Messages

Mayo

1.   John O'Hara (Moy Davitts) - As mentioned earlier, he went down the professional soccer route with a US scholarship and a few seasons back with Sligo Rovers. Is in the US now and not playing any GAA.
2.   MJ Meeneghan (Tourmakeedy) - Tourmak would be a small intermediate club. Not sure if he is still playing. Doesnt come up on the radar in club football in Mayo anymore.
3.   Paraic Kelly (Kilmaine) - Pat Kelly that should be. Played in the 2004 final and for a good few years for Mayo. Won an All-Irelnad club medal with St Vincents this year at wing back. Back on the Mayo panel this year but didnt feature much.
4.   John Brogan (Knockmore) - Playing well for his club at full-back. Was named on the Mayo club stars team of the year in 2007. Played a few games in the FBD league this year but is deemed by many to be too small for intercounty.
5.   Rory Keane (Ballinrobe) - Still playing senior with Ballinrobe. Didnt get a run with Mayo.
6.   Paul Coady (Burrishoole) - Not sure. Went off the radar very fast after this.
7.   Conor Moran (Burrishoole) - Played in 2004 senior final at corner back and has been in and out of the panel for years.
8.   James Gill (Westport) - In and out of the senior team for the past number of years.
9.   Gavin Duffy (Ballina) - Played professional rugby with Harlequins in London and won a few Irish senior internationals on the wing. Now back playing with Connacht and is still close to the Irish squad.
10.   Robert Moran (Moy Davitts) - Went to New York very young and plays for New York in the Connacht championship each year.
11.   BJ Padden (Belmullet) - Has been on the Mayo senior panel for years.
12.   Barry Loftus (Crossmolina) - Not sure, but doesnt star for the Crossmolina senior team...
13.   Gary Dillon (Ballintubber) - Still playing for Ballintubber in senior championship.
14.   Alan Dillon (Ballintubber) - Regular for Mayo seniors.
15.   Eoin Gallagher (Charlestown) - Still playing senior with club. Got runs for Mayo in the FBD but never made the cut..


If anyone knows the storys of the following, please update...
2.   MJ Meeneghan (Tourmakeedy)
6.   Paul Coady (Burrishoole)
12.   Barry Loftus (Crossmolina)

Hmmm (Appropriate name).... Youre not getting at what we are trying to say (which we can't say really).. There may have been something happened which involves young girls, which decimated their season... and which could effect ladies GAA if released to the public... I don't know as Im not involved in ladies GAA, but that was the first thing that sprang to my mind when the LGFA were unwilling to release the details... I hope you can get what I am trying to say...

I can't see the rasoning behind this either.... People from Leitrim must know the story of what went on.. Obviously Geraldine Giles knows but isnt willing to share it with us as to why Leitrims year fell apart. Sometimes in ladies sports, there can be underlying things that are happening which have nothing to do with sport and cannot be published for the security of the girls. If you think about it closely, there maybe hidden reasons why the LFGA are giving Leitrim a chance to get it right next year.. Thats all I can come up with anyway's...

A lot of you are missing the point here. The county board are developing McHale Park this year and that is where all the extra funds will be going over the next year. Thats the priority from now. The CB were under pressure to appoint JOM two years ago and they did that. It hasnt worked out, so now the CB have to rethink on wheather they are getting value for money? If O'Mahoney has had enough of it and wants out - then the CB wont try to change his mind... If that happens then look out for a low budget/low profile apointment late on this season. Someone like Tommy Jordan or the Connolly/Holmes combination (Next in line is Dempsey - but god firbid if that happens).. Finally, best of luck to the Minors playing Monaghan in Longford next Saturday. Would be nice if they could get us back to Croker for September...

Im tipping Fingal/North Dublin to win it this year. Improving with each game and plenty of players to call upon.

Not that may players to choose from, it's not a full north dublin selection, clubs included are : Fingallians, Naomh Mearnóg, O'Dwyer's, Skerries Harps, Setanta, St Brigid's, St Finian's (S), Naomh Maur, Naomh Barróg, St Sylvester's and Trinity Gaels - not many of those are well known for hurling. But they do seem to be improving as the competition progresses alright. 

Theres more hurling clubs there than in Sligo and Leitrim put together.....

Clubs like Moycullen, Spiddal, Ml Brethnachs, Sylane and Annaghdown rarely get represented, but have players plenty good enough to compete at Rackard level.

I didnt even know that Moycullen, Spiddal or Breathnachs had hurling teams! Standard is extremely poor in clubs like Annaghdown, not sure their best players would be uop to it @ county level.

Galforever - Football would be the dominant sport in all them areas, but they compete ok at Intermediate/JuniorA in Galway. I know their player standard wouldnt be up to the Galway Senior level, but what Im saying is that they would put a nice team together for the Rackard Cup.

Im tipping Fingal/North Dublin to win it this year. Improving with each game and plenty of players to call upon.

The South Down (Non-Ards) team stems from the fact that the three main exclusive hurling clubs in Down are on the Ards peninsula (Ballycran, Ballygalget & Portaferry). There are other dual clubs on the mainland, but none of their hurlers never get a look into the main Down team due to travel/standard ect. In the early 2000's, the now defunct All-Ireland Junior hurling competition used to have the non-ards Down county team to represent them, to give the mainland hurlers a chance to wear the county jersey. With the abolishion of the Junior Championship in 2003, the mainland players havent got a look in so therefore the Down County Board allowed them into the Rackard Cup this year.

I think its a good idea and think thers a few more areas of the country which could be represented in the Ring Rackard Cups.

In Galway, there is very little represantation on the hurling panel from the North and West of the county. Clubs like Moycullen, Spiddal, Ml Brethnachs, Sylane and Annaghdown rarely get represented, but have players plenty good enough to compete at Rackard level.

What would Galway people think of that idea?

Mayo V Carlow

Is this going to be played in Castlebar?

Yes. 3pm in McHale Park next Saturday. Hope to see a good crowd there...

No - GAA isnt running your life if you are just a supporter. Try being a coach/manager or a club officer. Then it runs your life.

Take an example of a father of three boys aged 9, 12 and 14. He is secretary of the Bord na nOg in the club so everything goes through him. He coaches at the football nursery on Saturday morning and the hurling nursery on Sunday after Mass. He is also a selector for the club U12 & U14 teams, both football and hurling. At lunchtime during work, he spends 30 mins on the phone texting parents about what is happening every evening, and is also involved in fundraising for the club.

His oldest son is on the county U14 hurling and football panels so he goes along to that also. The only time he gets a break from working within the GAA is when he bundles the kids into the car and heads off to a county game.

GAA is controling his life - but not yours.

The South Down (Non-Ards) team stems from the fact that the three main exclusive hurling clubs in Down are on the Ards peninsula (Ballycran, Ballygalget & Portaferry). There are other dual clubs on the mainland, but none of their hurlers never get a look into the main Down team due to travel/standard ect. In the early 2000's, the now defunct All-Ireland Junior hurling competition used to have the non-ards Down county team to represent them, to give the mainland hurlers a chance to wear the county jersey. With the abolishion of the Junior Championship, the mainland players havent got a look in so therefore the Down County Board allowed them into the Rackard Cup this year.

For someone who has played at that standard/division in the past, it must be great for counties like Sligo/Leitrim to be playing different teams from Down, Dublin & Warwickshire - as it gets very minotinous playing the same teams over and over year after year.

Who is this prenty fellow answerable to. Can he not respect the rules of the GAA. Who is going to make him toe the line?

This wouldnt have anything to do with the transfer of a Dublin hurler into his own club in recent weeks, to strengthen his chances of making the Mayo team.

Mayo had a very strong team last year (nearly all the AI U21B finalists from 2006 were underage again), but there was no management put in place by the county board. A few of the older players attempted to prepare the team, but the County Board made the decision to concede the semi-final against Roscommon. Poor county officers was the cause of it. In fact the U21 hurling championship was played for the first time last year, in which four clubs took part. U21 hurling has never been as strong in Mayo. Lets hope the one man hurling board has time to make a few calls this year and get an U21 management in place.

Last Senior Meeting - Conacht Hurling Cup Shield Final 2007 - Mayo Won
Last Senior Championship Meeting - CRC Relegation 2004 - Ross won
Last U21 Meeting - Connacht U21B Final 2005 - Mayo Won
(Didnt meet in 2007 as Mayo team was withdrawn)
(Didnt meet in 2006 as Ross withdrew)
Last U18 Meeting - Havent met in recent years AFAIK

Roscommon should be better than Mayo as they have a better club championship and a larger player base. There is little at the moment between the sides, but Ross are rebuilding due to the retirement/departure of many of their players.

All going well in the Mayo camp afaik. Today will tell if theres any improvement against Wicklow. However, a five hour early morning bus journey to Arklow is hardly the ideal start. Many of the players went up last night and stayed in Dublin. Ger Whyte is supposed to be playing for Wicklow today so there could be sparks.

I dont think the Ballyhaunis delegate will agree to that league proposal, so I cant see it being passed. Ballyhaunis are in Division4 according to that league system.