WHO WANTS IT MORE? Castlebar’s Barry Moran is surrounded by Alan Feeley and Vinnie Walsh of Claremorris during last Saturday evening’s Mayo SFC second round game. Pic: Ray Ryan
Group of death comes alive
Kevin McStayIF Saturday is ‘Moving Day’ in the golfing world (day three baby and time to get off the pot), then round two of the Mayo senior championships is the local football equivalent. In the space of an hour your season can change dramatically and you can sink without trace or position yourself for the grand shoot-out.
Some matters are already decided; Crossmolina are heading to the quarters and will be joined by Charlestown and Ballaghderreen. No surprises there lads. We often reflect on how competitive our club championship is and then stand back to see the usual suspects line up for the last eight.
Of course there are strong teams in Mayo and the strength of the championship lies in the fact a side like Claremorris or Breaffy or Castlebar can take on these big sides on any given championship day and hope to beat them.
Ballina Stephenites got the expected result in ‘The Park’ and are back on track for a quarter-final place. Each game is bringing this new side on that bit more and coach McHale is more than happy with the progress. His team will face off with Claremorris in the game to decide matters and running the line for the south Mayo side will be Niall Heffernan.
McHale will be matching his wits with a man that was a selector on the Ballina team when McHale won his first two championship medals in ’85 and ’87. Indeed, if sporting life had been kinder to Niall, he would have been a cornerstone of that team. Instead a horrible tackle in a local derby match put an end to his career but that’s a story for another day.
Claremorris are in a very strong position and have only to ensure they are not beaten by more than five points; it should be within their abilities. But can Castlebar beat Burrishoole by around seven? They must plan that Ballina will win by a small margin. Them’s the permutations! And they will make for a fascinating weekend when round three is played.
Some other interesting results last weekend saw Shrule/Glencorrib end up in a dark hole. A visit from Kiltane will decide the border club’s fate, and even though they are strong with Mayo panellists they are suffering in the club championship.
A few years ago they contested (strongly it must be said) a county final but these days are struggling to stay out of the relegation play-offs. Perhaps that shows just how competitive the local scene in Mayo is.
Not a lot else decided or indeed obvious, so it really does all boil down to late June. Can Ballinrobe make the breakthrough? Or will Knockmore put an end to their hopes for this year? Plenty to look out for in the Ballagh’ pool too. In a beautiful twist, a certain set of results could see the aforementioned Shrule Glencorrib propelled to the quarters. All to play for then.
But the focus shifts over to the inter-county scene again with Galway and Leitrim in Salthill this weekend. Mayo hit the ground the following weekend. Are we the last county to enter the championship this year? Think so. Hopefully we will be the last to leave it!
FULL-TIME POST FOR SECRETARY
BELATED congratulations to Sean Feeney, who recently took up the post of full time secretary with the Mayo GAA Board. It’s more or less formalising a situation where the job has, in reality, been a full-time one this past decade. Sean has soldiered in a purely voluntary capacity but these days the workload, and indeed public expectations, are such that a professional approach is demanded from our officials.
The extra resources and time that is now afforded the appointment will hardly see a complete difference to the service Sean provides. His was always a professional and considered approach, and no doubt that will continue over the next few years.
I had reason to work closely with him during my time as manager of Mayo under 21s and while many managers profess to being a little angry and perhaps even embittered when it comes to moving on, I must state that I had nothing but good things to say about our relationship. In all my dealings with him he was cordial, generous and his wry sense of humour is sometimes lost on people. But believe me, he can handle the heat.
I often rang him about tickets, called about match day arrangements, a trip to his house (not giving out the address in case we ever reach another All-Ireland and the joint is surrounded again!) for a set of Mayo kit or just chatting before or after a big game and he is very good company.
I imagine I am responsible for knocking at least a year off his projected time on this earth and probably responsible too for match day protocols in the area of substitutions. For ‘twas Sean and I got the count wrong one summer’s evening and nearly lost the prize. Nowadays, I am sure the first full-time secretary of Mayo GAA has five slips of paper in his hand and when they are gone, the subbing craic is over.
This column wishes him well in his new appointment and looks forward to him being in the office when Mayo get around to winning that elusive title; the time, energy and sheer commitment he has given to Mayo over a long period of service is an example to all and it would be fitting if his tenure coincided with Sam coming back to the county.
PAUL NEWTON ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
IF you played or followed basketball in the west of Ireland in the late 80s or early 90s, Paul Newton is a name that will be immediately recognisable to you. Remember those trips to Sligo for yet another challenge game or perhaps a weekend national league affair?
He is a member of the well-known Newton family and Ros’ and Mayo football fans will remember Des and John. I certainly remember Des; I often turn around quickly these days just to see if he is still marking me as tight as ever!
When you might get to the gym in Sligo chances are big Paul Newton was already there warming up for the All Stars. He played some decent football too in his native Roscommon and adopted Sligo.
These days he had settled down to do all the things the 40 something club tend to do. Things like help rear the kids, the school run, coaching the kids in the local club, maybe an officer position with some committee or other but just generally getting on with life and doing the best you can do for your family and others.
A few months ago Paul was in Belfast to attend and enjoy a sporting occasion. Later that night he ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and was the victim of a random and vicious assault. For days and weeks afterwards he was in pretty bad shape and his family feared the worst.
Thankfully Paul has started to improve and is trying to put his life back together again. Slowly of course, just simple lay-ups rather than slam-dunks but he is getting there! And his friends have rallied significantly and the old boys network in the rugby, basketball and GAA worlds are fund-raising at a serious pace.
Paul Newton is one of the good guys, good fun to be around and good company, game for a laugh and a fella that never took himself too seriously. As we say in the west of Ireland, a ‘sound man’.
We all wish Paul the best and look forward to seeing him soon again. If you come across an event in your area please support it or alternatively you can make a lodgement to the following account: Sort Code: 93-72-58 with account number 21241056. There are more details available on http://stmarys.sligo.gaa.ie
