Now before anyone starts giving out, I know I did not mention hurling in part one. My bad. But this year was just so spectacular I felt it deserved a special piece of its own. As for the sports of swimming, cricket, athletics and the noble art of boxing it was one to remember. So here it is…. Part two of the great odyssey that was local sports 2003!

Hurling

What is that the song that goes “it was a very good year” and as far as the hurlers are concerned it was one hell of a year!

All Ireland junior champions, National league Division three winners. Tooreen win the County championships and run Athleague to extra time before they went out of the club championships. And how about the Mitchell’s? Winners of the county championships and so close last weekend. And we cannot forget about DJ’s visit. The pictures of the young players watching him pull on that ground ball were something else! Its looking good for next year and the year after too and the future is really promising. Many men deserve praise. All the coaches and parents, and of course we cannot mention hurling without the success story that was the hurling on the green. Sponsored by the Credit Union, hundreds of potential DJ Careys trained, played and enjoyed themselves. Well done all!

Athletics

Mayo athletics has really surpassed themselves this year. We had Castlebar athletics club winning medals after medals in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor this season. Athletes like Sally Ann Maughan and Sean Brophy have been outstanding but they are just two in what has been a club effort. On the wider scale Mayo Athletics had the very successful road race league during the summer that raised a serious amount of money for charities in the county. Something in the region of twenty thousand euro in fact. Nice going and something to be proud of.

Cricket

A quiet year by recent standards, but the club is very much alive and preparing for a new summer season. I must also remind you that Castlebar as recent winners of the Leinster (yes I mean Leinster) minor cup. A great achievement. And there are some exciting games to look forward to from what I have been told. The mall will be alive and kicking next season!

Swimming

Again Castlebar Swimming club have worked hard and their underage swimmers are winning left, right and centre. I also have been made to believe that membership is as good as ever and growing which is good news! So all are looking forward to the New Year. Also on water sports, Claremorris have surprised quite a number of the established with a good run in the water polo league and cup competitions. Nice one lads.

Boxing

Oh, what can I say, having been at the Welcome Inn Hotel just a couple of weeks ago and seen boxers like Mark Garrett, Denis Ahern, Michael Waldron box incredibly well, and as for John Flannelly, wow. He out boxed a national champion and actually stopped him! I was the lucky commentator to witness it. On the more senior front, Thomas Moran from Westport, John Waldron from midfield, Michael Mullaney from Claremorris and of course Henry Coyle from Geesala all stand a decent chance when the seniors come around next month. Watch this space!

There you have it, a round up of the year but I know I have forgotten loads, so I am making one last call. If you are with a club that we haven’t featured, then drop me an e-mail to mulliganj52@hotmail.com and put Castlebar sport on the subject line and I will feature it next time. Cheers!