Sports briefs: Cross country success; Irish call-up and tough cup draws
The Mayo AC team who won the Connacht women's cross country title, held over three legs in Castlegar, Westport and Ballymote. Back row, left to right: Colette Tuohy, Noreen McManamon, Eimear Fitzmaurice, Pauline Moran and Angela O’Connor. Front row: Joan Walsh and Martina O’Connor.
Athletics: The Connacht Cross-Country Senior League drew to a conclusion with the third and final leg which took place in Ballymote on November 4. That followed on from the first two races which were held in Castlegar and Westport.
When all the results were compiled it was established that the Mayo AC team won the Connacht women’s club team competition, ahead of North Sligo AC.
Connacht Athletics officials presented them with their winning medals at Ballymote.
The results also showed that Mayo AC’s Colette Tuohy won bronze in the masters over 50-65 section.
Competitors had to run in all three legs to win medals.
Also on November 4, Mayo AC runners were in action in Corofin and France.
In the popular Corofin Loop races hosted by Corofin AC, Ray Clarke finished the 10-mile race in 1:10.43, to place second over-50, while Donna Gallagher ran 1:11.04 to finish as the fourth woman home overall and first over-40, with Dee Corcoran eighth in 1:14.25, and second over-40.
In the 8k race, Johnny Cribbin finished 18th overall in a great time 33:02 and was first over-60, and Breege Cribbin ran 42:36 to also finish as the first woman over-60.
Over in France on the same day, David Dinsmore ran in the Cross de la Saint Martin at Sorède, which is a 12k trail race with a 350m elevation. He finished in 1:03.38, 40th overall and third in the M6 category.
Golf: 20 players will form Golf Ireland’s 2024 Men’s and Women’s High Performance squads it has been confirmed – and a local golfer is among them.
Eleven men and nine women have been selected, and they will form the backbone of Ireland’s international squads for next year.
Enniscrone Golf Club’s David Shiel, who is the Bridgestone Order of Merit winner, has been selected in the men’s squad alongside other Connacht golfers Liam Nolan (Galway) and Luke O’Neill (Connemara), Junior Ryder Cup star Sean Keeling (Roganstown), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Matt McClean (Malone), Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin), Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin), Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy), Jack Hearn (Tramore) and Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little).
Golf Ireland High Performance Director, Neil Manchip, said he is looking forward to another successful year in 2024.
“It has been another really promising year with some outstanding team and individual performances dotted throughout the season,” said Manchip.
“Picking up a bronze medal in the European Team Championships was a huge achievement for our men’s team led by Niall MacSweeney, with four of those going on to Walker Cup selection, while Alex Maguire picked up the R&A Amateur Series.
“Both the men and women performed admirably in the roasting temperatures of Abu Dhabi at the World Amateur Team Championships and there were some great individual displays from our players in major championships including The Open, The Masters, US Open and US Women’s Open.
“Sara Byrne picked up the silver medal at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and has continued her great form of late, and no doubt she will be one of our players targeting a Curtis Cup place when it goes to Sunningdale at the tail end of the season.
“We are really excited heading into 2024 and our players are looking forward to another great campaign. We cannot wait to see them out competing again in the New Year.”
Soccer: The draw for the fourth round of the FAI Junior Cup was held last week, with three Mayo teams in the pot. Castlebar Celtic have undoubtedly been handed the toughest task with an away trip to Pike Rovers of Limerick who have reached the final four times inside the last twelve seasons.
Pike were crowned champions in 2011 when beating St Michael’s but lost the 2016 and 2018 finals at the Aviva Stadium to Sheriff FC and North End United, and the 2022 final at Turners Cross to Villa FC.
Both of the other Mayo teams entered into Round 4 have home advantage for their games; Manulla host Malahide United who currently sit fourth in the Leinster Senior League while Westport United are also up against Dublin opposition in the form of AUL outfit Galty Celtic.
The games are scheduled to be played on Sunday, November 26.
