Ok, I know it’s been a while (June actually – Castlebar.ie sports ed) but when you think about it, it’s been a good year for sport locally. Now that sport has slowed down and we can actually relax (?) no better time than the present to look back and remember the year that was. Would you agree? Didn’t think so but here we are. The year (so far) that was…

Gaelic games

Mayo didn’t have the most auspicious of years. Then to be fair. John Maughan took over from Pat Holmes so maybe expectations were not that high. But they defeated Sligo and some people were happy with that. Next year may not be so forgiving but we will wait and see. On the national front we all know Tyrone beat Armagh so that’s enough of that. In hurling it was a year to remember, national hurling league and the All Ireland junior title while the under 21’s made it to the final. On the club front Ballina shocked Crossmolina while Curry then shocked them last Sunday.

Sadly for the Mitchels it was not a great year but remember, they are a very young team and given time will come good. Breaffy on the other hand won all before them and with Marty Mc returning to the County Senior team, well, it looks good.

Soccer

Mayo made it to the quarter finals of the Oscar Traynor (the all Ireland for soccer) but came up against Clare. Enough said. The under 21 side got through the fixtures and finished mid table, a decent result. It also saw the resignation of Fergie McEllin and Jeremy Dee take over in a caretaker capacity in his second stint. Jeremy as it happens takes over from Joe Butler as Chairman of the Mayo league next year. This season (since September) there was defeat to Galway and a win over the defence forces. Interesting note, they take on Roscommon next Sunday to see if they remain in the competition.

On the club front, it was a year that Castlebar Celtic will want to remember and forget. Who can ever forget their historic Connacht Cup win over Moyne Villa? And then again, does everyone want to remember their defeat to Erris that gave the title to Erris on the very last day. I have done some Commentaries in my time but that was up there with the best of them. Game of the season. Shame about the result. Snugboro celebrated an amazing year with promotion to the premier and two cup finals. Castlebar United are in the middle of their development and by the looks of things it will go well.

Rugby

Ouch!!! It was year of so near and yet so far for Castlebar. Defeat to buccaneers in the Connacht League semi final followed by one of the most controversial defeats of the season to Corinthians in the cup meant a season without silverware. Then at the beginning of this season it started brightly enough. Before Monivea gave them a lesson (as they have been doing to every team this season). It looked bad, but last weekend, it was back in fashion as they defeated Westport by a single point. The Ladies began their adventure in the AIL with defeat to Enniskillen but its very early doors so watch this space for more details. Underage is going very well and with the like of Enda Murphy and Tadgh Kirby playing well at underage, the future is bright. Ballinrobe made the cup final before Buccaneers defeated them but they are rebuilding.

Ladies Gaelic Football

Do I even need to start about this? It’s a great joke. You win the All Ireland and almost single handedly make the game exciting and something to get the fans behind. Then you are hit by a world record fine for amateur sport (I think) just because you had already done a deal with one jersey manufacturer when another deal was announced. Now I know that there are rules. But could someone out there please explain it to me?

Anyway that’s me and the bitching over (no pun Intended) they travelled to Dublin in their thousands and saw Diane O’Hora score the goal that gave them the title again. The club scene is very strong too. Castlebar’s ladies were beaten by a point by Dunmore in the Connacht semi final, while Kilmovee and Carnacon must travel to Cork to for their all Ireland semi finals.

So that’s it. Sport’s early review of the year part one over and done with. I’m bound to have forgotten some details but if I have, let me know and I will gladly sort it out. Next week we will look at basketball, cycling, swimming and Athletics so if any club PRO has any details send them into my e-mail and I will include it. Ok? Sound.