WALKING WOUNDED Westport’s Gary Keane (second from right) is escorted off the field by members of the club’s backroom team after he sustained a broken jaw following an off-the-ball incident in last Sunday’s Mayo SFC clash with Ballina. Left, referee Martin Murphy speaks to his linesman Charlie Collins.?Pic: Michael McLaughlin
Board await report after jaw is broken
Edwin McGreal
THE Mayo GAA Board are awaiting the submission of the referee’s report from last Sunday’s Mayo SFC first round match between Ballina and Westport before deciding what action, if any, they will take after an off-the-ball incident that left a player with a broken jaw.
A Westport GAA spokesperson confirmed to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that midfielder, Gary Keane, had broken his jaw in two places following an incident shortly after half-time in last Sunday’s game.
The referee, Martin Murphy, did consult with his linesman, Charlie Collins, at the time of the incident but no action was taken as it is understood that neither of them saw the incident in question. The County Board are now awaiting the referee’s report.
Meanwhile, Mayo GAA Secretary Kevin O’Toole has admitted that the next round of club championship fixtures will have to be more spread out to ensure that there are sufficient officials to cover games.
At least four matches last weekend either had only one officially-appointed linesman or required a late replacement after the original appointee cried off.
O’Toole said that for the Saturday evening of the next round (which is pencilled in for the weekend of June 30/July 1), games will be at 5pm and 7.30pm, and on Sunday games will be at 2pm and 4.30pm.
Revised betting
MEANWHILE, Stagg Betting in Ballindine have revised their outright prices for the Mayo Senior and Intermediate club football championships after the first weekend of action.
Castlebar remain the favourites at 2/1 but, following an impressive win over Breaffy, defending champions Ballintubber have come in from 5/2 to 9/4.
Ballinrobe have flown in from 50/1 to 20/1 following their huge win in Crossmolina, a result which sees the Deel Rovers drift from 8/1 to 12/1.
Westport are now 16/1 from 12/1 while Breaffy have moved in the opposite direction. Ballina (9/2) and Claremorris (20/1) have both seen their prices tighten.
Following a nervous performance in Achill, Intermediate favourites Charlestown have drifted from even money to 11/8 and Kilmaine’s defeat at home to Bonniconlon means that the South Mayo club have drifted from 6/1 to 12/1. Bonni’, meanwhile, come in from 20/1 to 14/1 while Parke’s win over Ballyhaunis sees their odds slashed to 14/1.
John Stagg admitted it was a good weekend for bookies with Ballyhaunis losing to Parke, Crossmolina losing to Ballinrobe and Ballina drawing with Westport. “A lot of punters had backed Westport at 9/4 to overcome the Stephenites,” he said.
