Category: Sport

This Week….
Well Sports fans!

This week I will talk about Achill’s Promotion Crushed!

At Davitt Park last Saturday evening, Achill took on local rivals Islandeady in a very important League clash. For Islandeady nothing was at stake only pride, but for Achill a win would mean a huge step towards Promotion to Division 2.

However, for the second week running, the Mayo GAA failed to send down a Referee to the game and with Achill becoming very impatient a deal was struck between Islandeady and Achill to play the game that night with a referee from Islandeady. This was cleared with the County board and the game went ahead.

Achill started very slow with Islandeady getting the first number of scores, Achill battled back into the game and were just a few points behind but then in a matter of 5 minutes, Islandeady struck twice with to very well worked goals which just cut straight through the Achill defence.

Achill were stunned and a number of rushed substitutions were made immediately. Although the substitutions did settle the team Achill were still failing to get a grip on things. The game proved as in years gone by to be a very physical and dirty game with one Achill player in particular coming out worse in a malicous challenge.

At Half time there were 6 points between the teams and Achills’ hope was fading slightly but there was still optimism there and Achill went out in the second half with hearts full of fire.

Islandeady cooled that fire down almost immediately with the first score of the second half. After swapping points Achill started to pull themselves closer to Islandeady and at one stage were just 2 points behind, until a bit of an incident happened in the middle of the park resulting in the dismissal of an Achill Player.

Achill seemed to be finished but deep runs from Darren Lavelle and Ray McNamara from the middle of the field, almost resulting in goals kept Achill’s hopes alive. Shane Gallagher and Barry Dever swapped points with the visitors before a goal mouth scramble in the Islandeady box saw Achill robbed of a Penalty.

After that it was all down hill. Islandeady ran up the field and scored a goal which was the killer blow for Achill and shortly afterwards the whistle blew. So close but yet so far. Achill play their final game of the campaign this weekend but the game will serve only as a challenge as Ardnaree are already 4 pts ahead of Achill going into the game.

In other news the County Football Intermediate Final takes place this Sunday in Garrymore between Shrule/Glencorrib and close neighbours Balinrobe which will prove to be a very close match.

This Week….
Well there Readers! This week I have a range of interesting Sport topics for you ranging from Local to National Sport.

Achill Rovers are Premier Division Champions. Yes Achill Rovers won comfortably on Sunday last to elevate them back into the Mayo Super League. Rovers who won 3-0, haven’t settled down since winning the League a few years ago are now back where they belong but I am sure they will have a tough time next season, but hopefully they will manage to make an impression.

Achill GAA were supposed to play a League game on Saturday evening against Islandeady, but the Referee failed to show. The game went ahead however but only as a challenge match. I watched parts of the game and Achill looked very good at times. Coming forward, they were very good at moving the ball at speed but in front of goal and from long disatnce they failed to impress. Achill play again this weekend in another League match, against Ardnaree I think!

This Sunday, Knockmore and Crossmolina will meet in Ballina to contest the Corrib Oil Mayo Senior Football Championship Final. John Maughan’s Crossmolina are favourites going in to the Final and have been hotly tipped all year, but Knockmore have had a very good run in the League this season and undoubtly have a say in the destination of the Moclair Cup.

And if you were not watching TG4 on Sunday afternoon, Mayo defeated Monaghan by 1 point to win the Ladies All Ireland Senior Football Championship. It was a hotly contested game with little between the teams, but Mayo proved to have that extra edge when it was needed and won their 4th All Ireland in 5 Years. In the Junior Final, Galway completed the Double for Connaght by defeating Donegal by 10 points. On the way home both teams walked both Cups over the Shannon where they were greeted by a sea of Green and Red and Maroon and White.

This Week….
Well, this week is a quiet week in local Sport! All I have really is fixtures but they are quite exciting fixtures!

In GAA, Achill play Ardnaree this Sunday in their second last League clash. If Achill win, they will be almost guaranteed a place in the promotion playoffs. If you do not understand how the promotion playoffs work here is your guide;

The two top teams in Division 3 take on the bottom teams in Division 2A and Division 2B. The winners of the playoffs either get promoted or stay in Division 3. So although a team may finish bottom in Division 2 they can still stay in Division 2 if they beat the Division 3 team.

In Soccer, Achill Rovers are playing their final game of the season this week, they are 2 points clear at the top of Division 1, So the Rovers return to the Super League may not be far away.

Last week I wrote a article about Soccer in Currane. Now if you have not read that I would urge you to look at last weeks repor  because it is a very good read. But however I have had a very good response, and I have already had offers for sponsorship for a Currane Soccer team. All we need now is a bit of local interest from Soccer players in Currane (Over 16), so if you are interested in this project please e-mail me. I know people may not be able to commit fully to soccer due to college or work but even if you are half interested it would still make a difference. So please, if you are from Currane and you are interested in playing soccer e-mail me! Thank you!

This Week….
Why doesn’t Currane have a soccer team????

Years ago Currane were members of the Mayo League and held their own. O.K, maybe they were not challenging for Trophies or Super Leagues but the important thing was taking part and having a bit of fun.

When Currane left the league about 20 years ago or so, The Mayo FA gave them a free re-entry when ever they would want to rejoin (as far as I am aware). Now I don’t understand why Currane hasn’t already re-entered this league. An unsuccessful attempt was made a few years ago to enter an underage team but it failed due to shortage of underage players.

Now, Can someone out there please tell me why Currane hasn’t a Mens team in the League???

Is there no interest?
Are there not enough players?
Is there a football field?

Answers to this are all there to be seen.

Interest? whenever Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool are playing the Compass bar has always a crowd of enthusiastic followers.
Are there enough players? Well if Currane can put out 13 players in the Scanlon Cup in the last number of years then I cant see why they cant put out 11 players and 2 subs?
And is there a football field? Of course there is a football field one which every person in Currane is proud of as it is the best soccer pitch from Newport to Achill and that is no secret or word of a lie, but yet the only teams who seem to be playing on it are teams from outside Currane.

O.K, people say Currane may do no good, that may be true enough, but they would be put in a lower Division along with other weaker teams and there may be no superstars, but at least players would be getting a game every week – players who wouldnt usually make any other teams in the region but at least they will be playing the game they love with no extreme pressure just a bit of fun. And then younger players will have the chance to develop.

I would like any one who reads this to please e-mail me and give me their opinion on the situation. I believe its time Currane Soccer lifted its head once more as there is enough talent in the village and I know there is interest!The GAA World Cup is here in Ireland, yes the GAA World Cup is being held at Naomh Mearnog, Portmarnock Co.Dublin. And who thaught the World Cup was over well its not. There is a Mens and Ladies Competition with 6 teams playing in each Competition. The Regions being represented are London, NAB, Austrailia, Scotland, Europe, Canada and The Rest of Britain. And of course Currane is being represented by Patricia Ruddy from Manchester, her Mother and Father originally are from Currane. Patricia is playing for the Rest of Britain. And we wish her the best of Luck. If you want to take a look at the way things went please view www.naomhmearnog.ie/worldcup.htm The website is a very good one and gives Information on the teams.

In other News Achill Gaelic Footballers played a challenge match on Sunday Afternoon against South Mayo team Carramore. Achill won by 6 points in a game where all the panel had a chance to prove them selves. Achill face Ardnaree in a week time which is a crucial game if they are thinking of being promoted and then they will be playing teams such as Balinrobe, Westport, Ballaghaderreen and others.

In Soccer Achill Rovers were playing in a Cup match at the weekend and unfortunately the Achill side went down 3-0. However Rovers last game of the League is on the 29th of September, with Rovers 2 points clear a return to the Super League is almost guaranteed.

This Week….
Well Readers, I apologise for the lack of information on the Sports section of Currane.net. I spent the summer in the US and had no information on local sports at home and not really much time to do much, if you visit my website you will know this cause it has not been updated for sometime. However I am going to put in a big effort this term to keep this page as active as possible. I will try and bring as much local sport as possible to you where ever in the world you may be.

I will start off with a quick word on Achill GAA Club, firstly I would like to send my congratulations out to Colm Cafferkey who lined out for the Mayo U-21’s in this years Connaught Championship Campaign, Well Done Colm. Achill reached the West Mayo Semi-Finals this year only to be defeated by a goal to Division 2 side Balla. This was not a bad campaign for Achill and sets the way for a big effort next year. In the League Achill have their sights set on promotion, with only two games left Achill are in third place just 3 points behind the leaders which they still have to play. Achill have Ardnaree (the current leaders) and Islandeady yet to play and are well fancied to win both games. In other GAA news, The Senior Championship Semi Finals Kiltane and Knockmore played out a draw on Sunday last, the winners of that game will meet a rejuvenated Crossmolina in the Final. Intermediate Championship is at the Semi Final stage with Castlebar taking on Junior Champions Shrule/Glencorrib and Balinrobe facing Claremorris those games are to be played this weekend. The West Mayo Junior Final looks like this last years Champions Kilmeena taking on Balla.

Moving from GAA to Soccer where we have two local teams in action in the Mayo League this year, yearly campaigners and former Champions Achill Rovers and returnees Mulranny United. Mulranny United play their home games at the Currane Community Field and also have a few Currane members. As far as I am aware Achill Rovers have two games left to play and are challenging for promotion back to the Super League. Mulranny United in their first year are mid-table in one of the lower Divisions. I wish both Teams the very best!

So that’s all for now but I do promise I will keep you updated as frequent as possible, Any suggestions please feel free to e-mail me.

John Ruddy