins at 2pm in Carrick on Shannon.

Prediction: Should be an easy one for Mayo: although they’re missing a lot of players they should win this well.

Your View

Apologies are extended to my readers of this section but I am unable this week to bring you “Your View” due to examinations which I have been studying for and start this week coming but don’t worry “Your View” will be back soon.

Hastings Cup (U-21 Football) First Round
Mayo 3-16
Donegal 1-6

In Ballina last Saturday (9/12/2000) a promising Mayo U-21 side convincingly brushed aside a much weaker Donegal outfit.
Although Mayo did win very well their defence was criticised and will need to tighten up before the first round of the Championship. The Midfield was satisfactory but the Forwards got most of the credit (and why not with the score as high as it was).
Marty McNicholas, Brian Maloney and Micheal Keane tortured the opposition defence. Billy Joe Padden distributed the ball well and Ronan Loftus made good use of it, scoring 1-8.
The Mayo team is very strong but like any other they need to sharpen up and the Hastings Cup is ideal for this. Micheal Keane had the ball in the Donegal net in the first minute thanks to Marty McNicholas and Brian Maloney. Keane struck again with a goal goal moments later, again helped by Brian Maloney.
Donegal replied with a goal on 10 minutes courtesy of Martin Caulfield, and the two sides continued to exchange scores, Mayo’s Defence looking very weak. Peader Easpey pointed for Donegal after 12 minutes. Then Mayo replied with 5 points without reply, Ronan Loftus scoring 3 of them and Brian Maloney and Sean grimes getting the other two.
Donegal scored 3 points before the break, Martin Caulfield with 2 and Gareth Blake with 1. Mayo replied through Billy Joe Padden and Brian Maloney and at half time the score stood at 2-7 to 1-4 in the home side’s favour.
Donegal’s Brendan Boyle dislocated his shoulder early in the second half and the game was delayed for 10 minutes. This loss was undoubtedly a big factor in Mayo’s big win. Soon after this Ronan Loftus struck a goal for the home side and although Donegal got back two points courtesy of Martin Caulfield, Mayo scored a further 9 points thanks to Ronan Loftus (4), Micheal Keane, Micheal Webb, Stephen Healy, Marty McNicholas and Brian Maloney.
Mayo: P. Tiernan, P. Finnerty, E. Casey, A. Moran, M.J. Meneaghan, S. Grimes, I. Knight, P. Kelly, M. Webb (0-1), R. Loftus (1-8), B.J. Padden (0-1), C. Lyons, M. McNicholas (0-1), Brian Maloney (0-3), M. Keane (2-1). Subs: P. Coady, S. Healy (0-1), E. Casey, T. Naughton, K. Kelly, K. Duignan, L. Brady.
Mayo take on Leitrim in the second round of the Hastings Cup this Saturday. Manager Paul McStay will be missing all the Galway NUI players due to Sigerson Cup Duty.

My View

Welcome to our second edition of My View. My Mail box was chocker-blocked with e-mails this week about last weeks topics and I apologise if I do not mention you all.

Firstly the topic of the National League. I got numerous e-mails on this, but I’ll just mention one from Stan (an obsessed fan of the Ruddy Report). To cut his e-mail short, he believed that the National League should be re-structured so it is like a soccer league and not the way it is with the top two of each division from 1A – 4B competing in a knockout competition. I tend to agree with you Stan. P.S. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner mate!

Second Topic Mayo. In last weeks edition I said that Mayo have been making great strides since they lost to Sligo last summer in the Connaght championship. Well I got an e-mail from Bob the Builder and he believes Mayo are fixing their troubles quite well in all fairness and he thinks that we should be booking our All Ireland tickets, and maybe Sam will make a visit this Autumn.

I would also like to mention an e-mail I got from some boys from the Bahamas who wanted to know WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?????

This week’s Topic: Should we knock the Hill???? I saw this week what Croke Park is proposed to look like when they eventually finish the development and I was amazed to see that the Hill was still there. I know there is a lot of history with it and I heard someone say it was like the Kop – well look what happened to that! I SAY KNOCK IT – we can’t stay in the past for ever and we can’t have a complete top class stadium with that lump of rubble there.

C’MON HAVE YOUR SAY, E-MAIL ME!!
So if you have anything to say on these three topics please don’t be shy, your opinions are all welcomed just e-mail me at johnruddy@currane.net and put “MY VIEW” in the Subject area.

 

Allianz National Football League Division 1B Match Report
Mayo 1-17
Derry 1-7
At Fr O’Hara Park last Sunday Derry came to play Mayo in the NFL. Derry, who were expected to field a strong team for this crunch tie, arrived with a team of inexperienced newcomers and to top it all they had only 16 players who were prepared to play! Looking on these facts from last Sunday’s game it is hard to believe that they are the present holders of this Competition.
Derry were well and truly punished for their poor attention to this match! By the 30th minute of the match Mayo had scored 1-9 with out reply, and at this stage you could safely say Mayo had won the match. Although it is true that Mayo’s opposition were poor, Mayo did deal with them impressively. Mayo’s back line was very good once again with Ray Connelly, Noel Connelly, Kevin Cahill and Fergal Costello showing well, and they were very disciplined, giving away minimal free-kicks.
Colm McManaman and David Brady continue to impress, Brady especially as he had played 80 minutes with Ballina in the All Ireland Rugby League 24 hours earlier. Mayo’s forwards were the most impressive on Sunday with Marty McNicholas, James Gill and David Nestor all having a good game. Mayo’s work rate in the forwards was excellent with the forwards notching up 1-8 among them.
Mayo began the match well with a scatter of points in the first 15 minutes from Com McManaman, Ronan Loftus(free), David Nester, Trevor Mortimer and Marty McNicholas and the impressive thing was they were all good scores. Then came David Nester’s impressive goal with the help of Trevor Mortimer, Fergal Costello and Marty McNicholas. Ronan Loftus(free), Substitute Stephen Carolan, Marty McNicholas and James Gill added the other scores. It wasn’t until the 33rd minute that Derry replied to Mayo with a Paddy Bradley free-kick and a Paul Murphy point on the run. That rounded up the first-half and left the score at 1-11 to 0-2, leaving the gap at 12 points.
In the second half Mayo were not as focused at times and Derry took advantage with Conleth Gilligan notching up a number of scores to narrow the gap slightly, but Mayo woke up and David Brady and David McDonagh scored points in response and David Nestor and Marty McNicholas added 2 more scores.
The last Quarter saw the crowd of 2000 spectators begin to leave and the gang that hung around were as well to have gone too. Derry’s Ronan Rocks beat Mayo Goalkeeper Fergal Kelly and Derry followed that with a few more points but it was all too late. Micheal Coleman rounded it up for Mayo with a very impressive score. One bad thing that came out of the match was Ray Connelly’s leg injury.
Mayo:
F. Kelly, R. Connelly, K Cahill, A. Higgins, F. Costello, A. Roche, N. Connelly, C. McManaman (0-1), D Brady (0-1), M. McNicholas (0-3), D McDonagh (0-1), J. Gill (0-2), R. Loftus (0-3f’s), T. Mortimer (0-1), D. Nestor (1-3).
Subs:
S. Carolan (0-1) for Mortimer (inj), M. Sheridan for Loftus, M. Coleman (0-1) for Brady, R. Hannick for R. Connelly (inj)

My View

New to the Ruddy Report, “My View” is a section for comment and opinion – controversial and otherwise. I will give you my opinion on the pressing issues of the day and you can tell me I’m a hero/wrong/stupid/off my trolley or whatever. If you have a question or an opinion on something (in sport) then you can have your say here.

New York
I am going to start this section off with the story that has been in the papers this week about New York GAA holding a Connaught Senior Football Championship match. New York entered the Championship in 1999 when they travelled to Castlebar to play Mayo (Connaught Champions 1999) in the First Round, putting up a good display (not disgracing themselves). Last year New York travelled to Galway (Connaught Champions 2000) to play the First Round and once again they put up a decent display. In the two years New York have travelled across the Atlantic to play the Connaught Champions of that year and if that doesn’t have a bad effect on the team then take into account that their most impressive players did not travel to both these games. My conclusion to this is if London are allowed play their home games in Ruislip I think it’s time a Connaught Senior Football Championship Match was played in Gaelic Park, New York. So what do you think?

Mayo
Would you believe after such a bad run in the Connaught Championship last year that Mayo would respond with a very impressive run in the League. 3 wins out of 3! Fermanagh away, Laois away and Derry at home. Holmes has brought in a few new players into the squad with great effect, the confidence is back in the squad and although the last three games they played have not been very tough Mayo should still feel confident. Sligo, Meath, Cavan and Clare to play and with the confidence built a semi-final place beckons. If I was asked before the NFL started I would not have thought Mayo would have a chance of winning Connaght but look now! Mayo seem to be in with a shout and I think they will give Galway a run for their money. But if Mayo have a good run in the league will it affect their Championship? Look at Derry NFL champions 2000 and Derry then were rubbish in the Championship! So what do you think?

National Football League
The National Football League seems to be on its last legs! Answer me one question: if you were running a business and you weren’t getting a lot of custom what would you do?
A: Up the prices on your goods
B: Lower the prices on your goods
Well the bright sparks up in GAA HQ answered A!
With the NFL not being taking that seriously and Counties putting out their second teams (e.g. Derry last Sunday) not many spectators attend National League matches. So the GAA up the ticket price. I believe its ridiculous. What do you think?

Have your say!!!

So if you have anything to say on these three topics please don’t be shy, your opinions are all welcomed just e-mail me at johnruddy@currane.net and put “MY VIEW” in the Subject area.

 

 

Allianz National Football League Division 1B Match Report
Mayo 1-11 Laois 0-11
Mayo got a very hard earned two points last Sunday in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, having improved a lot from their clash against Fermanagh.
Their defence were superb showing no hesitancy at all. Kevin Cahill and Peter Burke get a special mention for their outstanding contribution, as do David Brady and Colm McManaman in Midfield, while in the Forwards four U-21’s were playing. James Gill was outstanding roaming all over the forward line as if he owned it and scoring an impressive five points.
Trevor Mortimer, although scoring null, played well in the forward line winning a lot of possession despite the ankle injury he is still carrying. Marty McNicholas was also very good, although he didn’t get as much possession as he did against Fermanagh, but he is very fast and took his score when the chance arose.
Ronan Loftus had a fairly quiet game, but he too got his name on the score board with the help of Stephen Carolan. James Nallen made an appearance midway through the second half replacing McDonagh and he played an important role in Mayo’s success.
Marty McNicholas opened the scoring for Mayo after 9 minutes with the help of Trevor Mortimer. Laois replied with a point two minutes later, though Mayo were playing the better football at this stage and Marty McNicholas and James Gill provided the build up to David Nestor’s goal in the 15th minute. James Gill and Nestor both scored points following the goal and Chris Conway(Laois), Martin Lawlor(Laois) and David Brady traded points.
The home side started to come back into the game with Chris Conway and Noel Garvan being very impressive. The score was at 1-4 to 0-4 in Mayo’s favour when Gill and Garvan swapped points and Nestor had a terrible miss.
In the second half Laois opened the scoring with Chris Conway hitting a point but Noel Connelly, who was outstanding, replied with a point. Laois began to put the pressure on in the last qaurter, Ian Fitzgerald and Roddy McEvoy scoring points which left only one point between the teams. Mayo answered back with Carolan setting up Loftus for a point which James Gill followed up with two more and Maurice Sheridan pointed a free when he came on as a sub for Loftus.
Laois were the dominant side in the last 10 minutes, scoring two points to narrow the gap, but James Gill converted a long range free to wrap things up.
Mayo:
P. Burke, R. Connelly, K. Cahill, F. Costello, N. Connelly(0-1), A. Roche, A. Higgins, C. McManaman, D. Brady(0-1), M. McNicholas(0-1), D. McDonagh, J. Gill(0-5), R. Loftus(0-1), T. Mortimer, D. Nestor(1-1)
Subs: S. Carolan for Mortimer, M. Sheridan(0-1) for Loftus, J. Nallen for McDonagh.

Allianz National Football League Division 1B Preview
This Sunday Mayo take on Derry at Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown in the NFL. Mayo’s campaign cannot have gone better so far, with two away victories on the trot ,although Laois are probably the weakest team in the Division, and Mayo are on track for a Semi Final place. Mayo take on Derry with no injury worries, David McDonagh, Colm McManaman and Ronan Loftus are all expected to play. However Belmullet’s Stephen Carolan and Crossmolina’s James Nallen are both pushing for positions. Kevin O’Neill, a former All Star with Mayo, has withdrawn himself from the panel for this season and the chance of Kiearan McDonald starting is unclear.
Derry will be wanting to pick up all the points in Charlestown this Sunday. Although they defeated Laois in the first round unconvincingly, Derry lost to Clare last weekend by three points. Manager Eamon Coleman shouldn’t worry too much about that defeat as only 4 of the Derry team that won the league last season started the match, the rest were all newcomers. Derry are expected to strengthen their side this weekend.
Mayo must win in my opinion. Derry have defeated Mayo in their most recent encounters and I believe it is time Mayo turned the tables. Mayo are in great form and very confident so I am sticking my head out here and although it will be a close match, I predict a Mayo win.

GAA Briefs

• Football AllStar Results in next weeks Report
• Kerry’s Seamus Moynihan named Footballer of the Year
• I would like to thank Al & Jane Steger-Lewis for their match report on the Hacky Cup final last week.