On the field the season has already got under way with the Suck Valley League. The league consists of eight teams from Galway, Roscommon and Mayo and each weekend you play a club at under 12, 14, 16, and minor level. This weekend Castlebar Mitchels Hurling Club were playing away to Pearses of Roscommon and it proved to be a good weekend for the Mitchels underage hurlers, who took three of the four games.

Next week we travel to Mountbellew / Moylough. Details are at the end of the piece.

Just when it seemed that all may be lost, up popped Darren McTigue in the last minute to whip on a ball sending it crashing to the net and helping Mitchels win this competitive minor fixture in Pearses’ ground. Mitchels would have been disappointed had they lost this game as they dominated it for long periods, but some wayward shooting and overplaying of the ball left the game in the balance ‘till that last minute. Conor Douglas and Garry Hayes controlled the midfield exchanges in the first half and Garry shot Mitchels into a three point lead at half-time with some delightful scores. Conor Hayes and Ronan Kenny were strong in defence in that first half with the Sheridan brothers Diarmuid and Ciarán, Danny Mulvihill and Sean O’Malley working hard up front.

The second half was a different story with Pearses coming more into the game. John Cotter in goal for Mitchels made some great saves to keep them at bay while Danny Collins, Pat Fitzgerald and Keith Lavelle showed the value of their experience under pressure. Nevertheless a goal from the Pearses’ full forward and two points from frees left them two points up with time running out. Mitchels stayed cool though and were rewarded in that last minute when Mc Tigue stepped up.

Pearses got off to a flyer in this one with their corner forward netting two fast goals. A couple of points followed before Mitchels got into their stride with Luke McGrath replying with a goal and a point. Darren McTigue narrowed the gap with a point from play and then Mitchels spurned some chances to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Pearses got another goal on the stroke of half-time to leave two goals between the teams at the break.

In the second half Mitchels opened strong and when Andrew Butler goaled, it was all to play for. Some missed chances again proved costly before Pearses finished strong with a goal and a point. Liam Williams was powerful in defence and was well supported by Ronan Kenny and Marty Gallagher. Liam Murphy worked hard in midfield with Philip Redmond hitting some good ball while up front Luke McGrath and Andrew Butler were the pick of the bunch.

Alan Gavin got Castlebar Mitchels off to a flying start when he goaled early in the game. The Mitchels with Rory Byrne and Michéal Clune on top at midfield kept the pressure on and Damien McHale doubled the score shortly after when he scored a stunning goal that the great ‘D.J.’ would be proud of. Darragh O’Malley won the ball on the wing and put it across and Damien doubled on it in the air to give the goalkeeper no chance. Mitchels had some good chances to go further ahead but failed to take them while Pearses hit back to get a point before halftime.

Pearses started the second half with an early goal and continued to pile on the pressure. Another point left them just one behind but Richard O’Dea, Keith Fehilly and Colm Morris helped to steady the ship at the back. Alan Gavin and Darragh O’Malley continued to work hard up front and after some good work Tony Sweeney got a great point for Mitchels. Once again Mitchels took control of the game and a further two points by Michéal Clune helped to seal the issue

The Mitchels under 12 team had a great win over Pearses in a game that was a lot tighter than the scoreline projected. Art O’Sullivan scored a cracker of a goal from 30 yards to get Mitchels off to a quick start. After that however Pearses applied sustained pressure and but for some wonderful defence by Niall Fahey in goal and his full back line of Gregory Robinson, Thomas Quinn Bailie and David Costello Mitchels may have succumbed. Eventually Pearses did make the breakthrough with a goal to leave the half-time score all square.

Mitchels stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half with Conor Mylett, Paul Colleran and Kevin Keena supplying the ammunition to the inside forwards. Two goals in quick succession from Cathal Walsh put them ahead. Pearses tried to rally but they could not break through the defensive wall of Ashley Jensen, Daniel Munnelly and player of the game Aisling Towey. Mitchels surged forward again with the Singh brothers Aaron and Dara and Amie Staunton to the fore and Luke Ruddy and Lorcan King sealed the game with two well taken goals. Pearses never gave up trying and finished the game with a well taken point.

Next weekends series of games are against the Mountbellew / Moylough Club. The under 12s and under 16 games take place on Saturday while the under 14s and minors play on Sunday.

The Club Lotto Subscribers Draw took place on Sunday night and the following were the results.

1^st Prize €1,000 won by Toby McWalter, Balla.

2^nd Prize €500 won by Kevin Ruane, The Bungalow Bar, Main Street, Castlebar.

3^rd Prize €500 won by Fr. Michael Murphy, Castlebar.

4^th Prize €100 voucher for Tubs & Tiles won by Tommy Carney, Mayo Electrical Supplies.

5^th Prize Prize €100 voucher for Tubs & Tiles won by Peter Horkan, Spencer Street, Castlebar.

6^th Prize Prize €100 voucher for Tubs & Tiles won by Cathal Reynolds, Mountain View, Castlebar.

The Mayo Hurling Presentation night is on this coming Friday night in the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar at 8pm. Medals will be presented to the All-Ireland under 16 winning team, the All-Ireland runner-up minor team and the National League Division 3 winning Senior Team.

Congratulations to the Castlebar Mitchels players, Andrew Butler, Pat Fitzgerald, Keith Lavelle, Conor Hayes, Conor Douglas and Eoin Murtagh who were part of the Mayo under 16 hurling team that won the All-Ireland title this summer.

Ten of our minors were on the Mayo minor panel that lost the All-Ireland final this summer. Daniel Collins, Gary Hayes, Keith Staunton, James Diskin, Shane Horan, Padraig Healy, Sean Gavin, Ronan O’Boyle, Gerard O’Boyle and Andrew Butler will all receive their medals on Friday evening, while four of our senior players, Ger Whyte, Liam Fallon, Kieran Horan and Sean Kelly will be presented with their National League Division 3 medals.

Congratulations to Darragh, Gráinne, and Michéal Healy, Laura Hickey and Sinead O’Brien who won the instrumental music section of the Connaught Scór na n’óg in Claremorris last Saturday.

Hurling History

Did you know that the first recorded game of hurling was played in Mayo. The ‘Annals of the Four Masters’ tell us that it was played on the Planes of Moytura in 1272 BC between the Fír Boilg and the Tuath de Dannon. The Fír Boilg won the game and afterwards slaughtered their opponents. This led on to a war between the two groups which the Tuath de Dannon ended up winning.