Vol 7. Issue 4 November 2016 Club glory County championships conclude as provincial race intensifies €2.50 OFFICIAL GAA PUBLICATION President’s Note Secretary’s Note A Chairde Gael, A Chairde Gael, HE Connacht club football championship T has never been so competitive, and it T this time of the looks to go right down to the wire with year we are all some more intriguing pairings on the way. engrossed in the Reigning champions Castlebar Mitchels, build up to the provin - 2015 All-Ireland winners Corofin and 2013 All- cial club champi - Ireland champions St Brigid’s are all still in A the senior race this time around. onships, while we all Leitrim’s Aughawillan will provide the in- have a great bank of trigue as the 11-time Leitrim title holders, are memories to call upon the dark horses left in the competition and they will to create an from the various inter- upset. county games all year. In the hurling St Thomas’ are once again, the kingpins of Galway, Those competitions following a dominant display against Gort in the final at Pearse Sta- have been parked for dium. Thomas’ won the All-Ireland title in 2013, and they are heavily now until the dawn of fancied to go on and have a big say in the All-Ireland again, this time 2017 – this time of the around. Unfortunately for Mayo their wait for the Sam Maguire Cup goes year is all about the on, after they came unstuck against Dublin in the All-Ireland final at clubs. Croke Park on October 1. It had been a tremendous campaign for All of the county club championships have been Stephen Rochford’s men, who kept their cool after they lost the Con- concluded at this stage and there was some excellent nacht semi-final against Galway at MacHale Park. finals and semi-finals played in all of the counties. Many people thought it was the end of this great Mayo team, but Congratulations to all of the winner over the senior, they re-grouped and got themselves back to Croke Park once again. intermediate and junior championships, and we wish On the opposite side of the draw Dublin had been rampant all sea- them all the best in the provincial championships as son. They were outstanding in their semi-final against Kerry, but Mayo they go on to represent their clubs and counties at a nearly pipped them in the drawn final. They almost did likewise in the replayed final. 2016 Player of the Year, Lee Keegan, scored a fantastic higher level. goal and Mayo came so close to getting the game to extra-time. While I am reluctant to list all of the winners, spe - But I know that team will return to headquarters again next sea- cial mention must go to Roscommon club Oran, who son, and backed by Rochford, they will be a fearsome outfit again. competed in both their county’s senior hurling and in - The Galway minors came so close to upsetting Kerry, in their hunt termediate football finals and managed to work their for a three-in-a-row. But that is a great Kerry team, and Galway can way past stern opposition and replays to emerge as hold their heads high, with a great future ahead of them. hurling champions. It was an incredible effort from all Outside of the inter-county sphere, the various underage competi- of the players and mentors and it just goes to show tions have continued to capture the imagination in the province re- that the dual club is not a thing of the past. cently, and we here in Connacht continue to produce the very best talent that can compete with any corner of the GAA. While the inter-county season has been consigned And as the many Connacht club titles get decided in the coming to the history books Mayo senior footballers should weeks, we will see some great teams that will no doubt go on and fly be congratulated for their brave run again this year. It the flag proudly in Croke Park later this year, and beyond. was tough to see them fall short after a replay in the All-Ireland final, but I’m sure it was a lot tougher for Is mise, le meas everyone involved in the set-up there. No doubt that John Prenty defeat to Dublin – an excellent team – will drive them Runai, CLG Cuige Connachta on through the winter and we’ll see plenty of them back in the green and red shirt come spring time. Congratulations also to the Mayo players who picked up All Stars recently. First time winners David Clarke and Brendan Harrison had fine seasons, while ‘Into the West’ Lee Keegan and Colm Boyle continue to set the stan - dards for all players from this province. Special congratulations to Lee Keegan too on being named as the footballer of the year. He had an Keep yourself in the loop. Sign up today for your free electronic copy of incredible campaign, and the fact that the award is the magazine – emailed directly to your Inbox. To sign up, email maga- voted by his peers will give him genuine satisfaction. [email protected] On the hurling front Galway’s David and Daithi ‘Into the West’ is produced by the Connacht GAA Council. Burke were honoured with All Star awards, while Editor: John Fallon. Published by: Pádraig Corcoran. Leitrim’s Colm Moreton and Zac Moradi were named News and photographs for inclusion can be emailed to in the Lory Meagher champions 15, and Roscom - [email protected]. To obtain an electronic copy of the magazine each quarter, free of charge, email: [email protected]. mon’s Michéal Kelly was named in the Christy Ring • Deadline for advertising and copy will be announced on the Connacht Council 15. Well done to all of the winners. website – www.connachtgaa.ie. Before too long we’ll know the identity of the COVER PICTURES –Main picture: Patrick Skehill captain of St Thomas' lifts the cup on provincial winners and I wish them the best of luck as behalf of his team. Photo: David Maher/Sportsfile they go on to fly the Connacht flag in the New Year. Inset, top: Tourlestrane captain James Leonard is presented the Owen B Hunt Cup by Sligo GAA chairman, Joe Taaffe. Photo: Eamonn McMunn Inset, bottom right: Corofin's Alan Burke, left, and Ciaran McGrath of Corofin lift the cup fol - Is mise, le meas lowing their victory over Salthill-Knocknacarra at Pearse Stadium. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Inset, bottom centre: Castlebar Mitchels captain Rory Byrne lifts the Moclair Cup after the Mick Rock club’s latest win. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Page 2 Contents Mayo fall just short in replay .............................................3 O’Connor breathes life into Mayo challenge ......................5 Goals the key as Kerry cruise to victory .............................11 Leonard on fire as Corofin reign supreme once more .........12 St Thomas’ back on top after St Thomas’ back on top after tense Galway final ...............14 tense Galway final County title resides in the south as Kelly g oals for Tourlestrane ..........................................16 Mayo fall just short in replay Six of the best for Calry in Sligo senior decider ..................18 Cluainin take Leitrim senior hurling title ...........................19 Plunkett seals late win for Aughawilian ............................20 Oran claim replay victory after extra-time triumph ..........21 Brigid’s stave off late comeback ........................................22 Mighty Mitchels reign again ..............................................24 Higgins the hero once more ...............................................26 Mighty Mitchels reign again Burke goes for candidancy ................................................27 O’Connor breathes life into Mayo challenge Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force Conference discusses Ireland’s relationship with alcohol ........................28 GAA Youth Forum 2016 ......................................................30 O Fearghail commends new sponsorship deal ...................31 Successful Green & Red Golfing Society outing ..................32 Ballinasloe triumph ...........................................................33 GAA President visits Sligo Schools .....................................36 Molaise Gaels Back where they belong .............................42 Brigid’s stave off late comeback Goals the key as Kerry cruise to St Michael’s ease to victory to claim junior title ................44 victory Focus on Galway ...............................................................46 Focus on Roscommon ........................................................52 Focus on Leitrim ................................................................56 Mark Rooney - an Appreciation .........................................57 Louisburgh edge a thriller .................................................62 Westport step up to senior after convincing win ...............63 Focus on Ladies GAA ..........................................................65 Focus on Camogie ..............................................................67 Leonard on fire as Corofin GAA {resodemt vosots S;ogp reign supreme once more Handball –Ní Churraoin wins again ...................................72 scjpp;s Page 3 ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL REPLAY Mayo fall just short in replay Dublin .................1-15 Mayo ...................1-14 By MIKE FINNERTY The Mayo News ayo’s dreams of winning the county’s first all-Ireland senior title in 65 years were dashed in the dramatic replay at Croke Park. MDefending champions Dublin put back- to-back championships together for the first time since 1977 as they edged out Mayo by single point after another breath - DRIVE: Mayo forward Diarmuid O’Connor bursts through the tackle of Dublin’s Diarmuid less encounter. Connolly in their All-Ireland final replay at Croke Park. Photo: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE. on a day when Mayo lost both Lee Keegan and Rob Hennelly to black cards, and a second-half penalty from Diarmuid The defence was heroic for the second scores on the board, and the contribution Connolly proved to time in thirteen days, holding four of of impact sub Cormac Costello for the be a decisive mo - Dublin’s starting six forward scoreless champions ultimately tipped the scales in ment, this group of from play. all over the field Dublin’s favour. players once more Mayo players worked, His points in the 58th, 59th and spared nothing in harried, chased and 71st minutes did huge damage to pursuit of victory.