MIKE FINNERTY
MAYO GAA delegates will be asked to ratify a proposal next Tuesday night that sees the 2007 club football leagues divided into six distinctive groups, all based on league form last year.
Mayo GAA Secretary, Sean Feeney, sent an e-mail to every club in the county on Monday night outlining the proposals for the forthcoming leagues, based on recommendations made at the last County Board meeting and submissions submitted by clubs and individuals.
Under this proposal, two teams would be relegated from divisions 1A and 1B at the end of next season with two coming up from divisions 2A and 2B. The same would apply to divisions 2 and 3. There would be a final in each division, all county players would be available for all league games and the leagues would commence on St Patrick’s weekend.
The proposal also suggests that the Kelly Cup, O’Mara Cup, Centenary Cup and North Mayo Cup would be run in May, June and July on a divisional basis with and without county players. The divisional winners would compete in county semi-finals and a final. Senior and Intermediate teams must take part and junior participation would be optional.
The proposal that will be put before the club delegates would see divisions 1A and 1B being made up of ten teams.
Division 1A: Crossmolina, Kiltane, Moy Davitts, Belmullet, Westport, Ballinrobe, Tourmakeady, Davitts, Ballintubber and Louisburgh.
Division 1B: Shrule/Glencorrib, Ballina, Claremorris, Castlebar, Charlestown, Breaffy, Ballaghadereen, Burrishoole, Knockmore, Kilmeena
Division 2A: Garrymore, Cill Chomain, Swinford, Bonniconlon, Aghamore, Carramore, Balla, The Neale, Ballina B, Eastern Gaels.
Division 2B: Kiltimagh, Hollymount, Killala, Parke, Kilmaine, Mayo Gaels, Ballyhaunis, Islandeady, Moygownagh, Crossmolina B.
Division 3A: Castlebar B, Knockmore B, Ardnaree, Swinford B, Lacken, Ballintubber B, Claremorris B, Ballaghadereen B, Kilmovee.
Division 3B: Kilfian, Lahardane, Ballycastle, Westport B, Achill, Ardagh, Breaffy B, Ballinrobe B, Ballycroy, Na hÓileain.
MEANWHILE, Tommy Jordan will manage the Crossmolina for the coming season after he was ratified at the club’s AGM on Friday night last writes Edwin McGreal.
Jordan, who took over from Hugh Lynn last year, is managing Crossmolina for his second term, having led them to All-Ireland glory in 2001. Once again Eamonn Howley and Mickey O’Donnell will be his selectors.
Elsewhere, Westport have appointed former Westport United manager Kevin Cusack to their senior job, replacing George Golden. Cusack was joint-manager with Padraig Burns when Westport United won the FAI Junior Cup in 2005 and has managed the town’s Gaelic football team on two occasion.
Cusack (41) is likely to have been one of the youngest managers in Mayo GAA history when he managed Westport to the 1991 County Senior final, where they lost to Hollymount, when he was only 25.
He has an extensive background in soccer, GAA and rugby and is also a qualified sports therapist. Padraig Barrett has been confirmed as one of his selectors with another appointment likely in the coming weeks.
The senior footballers of Breaffy, Claremorris and Charlestown are all back training while they await an appointment of a manager for the year.
Moy Davitts and Garrymore have yet to make appointments while Shrule/Glencorrib manager Declan Ronaldson is expected to make a decision on whether he will stay on in the coming week.
