Congratulations to the Castlebar Mitchels under 14 hurling team who retained their Féile crown by beating Tooreen in Balyvary on Saturday last on a 6-7 to 1-5 scoreline. Despite missing a couple of their star players, Mitchels got down to business early and two points each from Tony Sweeney and Michael Clune along with 1-1 from Richard O’Dea saw them beginning to open a gap. Further goals from Damien McHale and Nathan O’Malley in the first half left the half time score at 3-5 to 1-3. In the second half Tooreen tried hard to get back into the game but goals from Alan Gavin, Richard O’Dea and Nathan O’Malley with points from Michael Clune and Tony Sweeney saw the Mitchels run out easy winners in the end.

Barry Lane kept his defence in check all through with Joseph Redmond, Darragh O’Malley, Colm Morris and Rory Byrne playing very well in defence. Cormac Killion was a tower of strength in midfield while all six forwards managed to get on the scoresheet. After the game captain Michéal Clune was presented with the Féile shield by referee Gerry Kilbride. The team now prepare to go to Cork for the All Ireland Féile competition in June.

On Monday last Castlebar Mitchels, after a titanic struggle, beat Ballyhaunis to earn a place in the Féile final against Tooreen. Nathan O’Malley got Mitchels off to a flying start with a goal in the first minute but Ballyhaunis soon settled into their game to come back and lead by a point at half time. Mitchels came out strong again at the start of the second half and gradually began to wear down their opponents. Tony Sweeney got an early goal followed by two points by Michéal Clune before Richard O’Dea made the game safe with a late goal. Keith Fehilly, Ethan Tuffy and Colm Morris in the fullback line kept Mitchels in this game while Ballyhaunis were on top. Nicholas Quinn, Rory Byrne and substitute Joseph Redmond steadied the game in the halfback line, while Fergal Durkan and Michéal Clune tried hard in midfield. Nathan O’Malley was the pick of the forwards. Mitchels were sluggish for a lot of this game and will certainly have to step up their game if they are to beat Tooreen in the final.

The Mitchels under 14 ‘B’ team got their championship off to a good start with this win over Ballyvary. Sean King opened the scoring with a well taken goal before two well taken points by Damien Togher and another by Cian Gavin extended the lead for Mitchels. The highlight of this game though was a ‘John Fenton’ type goal by Cian Gavin towards the end of the first half. Cian pulled on a ball from 40 yards out and it flew to the top corner of the net. What a goal….. it will stand in the memory of those who were there for quite a while. In the second half Sean King, Ranjit Singh, and Kevin Keena added goals and Brian Collins scored two beautiful points to leave the fulltime score at 5-5 to 1-0. All the defence played well with full back John Corcoran in outstanding form, Ger Duffy was on top in midfield while six of the forwards got on the scoresheet. Ballyvary played their hearts out right to the end with Owen Gannon giving a wonderful display in midfield. They have a very young team but they are picking up the skills and it’s just a matter of time before they make the breakthrough.

Congratulations to Michéal Clune who won the under 14 skills competition in Ballyvary on Saturday. It was a great day for Michéal who had earlier captained the under 14 Mitchels team to the Féile title. Well done also to Conor Mylett who represented the club in the under 12 skills competition and to James Gallagher who represented the under 10s on Sunday.

Under 14 Hurling School of Excellence

Trials for the U14 Hurling School of Excellence take place in Ballyvary on Friday evening next May 19^th at 8pm.

The under 8 hurlers go to Ballyvary this Wednesday evening to play Go Games. The Bus will leave from An Sportlann at 6.30pm and return at 8.45pm. Cost of the bus is €3.

This Saturday our under 12s are off to Pearses of Roscommon for the Connaught Ground Hurling Blitz. This has developed into a wonderful competition over the last few years and we wish the lads well. The bus will leave from An Sportlann at 9am.

On Thursday next in Balyvary St. Pats N.S. take on Ballyhaunis N.S. at 12 noon while Scoil Raiftéiri take on Tooreen at 1pm in the Mayo National Schools semifinals. We wish both our schools well in their respective games.

For the fifth year Castlebar Mitchels Hurling Club ran an Easter project titled 'HURLING ON THE GREEN’ (for children 12 and under) and once again it proved to be a great success with huge numbers turning up each day. Once again the club has been supported in running the project by our local Credit Union with the help of their generous sponsorship. Since the project started the Credit Union have been great supporters of ‘Hurling on the Green’, which provides hurling on the green areas of the town at no cost to the children. At our recent club meeting Mr Tony Stakelum, club chairperson, thanked the Credit Union for their sponsorship and commended them for all the help and support that they give to our club and to groups within the community.

Senior coach Ger Whyte was very happy with the turn out over the Easter, saying that the numbers attending were bigger than ever before and it bodes well for a wonderful summer. This year for the second year running the club also ran a hurling academy for the 13-16yr olds. Numbers attending the academy were also up on last year. Both camps will continue again for the summer.

Under 8 Fr. Michael Murphy 0857345167

Under 10 Conal O’Domhnaill 0876877489

Under 12 Barry Murphy 0868318748

Under 14 Gerry Lane 0878278705

Under 16 Michael Clune 0879685577

Under 18 Darren Greaney 0872671369

Senior Ray Coy 0872021677

Club Coach Ger White 0863520671

Chairperson Tony Stakelum 086 8586842

There is training on Wed evening for under 8, 10, 12, and 14s at 6pm.

Interested in playing Camogie for Castlebar Mitchels.

Junior Team trains on Wednesdays at 7pm in Davitt College.

Under 14 Camogie training on Wednesdays at 7pm in Davitt College also.

Race Night to raise funds for Juvenile Hurling.

Last year our parents committee ran a very successful race night and this year they hope to repeat it. The race night will take place in Coadys Bar on Friday June 2^nd. The race night will help to support the running of such things as our Schools Coaching Project, Hurling on the Green, The Hurling Academy, The Suck Valley League, Féile na nGael and all our underage training and competitions. Horses will cost €30 and race sponsorship is €100.