The countdown is on to the 70th anniversary celebrations of the official opening of McHale Park which is taking place on the weekend of May 11th -13th. A full programme of events is taking place during the week commencing 7th May. The highlight of the weekend will be the Tesco Challenge, the senior football challenge game between the new National League champions Mayo and the Leinster champions Kildare on Sunday 13th. The programme of events involves all areas of the club and at the moment looks like this:

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The press night to launch the Tesco Challenge (Mayo v Kildare) on Sunday May 13th will be held in the Welcome Inn Hotel this Thursday evening at 9.30 p.m.

From a social point of view this is the highlight of the week's activities. A buffet type meal will be served followed by cabaret and a disco. Tickets for the night cost only £10. Martin Moran @ 23277 is coordinating the event. If anybody is interested in hosting a table, please contact him as soon as possible.

As part of the 70th celebrations a souvenir programme is being researched at present and will be published next week. Thanks to the many people who have contributed information, articles and photographs for the programme. It is a collector's item for anybody interested in the development of McHale Park.

We had five winners in the first county board draw that took place last Wednesday night in Killala. While we didn't scoop any of the major prizes, our prizewinners included Eddie Grogan, Milebush, Lillian McLoughlin, Newport Road, Westaro Hosing, Aoife Malone, c/o McCarthy's Bar, Main Street and Mrs. Mary Smith, Ballysimon, Co. Limerick (nice one Benji!). Thanks to everybody who has bought a ticket in the draw and a special word of thanks to everybody for the enormous effort made in selling a total of 423 tickets.

Congratulations to Mayo, both team and management on their marvellous win in the National League final in Croke Park last Sunday. A huge number of supporters from the club travelled to see Mayo end their 31 year drought of National honours. Is there more to come? We certainly hope so!

Congratulations to Richard Feeney and Ronan Burke who were part of the Mayo minor panel that won the Connacht Minor league last week.

Castlebar was defeated by Corofin in the first round of the Connacht senior league which took place in Corofin last Wednesday evening.

The junior match had no league game last week.

Castlebar's secured their second win out of five games in this minor league clash played at McHale Park last week. No team listing available.

The senior team is at home to the All Ireland Club champions Crossmolina. The game is fixed for Saturday evening. Let's welcome the All Ireland Club champions to McHale Park. Your support would be appreciated.

The junior team is home to Kilcommon. Match fixed for Saturday.

Monday 30^th April Home to Ballaghaderreen

Friday 4^th April Away to Ballina

Senior and Junior football: Tuesday and Friday at 7.30 p.m.

The turnout at training sessions has exceeded all expectations and the club is now hoping to field Under-12, Under-16 and Junior teams in upcoming Mayo Leagues.

The under 12 League will commence this Friday coming and continue until June. A list of all fixtures for the Under 12 team is included below.

Friday 4th May (Home)
Castlebar v Louisburgh

Monday 7th May (Home)
Castlebar v Aughamore

Friday 11th May (Away)
Castlebar v Mayo Gaels

Friday 18th May (Away)
Castlebar v Knockmore

Friday 25th May (Home)
Castlebar v Kilcommon

Friday 1st June (Away)
Castlebar v Breaffy

Under 12 Training takes place on Wednesdays @ 5.30pm. Training takes place in St. Patrick's Boys N.S. pitch. Father Michael Murphy, Catherine Mc Hale & Tom Duffy are training this team and are very pleased with the support they are receiving from parents and the positive response they are receiving from new players. All are asked to come along and play.

Under 16 and Junior Team News

Training is continuing under the watchful eye of our manager, Ronan Steede.
However Under 16 and Junior Leagues are postponed until after the conclusion of examinations at the end of June. Until then a number of challenge games will be organised for both teams. Beginners and more experienced players are welcome to train.

Training Times:

For further information regarding Ladies Football, please contact any one of the following officers:

Castlebar 3-6 Belmullet 3-9

Castlebar were defeated by Belmullet in the second round of the Genfitt Cup played in McHale Park last Saturday evening. No team listing available.

Next Sunday Castlebar are at home to Ballyhaunis. Throw is at 3.30 p.m.

Senior:Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. in McHale Park.

Under 14:Wednesday 7 p.m. and Sunday morning at 12 noon.

Under 12:Saturday 1 p.m.

Once again members of Bord na nOg are rolling up their sleeves and with the help of some parents and players will be bag packing in Tesco's on Friday and Saturday next. If there is anyone available to lend a hand for a couple on hours, please contact either Monica Joyce at 22378 or Brendan O'Hara at 23485. All help would be appreciated.

Five members of the Under 15 panel have been nominated to attend the county board school of excellence to be held this week. The players involved are Emmet Feeney, Barry Moran, Alan Joyce, Enda Murphy and Kieran Hopkins. The various venues are Garrymore on Monday April 30th, Charlestown on Wednesday May 2nd, Islandeady Friday 4th, Crossmolina Saturday 5th (all at 6 p.m.)

Castlebar under 16's won the second game in this years league campaign played in Claremorris last Tuesday evening and in so doing maintained their 100% record. Castlebar led at half time by 0-6 to 0-3 but were pushed all the way by a determined Claremorris side who never gave up to the very end. Castlebar's greater strength and ball winning ability in key areas won the day. However if they wish to be pushing for honours later in the year they will need to improve their shooting as they were very wasteful in front of goal. Best for Castlebar were Joseph Malone, Alan Joyce, John Flannelly, Tadhg Kirby, John Conlon, John G. Stenson, Emmet Feeney, James Killeen and Barry Moran. Best for Ballintubber were Michael Munroe, Kevin McGuiness, Gary Mc Neela, Damian Coleman and Stephen Chalke.

Castlebar: Richard Byrne, Sean Ryder, Joseph Malone, Jonathan Byrne, Alan Joyce, John Flannelly, Tadhg Kirby, Alan Feeney, John Conlon, Joseph Corcoran, John G. Stenson, Emmet Feeney, James Killeen, Barry Moran, Jamie Rocke.
Subs: Darren Lavelle for Joseph Corcoran, Enda Murphy for Sean Ryder, Donal Coleman for James Killeen, Brendan Coleman, Brendan Connor, Noel Marley.
Scorers: John G. Stenson (1-3), Barry Moran (0-3, 2f), Emmet Feeney and John Conlon 0-2 each, Darren Lavelle (0-1).

Castlebar defeated a weak Ballinrobe side in the first round of the Division 1 league played at McHale Park last Thursday evening.
Team: Damon Cunningham, James Diskin, Padraig Healy, Ronan O'Boyle, Conor Higgins, Keith Lyons, Rory Irwin, Adrian Roche, Alan Lyons, Daragh Quinn, Ronan McTigue, Ronan Henry, Daragh Gleeson, Richard Martin, Kevin Stenson.
Subs: Ger O'Boyle, Jarlath Sweeney, Sean Faulkner, Keith Staunton, Tom Cunniffe, Conor Murray (inj), Niall O'Hara (inj), John Flatley.

Castlebar won this opening game in Division 4 of the county league played at Tourmakeady last Wednesday evening. Castlebar had to withstand a late Tourmakeady rally to hold on for a well earned victory.
Castlebar: Shane Cunnane, Ciaran Golden, Peter Munroe, Sean Keane, Sean McHale, Diarmuid Sheridan, Ciaran Sheridan, Michael Cuddy, Daragh Granaghan, Ciaran O'Dowd, Fiachra Heavey, Sean O'Malley, Shane Hopkins, Sean O'Donoghue, Ronan Moran.
Subs: Shane Hynes for Ronan Moran
Scorers: Shane Hopkins (4-1), Michael Cuddy (2-0), Sean O'Donoghue (1-0), Shane Hynes (0-1).

Breaffy proved too strong in the second half for the home side and pulled away in the closing stages. This was Castlebar's first outing of the year which was played in McHale park on Monday week last.
Castlebar: Simon Crowley, Mark Dolan, Fergus Sweeney, Brian Fahey, Raymond O'Malley, Brendan Raftery, David Haugh, Patrick Fitzgerald, David Joyce, Thomas King, Michael Diskin, Denis Aherne, Donal Newcombe, Sean Brophy, Jake McBride.
Subs: Daragh Boyle, Patrick Fitzgerald, David Howley, Daniel Moran, Donal Irwin, Eoin O'Neill (all used).
Scorers: Thomas King 1-2, Denis Aherne 1-0, David Joyce 0-1, Patrick Fitzgerald, Donal Newcombe, Michael Diskin and Sean Brophy 0-1 each.

The first round of this year's Feile competition takes place on Saturday next commencing at 11 a.m. in McHale Park. Castlebar have been drawn in Group H along with Westport and Lahardane. The winners of the group go through to the county quarter final to be played on Monday 7th May.

The under 12 town league starts on Monday 30th April in McHale Park. The following teams and team managers have been selected. Players are asked to assemble in McHale Park at 5.45 p.m.

Galway	Mayo	Sligo	Roscommon
Manager: Pat Diskin Phone: 0879551009	Manager: Denis Aherne Phone: 27531	Manager: Finian Joyce Phone: 22378	Manager: Donie Duignan Phone: 24285
Team Captain: Brendan Raftery	Team Captain: Alan Casey	Team Captain: Patrick Fitzgerald	Team Captain: Fergus Sweeney
Denis Aherne	Raymond O'Malley	Sean Brophy	Iosaf O'Reilly
David Haugh	Thomas King	Neil Douglas	Alan Garry
Mark Dolan	Conor Douglas	Peter Flatley	Darragh O'Boyle
Michael Diskin	Stephen Gilroy	Raymond Moran	David Joyce
Paul O'Shea	Simon Crowley	Ronan Kenny	Matthew Armstrong
Eoghan O'Reilly	Andrew Butler	Brian Fahey	Ronan Byrne
Donal Newcombe	Conor Walsh	Fergus Walsh	Patrick Wiseman
Jake McBride	David McNamara	Shane Casey	Frankie Gannon
Stephen Rogan	Seamus Staunton	Eoin O'Neill	Brian McHale
David Howley	Daniel Moran	Donal Irwin	Patrick Fitzgerald

Under 16 training Thursday 6.30 p.m., Sunday 11a.m.

Under 12 training Saturday at 11 a.m. (McHale Park)

Saturday at 11 a.m. (McHale Park)

Check out our website at www.castlebar.ie\clubs\mitchels_GAA_club.