'No doubt' rugby will be played in MacHale Park again

There is ‘no doubt’ that a Connacht Rugby game will be held in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park again.

That was the view of Mayo GAA president JP Lambe, who reflected on the numerous changes that have taken place in Mayo GAA in the last 12 months and beyond at last Sunday’s Mayo GAA County Convention.

Seeing rugby in MacHale Park was something nobody believed would happen, he said, but it did, and it was great to see a full house for the game.

Mr Lambe said there had been a lot of changes in the GAA, but the changes have been for the better. He cited the addition of the two-pointer as the biggest change in football, making a huge difference to the competition making Gaelic football more exciting.

The way supporters gain access to grounds has been different, with entry to games being all-ticket. Mr Lambe said after some early challenges, he has seen huge improvements and the way it’s being run now is a huge success.

He also extended best wishes to the new management team for the Mayo footballers at senior, under-20 and minor level, saying that all three changing in one year is not something he believed had happened before in the county.

“We hope they bring back honours we badly need back to the county,” he said.

Concluding, he also hoped to see the Mayo GAA County Board officers have blazers with county crests on them for special occasions in and out of the county.

Mary Prenty, East Mayo GAA Board chairperson, gave special thanks to Michael Cummins, Stephen Mooney, Michael Hopkins and Pat Naughton for all their help in getting the venue set up for the convention as it was East Mayo’s turn to host this year.

She also extended best wishes to east Mayo clubs Kiltimagh and Tooreen in their upcoming respective All-Ireland club football and hurling semi-finals.