M Sport Tuesday, May 26, 2020

twitter.com/ sport@ mayonews.ie/sport facebook.com/ mayonewssport mayonewssport mayonews.ie 2 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 GAA NEWS Mayo GAA chiefs making provisional plans for games

championship either. A proposal ‘is on the cards’ have to hope Croke Park gives Interviewiew “July 20 is the start of Phase for splitting the divisions into us guidance on these things as GER FLANAGANAN Four and that’s the day we would halves and playing semi-fi nals it will be an extremely tough gerfl [email protected] be looking at in our heads,” the and fi nals between the top and decision [to return to play] for County Board’s vice-chairman bottom two in each. The third some players. explained. “Hopefully you will and fourth finishers would “Some people have quoted the be going back to football three potentially contest a Michael Bundesliga and [English] Pre- AYO GAA chiefs or four weeks after that, mean- Walsh semi-fi nal and fi nal, so miership model to me, but the are planning for ing clubs will have three weeks as to provide them with difference is we’re a voluntary- the possible stag- training and possibly a [Divi- games. led organisation, not a profes- ing of the 2020 club sional Cup] game before cham- However, time will not be on sional one, and we can’t ask Mchampionships in pionship starts. the CCC’s side to allow that players to isolate for six weeks the months of August and Sep- “Our best case scenario is an scenario to play out. to get championship played. tember, with clubs being allowed August/September champion- How GAA clubs manage the “So we’re waiting on the Gov- to resume training in late July ship, possibly even [running] ‘return to play’ is another conun- ernment, Croke Park and the as part of Phase Four of the into October. There will be no drum facing the County Board HSE for those guidelines. The Government’s Roadmap for eas- knock-out championship – there executive, with Con Moynihan capability for mass testing is ing Covid-19 restrictions. isn’t an appetite for it. You can’t suggesting that mass testing for there… and I think Covid-19 will The chairman of Mayo GAA’s ask players to train for a number Coronavirus is the only solution be part of our lives going for- Competitions Control Commit- of weeks for one game, we don’t to give players ‘peace of ward… and that will be key for tee [CCC], Con Moynihan, told think it would be fair on them. mind’. players’ own piece of mind.” The Mayo News last night that “I don’t envisage having club “We’re lucky that Dr Sean The Ballaghaderreen native they are working off the advice football without spectators Moffatt is on the Covid-19 med- also acknowledged a ‘growing of the Government, the HSE and either,” he added. ical committee, so any return demand’ to let children back on the GAA, and are ‘ready to hit “It has been discussed, but I to play protocol will be decided to GAA pitches and knows that the ground running’ once they personally think it’s a non-run- well in advance from Croke it will benefi t them mentally get the go-ahead. ner and that is the general con- PLANNING Mayo GAA Board vice-chairman Con Moynihan. Pic: Park,” he said. and emotionally. Moynihan also revealed that sensus from talking to the Michael Donnelly “Obviously then there is each However, he admitted that it a ‘behind closed doors’ club Executive. player’s personal circum- will be diffi cult to do so until championship is a ‘non-runner’ “Who is going to stand at the Obviously, social distancing will the idea of running off the Mayo stances. further clarifi cation arrives from for the Executive of the Mayo gate and tell people who have have to be adhered to and that Senior Leagues hasn’t been dis- “Some could be living with the public health authorities County Board and he confi rmed been heavily involved in build- is one of the many questions to carded yet, but that it looks elderly parents, others may have and Croke Park offi cials on the that there are no plans to try ing a club that they can’t go in be answered by Croke Park.” unlikely that they will go ahead a pregnant wife or girlfriend or many obstacles surrounding and run off a ‘knock-out style’ and watch them playing football? Moynihan also explained that this year. already have children, so we it. Clubs raise concerns with County Board offi cials

GER FLANAGAN with members of the County han told The Mayo News that even more difficult,” he said. larly, because with no players ing is difficult. The pub scene Board executive in a series of clubs are seeking answers “And the three main bug-bears playing, the claims will be is a non-runner and lottos are calls last week. from Croke Park on possible with them were the player reduced. So we will be doing going online. Senior Mayo GAA officials rebates, with some clubs sug- injury scheme, property insur- that. “We’re living in a different ONCERNS around the ‘touched base’ with secretar- gesting they were prepared ance and public liability in “There has to be a medium world now, so we’re going to GAA’s player injury ies of all clubs in the county to lobby for them in 2021. light of nothing happening. there and that’s our job as an try and help clubs out as much scheme, property last week in the wake of a let- “The general consensus from “The message from clubs is Executive in the next couple as possible and hope that insurance and public ter that was circulated to them the clubs was that they were that we will have to lobby of months to liaise with Croke Croke Park will too because Cliability insurance last month regarding plans to lucky they had membership Croke Park to see if there will Park to try and get some res- this is not just a Mayo prob- were some of the main issues collect levies and revamp the collected because if Covid-19 be a rebate or discount for pite for clubs, more than likely lem, this is a 32-county prob- raised by a number of Mayo annual Development Draw. happened in January or Feb- clubs in 2020 or 2021 on the in 2021, because we’re in a lem that will need address- GAA clubs when they spoke Vice-chairman Con Moyni- ruary, 2020 would have been player injury scheme particu- period now where fundrais- ing.” No games, no problem. We’re still here! Take a listen to The Mayo News Football Podcast

• Listen at mayonews.ie • Download from iTunes • Check out MayoGAABlog.com TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 3 GAA MAYO NEWS TOP 100 CLUB FOOTBALLERS Chasing the dream

MIKE FINNERTY

LAYING for Mayo since 2011 has ‘been the best time’ of Cil- lian O’Connor’s life. The Ballintubber star has been Pselected as the number one senior player in the inaugural Mayo News ‘Top 100 Mayo club footballers’ and has given an exclusive interview to this week’s The buzz for Mayo News Football Podcast to mark the occasion. me is the When O’Connor was asked by inter- viewer Billy Joe Padden how he refl ected “ common goal on his Mayo career, given that he hadn’t yet managed to win an elusive All-Ireland senior medal, he explained that ‘it’s been an absolute dream’. “It’s been the best time of my life. Get- ting to play for Mayo since I was 18 or 19 with men that I have huge respect for, have great craic with, great friends. It’s been an absolute dream really, I’ve loved it. “Obviously we’d like to have won a few more games than we have — but the buzz for me was the common goal, the com- mon purpose, making sacrifi ces, pulling together, fi guring stuff out. Be it in sport or work or whatever you’re doing. That’s what I get my kicks out of. “So I’ve enjoyed it immensely. And I hope I can do it for another while.” During the course of their wide-ranging and in-depth chat, Padden also asked O’Connor how he was adapting to the sporting shutdown after ten years of a hectic GAA schedule with both Ballintub- ber and Mayo. “That’s the big thing you miss, the social element to it. You’re used to a clear struc- ture, meeting your buddies during the week, the bit of slagging, the competition in training, and you’re losing all of that. “It was a bit weird at the start, we all kind of enjoyed maybe a week or two away from each other, had a bit of break, but then you start to miss it. And you think, ‘Right, I better set my week up a bit dif- ferently here. And you have to make a conscious effort to keep in contact with sessions in, don’t stress about when we’ll “I know it probably sounds funny, but I A FAMILIAR POSE one replay) and nine All-Ireland semi- lads on WhatsApp or calls or Snapchat be back’. consider myself quite lucky when it comes Ballintubber’s Cillian O’Connor fi nals (winning four). or whatever you need to do just to keep “If you’re exercising and you’re making to injuries. I didn’t really have any muscle gets ready to take a free Billy Joe Padden asked if he had man- during the 2017 Mayo SFC in touch.” sure your family and friends are healthy injuries for the fi rst eight years, I’d say. Final against Castlebar aged ‘to move on, and not dwell on the On the subject of the GAA restarting and well, that’s the most important thing “Then I had a little bit of hassle with my Mitchels. Pic: Sportsfi le defeats?’ again, O’Connor admitted, “It’s all up in these days. knee, a little bit of tendonitis at the end of “They’re just bumps in the road that you the air.” “Stressing about what other teams are 2014, and between the two knees that was deal with, you take lessons from and you “I probably spent the fi rst few days of doing is just too tiring and a waste of time probably lingering since really. move on,” replied the former Mayo cap- the lockdown speculating and monitoring really. “But I feel good now, I think I’m over tain. “They’re only permanent setbacks if the news, watching every update, but after “A bit of exercise every day and stick to that. you take them forward and hold on to those few days I thought, ‘There’s no point the training plan is all you can do.” “We’re lucky too, in the last six to eight them. in doing this, it’s a waste of energy’. I’m The 28 year-old, who is a Director and months Brendan Butler [physio] and Conor “When you take a step back during a just going to tip along, stay fi t and healthy, Business Developer for Spot Recruitment Finn [S&C coach] have been really good TO LISTEN period like this, you realise there are far and when there’s news about fi xtures I’m in Dublin, was also asked about his cur- around the team and have really helped YOU can hear our full more important things in life than things sure we’ll hear about it. rent injury status, given that he hadn’t me get back to full training. exclusive interview with like that. “The fi rst few days you’re worrying about featured in any of Mayo’s fi rst fi ve National “One silver lining is that I can probably Cillian O’Connor on this “You take the good with the bad in terms what you should be doing, when should League games this spring. catch up on some of the conditioning and week’s Mayo News Football of sport, you don’t dwell on it. It’s what I I be peaking, what’s the timeframe, trying “I feel good now, luckily, touchwood. some of the training I missed coming back Podcast. love doing and the energy around the to get the inside track on everything. . . Injuries are part of the game for 90 percent so late last year.” Go to mayonews.ie/listen group over the last few months and years “That’s tiring and draining, so after a of footballers, they’re just something you O’Connor, who is the GAA’s all-time or download it from Spotify is brilliant. few days I was like, ‘Plan out your week have to deal with. You can’t dwell on leading championship scorer, has played or iTunes. “And it’s something that I miss these on a Sunday evening, get your couple of [them]. in fi ve All-Ireland senior fi nals (including days.” 4 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 GAA NEWS Dunne tries to drive home the mental health message

MIKE FINNERTY

EVERYONE involved in the GAA needs to ‘be patient and practical’ as they wait for the green light to re-open their pitches and return to competitive action. That’s according to the chairman of Pick up the the Mayo GAA Health and Wellbeing committee, Niall Dunne, who also feels phone and that club players ‘need room to breathe’ “ during the current shutdown of GAA talk to us activity due to Covid-19 restrictions. “Sport is slowly returning but we’re stuck in a domino effect, I think, and we just have to wait to see what happens in other countries. GAA will return too but we have to be patient and practical,” he told The Mayo News. all the organisations who provide men- “I think club players need to be given tal health support are supported by the a chance to breathe again; it had all gone Government in the months and years very serious. ahead. “When it’s safe to go back training and “Overall, the message we want to get playing matches again, of course we across to people right now is We can should do it. And the same goes for only try and help people if they pick up opening pitches.” the phone.” Niall Dunne, who played minor and In his spare-time, Dunne coaches the Under-21 football with Mayo, and also Parke Under-6s and Junior C team; when won an All-Ireland club medal with St it comes to the youngest players in local Vincent’s in Dublin before returning to GAA clubs he believes that ‘less is more’ his native Parke, also believes that teen- CHALLENGING TIMES cially those who are Leaving Cert stu- coping with the stresses and strains of at the moment. agers are in need of guidance and direc- Niall Dunne is the manager of the dents as well, and let them know that the new normal. “Let them be kids is what I say, this tion from their GAA clubs during these Mayo Mental Health Association. there is support there if they need it. There has been an increase in phone isn’t going to impact on them long-term They have seen an increase in unprecedented times. calls in recent weeks. “Most clubs have set up training pro- calls to their offi ces over the last month in terms of their GAA development. “I fi nd teenagers, generally, are very grammes and are using technology to and everything from fi nancial worries Young boys and girls that age will fi nd resilient and adaptable,” he said. “They keep in touch with players, and talking to uncertainty around the Leaving Cert ways to be active, running around, on are still developing and can be shaped to someone is still the best way to address has featured in many of the conversa- their bikes, just being kids. But, from a in terms of their mental outlook up to any issues that people might have.” tions. It also puts the sporting shutdown social point of view, you do need to be the age of 25. Dunne works full-time as the manager into perspective. aware of how they’re feeling and what “A lot of them are looking for direction, of the Mayo Mental Health Association “When you work in mental health you they might need to talk about. so if the direction is strong from their which is based in Castlebar so is well- see the other, bigger issues that impact If you or someone you know needs to coach then they will do it. So it’s impor- placed to assess the current lie of the on people and that have to take priority. talk, you can call the Mayo Mental Health tant to keep in contact with them, espe- land when it comes to how people are And it’s going to be absolutely vital that Association at (094) 90 38148.

Working from home or just at Last Dance. Just fi nished watching 2002 played in Balla against home? Normal People – had to see what Aghamore. A lot of legends on that QUICKFIRE Recently fi nished my exams online the fuss was. team as well. I remember the so I’ll have to go with ‘just at home’. celebrations afterwards coming Favourite song to wash your back and it was truly special for the QUESTIONS Strangest thing you do to pass hands to? club. the time? Bruce Springsteen - Born in the Baking. Needs improving. USA. First thing you’ll do when the lockdown ends? What’s the best thing about Which three celebrity guests Catch up with friends and team- going nowhere? would you invite to your Zoom mates. Have more time to think about the party? more important things in life and Liam Gallagher, Matthew McCo- What do you miss most about appreciating every day. naughey and Billie Eilish. training? The craic, mostly, and sunny Worst thing about social GUEST Matthew McConaughey What’s your most prized evening training sessions. Also distancing? possession at the moment? hearing John Reilly, Darren Madden Not being able to meet up with progress bit by bit and hopefully it My 2006 Adidas Powerswerves. A and Davy Feehan give out is friends or family on a regular basis. won’t last much longer. classic boot. something you’d miss. Name: Darragh Keaveney Club: Kilmeena Age: 24 Best thing about social distanc- What’s your guilty pleasure TV One old match you’d love to Sum up Coronavirus in three Occupation: Student ing? show? watch back? words? Very little, but we are making I’m currently binge watching The Kilmeena’s County Final win in This will pass. TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 5 FOOTBALL FEATURE ‘Boots are the only things I keep’

ANDY MORAN THE BOOT ROOM

I DABBLED with every kind of boots but during the boom times in the mid-2000s you'd get boots sent to you and if you wore the boots in a game in Croke Park and it was recorded or captured in a pic- ture you might get a few pound. Nike were really trying to take on the GAA market at the time and were send- ing us down boots. Obviously, Ciarán Mc(Donald) and Conor Mortimer were big Adidas men. We were young men in college and getting €400 or €500 for wearing a free pair of boots was mighty. I wore Asics then for a while and was in Adidas too but after breaking my leg in 2011 and doing my cruciate the year after being the good Irish Catholic I was superstitious about the whole thing and changed back to Nike. But still, I was getting injured and hurting my back and I was looking for something to cushion my foot. So I went to Asics and they were a nice boot and everything but then I started to get myself right going up to Eanna Falvey up in Santry. Barry Solan, who’s a good friend of mine, took over the strength and conditioning and things were coming together for me and my good wife (Jennifer) turned around to me and said, ‘If you’re fi nishing your career in the next couple of years you’re not wearing Asics.’ So she bought me a present of red Nikes for Christmas 2014 and I’ve worn them for the last fi ve sea- sons with Mayo. Boots were a big thing for any young lad but things would have been tight for us growing up. Not that we were poor but we were a typical Irish family on a council estate. It wasn’t that we could be any way extravagant. We had a real strong tie in Ballaghad- erreen to the Galway team of the late about €140 and if I went home and asked Mc and Greg Blaney and I eventually got MAGIC MOMENT I didn’t wear them long enough to dam- 1990s, the Joyces and the Donnellans, my father for that for a pair of boots I around to wearing my socks up like them. is pictured age and I probably thought I could get and Johno (O’Mahony) would have been know what would be said to me. But It might have coincided with a calf strain scoring a goal for Mayo another wear out of them. Medals and our coach too at the time. We won an Johno one day arrived down with a box or some injury that I had to keep them against Dublin in the 2006 trophies, I wouldn’t be huge on holding All-Ireland SFC semi-fi nal All-Ireland “B” title with St Nathy’s and of the boots to me and said, ‘Don’t say it up for but it took off from there. while wearing a pair of Nike onto, even jerseys.” the new Predator Accelerator were out to anyone.’ My appreciation for what Boots are the only things I do keep; I Tiempo Mystic football boots. at the time and all the Galway boys had Johno did for us as kids just took off from can look at them and know when I wore Pic: Sportsfi le In conversation with John Fogarty. them and all the lads had them. there. them and what happened. Kids always This article fi rst appeared in last I couldn’t get them — I think they were I always loved the playmaker like Ciarán remember boots, don’t they? Wednesday’s Irish Examiner.

SIX QUESTIONS OF GAA TRIVIA

Name the player who won seven All-Ireland senior medals, Which man won National Football League and National Hurling seven National League medals, seven Railway Cup medals, League medals in the same year? 1and seven county senior championship medals? 4 COMPETITION TIME Who is the player who lined out in eleven All-Ireland SFC Which man scored 2-11 in an All-Ireland SHC Final and lost, DO you think you know your GAA history? To be in with a semi-fi nals, winning nine and drawing two? but came back the following year and scored 2-9 in a fi nal and chance of winning a copy of ‘We are Mayo’ just answer 2 5won? the six questions here correctly, and send them to: GAA quiz competition, The Mayo News, The Fairgreen, Which man won four minor All-Ireland medals, two in football Westport, Co Mayo before Friday, May 29 at 5pm. Or you and two in hurling? And four Under-21 All-Ireland medals, two Three years in a row the losers of the All-Ireland SHC fi nal can e-mail your entry to: [email protected] 3in football and two in hurling? scored fi ve goals. What were the years? The correct answers will be revealed in next week’s paper. 6 6 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 GAA COVID-19 SHUTDOWN Students miss out on sport

Interview MIKE FINNERTY

IT’S been nine weeks now since schools were closed and pupils left for home for the last time. Since then their pitches, courts and tracks have been deserted and dressing-rooms all across the country have been fi lled only with silence. Students who are athletes, basketballers, hurl- ers, footballers, swimmers, boxers and up and coming young players from badminton to rugby have had to adjust to life in the new normal. Socially distant, but joined together by a com- mon thread — the absence of camaraderie and competition in their sporting lives. Collective meetings, training sessions and games replaced by Zoom calls, online coaching and solo runs around roads, fi elds and housing estates. And everyone wondering when, or if, things will go back to the way they were. For some, the uncertainty is starting to breed a little more anxiety as the weeks go by. “There’s no doubt a lot of kids are struggling without the routine and discipline and social aspect that comes from being involved in a team FLASHBACK Gareth O’Donnell is pictured in action for Charlestown against Kiltane in the Mayo SFC. Pic: Michael McLaughlin sport,” says Gareth O’Donnell, a teacher at Balla Secondary School who also coaches their senior team. “There’s a lack of structure, and no release of being able to go down to the pitch. “Sport is part of the conversation with the kids Clubbing together when you’re doing online classes. A lot of the kids I work with are stone mad into sport between GAA and soccer, in particular. “At the end they will always ask, ‘What do you “The best case scenario is that in August think? Will sport be back?’ Feature or September you have a knock-out cham- “But the truth is there’s no short answer or real MIKE FINNERTY pionship. solution to it at the moment.” mikefi [email protected] “I know it’s potentially only one game for “We’re blessed to have so many good teachers SPORTS EDITOR clubs that lose their fi rst game, but I think involved with sport in Balla,” he added. if it was knock-out or nothing then players “The school also has online wellbeing resources would go for knock-out! for students to use and we’ve been doing run- ERY few GAA clubs in Ireland have “But if it’s a case that there’s no GAA in ning challenges with the school’s football team been as busy as Charlestown Sars- I’m happy to go September or even October, then I can’t along with online quizzes. fi elds over the last few months. It’s really see it defi nitely going ahead next Feb- “So we’re trying to support students as much been all go between organising vol- back when it’s safe ruary or March either. as possible. I can notice the anxiety with some V unteers to help cocooning locals, “ “If that happened I think I’d have to take of my Leaving Cert class but it’s hard to gauge running fundraisers, uploading videos of old a look at individual sport or non-contact because you’re not seeing them. In school, when club games on to social media, setting up a O’Donnell feels the same way about return- sport. I actually used to play a good bit of you’re face to face you can tell who’s off form or club podcast and embarking on some work ing to play — if the public health advice was tennis when I was younger. I might have to needs some support.” up at ‘The Park’. that it was safe to train collectively and get get some golf clubs sorted too,” he O’Donnell teaches a Leaving Cert geography Gareth O’Donnell, who was named at number back on the fi eld again, then he’s ready to laughed. class - ‘a great bunch’ - who have ‘worked very 38 in ‘The Mayo News Top 100 Mayo club go. Anybody who knows O’Donnell won’t be hard online in the last couple of months’. And footballers’ series last week, juggles coaching Like every other club player he’s conscious surprised to hear that he misses ‘the com- he is very conscious of ‘the big milestones’ they the Charlestown minor team with playing for of the ‘uncertainty’ swirling around the topic petition’ of playing Gaelic football — “What- are going to miss out as a result of Coronavirus the club’s seniors. He’s also ‘hands-on’ with a of GAA action restarting, and has picked up ever I do I want to win. Sometimes too much!” restrictions, including the ‘big school teachers lot of their recent projects and admits that on the ‘negative tone’ of the conversation in he smiles. He also says he ‘probably took for versus students soccer game!’ they’ve been trying to make the best of a very recent weeks. Realistically, if there are any granted’ the craic and camaraderie of the “We probably don’t give young people enough challenging situation. GAA games this year it looks like it could be dressing-room when he and Colm Maye got credit about how they can cope with challenges “One massive positive for us has been the September or October at the earliest before slagged about the perception some of the that are put in front of them,” he observes. response of the wider club,” he told The Mayo they happen. ‘ball hoppers’ had of them being teachers. “The last few months have been some roller- News. “In that way it’s brought people together. If it doesn’t, then all bets are off. The days and weeks haven’t been the same coaster for everyone, not just kids, but they’ve The pitches have been locked up for about “I’m fortunate in that I don’t have anyone since the shutdown, and he is acutely aware been coping so well with everything that’s been eight weeks now and, of course, health has to who’s at risk in my family, but there’s no doubt that the longer it goes on the harder it might thrown at them. be the number one priority. that it’s very diffi cult for some people who do be on everyone in the Association. “The worry you’d have is, the longer this goes “But mental health is very important too and have vulnerable people at home,” says “I think what we’ve realised over the last on, will people’s mental health be able to cope sport is such a huge part of that. If people O’Donnell. “Personally, I’m happy to go back few months is that there’s not a lot else to with it? Without social gatherings, how will peo- were sensible about it, and only meeting up when the all-clear is given, which will hope- do in rural Ireland when the GAA is taken ple cope? in small groups for a kickaround, and it was fully be later in the summer. But depending away. “I think there will be a need for calculated risks deemed safe to open them up, then I’d be all on what I listen to or what I read, I’m up and “Everyone is dying to get back when it’s as we go on.” for it.” down on whether or not it will happen. safe to do so.” TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 7 AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL NEWS Hanley ‘excited’ about AFL return

“I’m about 200 metres from the Intervieww beach and while there is no sun- GER FLANAGAN bathing allowed, which I don’t do gerfl [email protected] much of anyway, we were allowed to walk down and get in the ocean, which I would do in the mornings and evenings, which is great for ORMER Mayo senior footballer recovery. says that he “And we were still able to get out ‘can’t wait’ to get back into and do some exercise. action as the Australian Rules “I also did some reading, which I Ffootball league takes its fi rst never did before, and I did a bit of tentative steps towards resuming their a course too. So I was managing to season next month. stay fi t, stay busy and enjoy the beach. The Ballaghaderreen native, who I think I was one of the few that plays with the Gold Coast Suns in actually got a bit out of isolation.” Queensland, lined out in his side’s Hanley is in the fi nal year of his opening round fi xture of the 2020 sea- contract with the Gold Coast having son in March before Covid-19 forced made the move from Brisbane Lions offi cials to suspend all play. However, in late 2016 after a hugely successful AFL chiefs are now introducing sig- spell with his fi rst AFL club. nifi cant measures as they work to get His time at the Suns has been ham- the season restarted, including regular pered by injuries and other personal testing and the shortening of the sea- issues, including the death of his son. brother, Tommy. Players resumed non-contact train- Pearce admits it has been a ‘let ing last week in pods of eight, with a down’ since making the high-profi le gradual introduction to full contact move. sessions. However, he said he is hugely “There are a few rules coming in for excited about the prospect of restart- game time that are a bit laughable,” the ing the season and hopefully regain- 31 year-old told The Mayo News from ing his best form again. his home on the Australian Gold Coast “I can’t wait, everyone is excited,” last week. Hanley said. “Obviously with the “But I think they’re more for ‘a look’ way the coronavirus was going, we than anything else. weren’t sure if there was going to be “Obviously we tackle each other, we a season, or we thought we might jump on each other, there’s plenty of come back a bit later in the year and body contact, but yet when we go to have to play two or three games in the bench for a rest, you have to stay a week. 1.5 metres away from each other and “But we’re now playing an 18-game there’s no ‘high fi ving’, but we can still season as opposed to a 22-game sea- tackle and push each other. son. But everyone has been craving “So it’s a bit funny to try and wrap sport. There hasn’t been much on our heads around it. It will be strange the telly and everyone is locked away, not celebrating when someone kicks so they’re all excited to get footy a goal. ALL SET back. All the players are mad to get Pearce Hanley from “In terms of training, this week is Ballaghaderreen is going and start again. contact and next week too, so we’ll be pictured in the Gold “So I’m in the fi nal year of my con- doing ball drills, set ups, stuff like that,” Coast Suns colours. tract with Gold Coast now and I was he continued. having a big pre-season to set me up “And then for two week weeks before for the year ahead. [When I get back] [the season starts], there will be a pro- I’ll just be doing everything I can to gression into contact so once we start be as professional as I can to get playing games there won’t be any inju- some form back and start playing ries.” well again.” So how did a professional athlete liv- HAPPY MEMORIES ing on Australia’s Gold Coast cope with Pearce Hanley is NEXT WEEK lockdown? pictured with his sister Read the rest of our Pearce Hanley Myfanwe and Barry interview as he refl ects on his 13 years “To be honest, not too bad,” he admit- Regan after helping ted. “I’m living in one of the best places Ballaghaderreen to win playing Aussie Rules, lining out for in the world to be isolating to be hon- the 2008 Mayo SFC Mayo, and his plans for life after est. Final. Pic: Mick McCormack professional sport.

The Fairgreen, Westport FREE t: 098 24773 TYRE/PRESSURE Castlebar Road, Ballinrobe CHECKS t: 094 9542535 AVAILABLE Shrule t: 093 31524 • MOBILE TYRE SERVICE • CAR TYRES • SPECIALISTS IN TRUCK AND AGRI TYRES • BULB CENTRE • 3D COMPUTERISED WHEEL ALIGNMENT • VULCANISING • WIPERS AND BATTERIES 8 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 GAA OUR TOP 50 SENIOR CLUB PLAYERS PART 2 Cillian comes out on

a very impressive nine players in the top 50 Analysis which was selected by 16 judges, one from every OUR SENIOR JUDGES EDWIN McGREAL senior club for 2020. [email protected] They are well clear of the fi eld in that Aghamore: David Kenny, player; regard. Ballaghaderreen: Stephen Drake, Coming in next are an emerging force in Mayo player; Ballina: Paul McGarry, former club football, Ballina Stephenites with six of player; Ballintubber: , OLDER of fi ve Mayo senior club cham- their players selected. They were ahead of player; Belmullet: Liam Lavelle, pionship winners’ medals and the Castlebar Mitchels, Ballaghaderreen and Breaffy, former player; Breaffy: Peter Ford, county’s all-time leading points scorer, who each had fi ve. manager; Castlebar: Martin Carney, Cillian O’Connor from Ballintubber Belmullet and Charlestown each had three former player; Charlestown: John Hhas been selected as the number one players in the top 50 while Aghamore, Clare- Casey, former player; Claremorris: Mayo club player in our inaugural ‘Top 100 Mayo morris, Garrymore, Knockmore and Westport Austin Garvin, former manager; Club Footballers’ series. had two players each. Davitts: Mickey Conroy, player; O’Connor held off stiff competition from some Every club at senior level was represented in Garrymore: Danny McHugh, former of Mayo’s best club and county players with our top 50 with Davitts, Kiltane, Moy Davitts player; Kiltane: Ciarán O’Hara, consistently high votes from our 16 senior and The Neale each having a player each. manager; Knockmore: Nigel Reape, judges. Our stellar panel of judges each picked their former player; Moy Davitts: Anthony The 28 year-old has been considered a key top 50 senior footballers, allocating 50 points Jordan, player; The Neale: Eoin player in Ballintubber’s fi ve Moclair Cup suc- to their number one pick all the way down to Hughes, manager; Westport: Charlie cesses in the last decade. That has been acknowl- one point for their fi nal pick. Lambert, former player. edged by his selection as a Mayo News Club With Ballina’s Ger Cafferkey coming in 50th Star on six occasions. with 159 points, no one single judge’s selection His ability to deliver when it matters most could unilaterally decide matters. has been further rubber-stamped by his selec- Like our intermediate and junior judges, our tion in fi rst place in senior in our comprehen- senior judges also did not allow club allegiances sive rankings of the current ‘Top 100’ club play- overly sway them and there was considerable ers. consensus in the top ten selections by each O’Connor took fi rst place by 16 points from judge. county team-mate Paddy Durcan of Castlebar Judges were asked to base their selections on Mitchels. current club form heading into the 2020 sea- Out of a possible 800 points, O’Connor amassed son. an impressive 748 points. Between them, our judges have serious cre- Only 81 points separated the top six football- dentials. ers, and their composition proves you don’t There are two former Mayo captains (Alan have to be a ‘county man’ to be highly regarded Dillon and Peter Ford); All-Ireland winning by our judges. In their number was Neil Doug- Minor and U21 managers (Austin Garvin and las of Castlebar Mitchels and recently-retired Ford); an All-Ireland club winner (Paul McGarry), Mayo star Andy Moran. six former Mayo senior footballers and, between The 2017 Footballer of the Year came in third them, our judges have almost 20 Mayo SFC with O’Connor’s younger brother Diarmuid in winners’ medals. at fourth, underscoring how highly regarded Five of them are still current senior football- the brothers are in Mayo. ers while three of them are senior club manag- Breaffy’s Aidan O’Shea came in fi fth, just ers. ahead of Neil Douglas. We are extremely grateful to all of them for Current Mayo News Club Stars Footballer of their time and their insights. the Year, Jason Gibbons, came in seventh with Ballina’s Padraig O’Hora the highest of six Stephenites in the top 50, in eighth position. THE BEST OF THE REST Knockmore talisman Kevin McLoughlin was ninth with Aghamore’s Fergal Boland complet- A recap of those picked from 26-50 — 26: ing the top ten. Eoin O’Donoghue, Belmullet; 27: James Four-time All Star was next, fol- Shaughnessy, Claremorris; 28: James lowed by Ballintubber’s Michael Plunkett and Durcan, Castlebar Mitchels; 29: Ryan Ballina and Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke was Lynch, Ballaghaderreen; 30: Ciarán Treacy, the highest goalkeeper on the list, in thir- Ballina Stephenites; 31: Alan Dillon, teenth. Ballintubber; 32: Paul Towey, Charlestown Breaffy’s Matthew Ruane and Belmullet’s Ryan Sarsfi elds; 33: Caolan Crowe, Garrymore; O’Donoghue complete the top 15. 34: Donie Newcombe, Castlebar Mitchels; Coming after them to make the top 20 were 35: Brian Murphy, Ballintubber; Aghamore’s , Tommy Conroy 36: Evan Regan, Ballina Stephenites; 36: of The Neale, David Drake of Ballaghaderreen, Darren McHale, Knockmore; 38: Gareth former Footballer of the Year and O’Donnell, Charlestown; 39: Fionn Shaoiroze Akram of Ballagh’. McDonagh, Westport; 40: Mikie Sweeney, Castlebar Mitchels goalkeeper Rory Byrne, Kiltane; 41: Mikey Murray, Ballina Belmullet’s Chris Barrett, Brian Reape from Stephenites; 42: Alan Plunkett, Moy Davitts, James McCormack of Claremor- Ballintubber; 43: Gary Loftus, Ballintubber; ris and Garrymore’s Shane Nally complete the 44: Conor O’Shea, Breaffy; 45: Damien top 25. Coleman, Ballintubber; 46: Seamie O’Shea, Breaffy; 47: Cian Hanley, Ballaghaderreen; CLUB SPREAD 48: , Charlestown; 49: Rob THREE-IN-A-ROW chasing Ballintubber were Hennelly, Breaffy; 50: Ger Cafferkey, Ballina readily acknowledged by our judges as the pre- Stephenites. eminent force in Mayo club football. They had TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 9

THE MAYO NEWS top PRESENTS OUR TOP 50 MAYO SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALLERS (1-25) IN 2020

1 2 3 4 5

Cillian O’Connor Paddy Durcan Andy Moran Diarmuid O’Connor Aidan O’Shea Ballintubber Castlebar Mitchels Ballaghaderreen Ballintubber Breaffy

6 7 8 9 10

Neil Douglas Jason Gibbons Padraig O’Hora Kevin McLoughlin Fergal Boland Castlebar Mitchels Ballintubber Ballina Stephenites Knockmore Aghamore

11 12 13 14 15

Colm Boyle Michael Plunkett David Clarke Matthew Ruane Ryan O’Donoghue Davitts Ballintubber Ballina Stephenites Breaffy Belmullet

16 17 18 19 20

Brendan Harrison Tommy Conroy David Drake Lee Keegan Shairoze Akram Aghamore The Neale Ballaghaderreen Westport Ballaghaderreen

IN THE MIX Breaffy’s 21 22 23 24 25 Aidan O’Shea and Westport’s Lee Keegan both made it into the Top 25 in our inaugural ‘Top 100 Mayo club footballers’ series. Pic: Sportsfi le Rory Byrne Chris Barrett Brian Reape James McCormack Shane Nally Castlebar Mitchels Belmullet Moy Davitts Claremorris Garrymore 10 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 SPORT NEWS Moving his momentum

Keane, who captained the Ballinrobe One gym owner footballers last year, moved operations from the Castlebar Road to a two-storey is trying to unit in Church Lane – literally, smack bang in the middle of the town. embrace change His whole business model was impacted too and the gym’s income was wiped out. But to keep his clients satisfi ed, he is offering free online classes, trying to Interview ride it out so they can focus on getting GER FLANAGAN back on their feet sooner rather than gerfl [email protected] later. “There’ll be no set time in terms of us returning to the gym because this could continue for months,” he said. “So we’ll MALL business owners in Ire- be focusing on the line programming, land have endured a precarious one-to-one training and small groups six weeks due to Covid-19. The going forward. fi tness industry, in particular, “The success of the online classes were Sis one branch that faces a long very good, which I was doing for free, and arduous road back to what was once but I will be starting to charge a low fee considered ‘normal’. of €10 a week for that going forward. The Ballinrobe native and gym owner Conor one thing I would say is that there’s Keane candidly admits that his business, something called ‘Zoom fatigue’. ‘Momentum Performance’ ‘went through “So that’s why we’re going doing a com- a pretty hard time’ over the past six munity ‘call to action’. The competition weeks. entails getting points for doing online “We ended up with a big unit that we fi tness classes, a 5k run, 20k cycle or if couldn’t essentially pay for in the long you hit 10,000 steps a-day and there will term,” he told The Mayo News. “The be prizes for the winners of the compe- decision was made to move to a smaller titions at the end of the week. unit. “I’ve contacted loads of local businesses CHALLENGING TIMES Over the last couple of weeks, Keane return for us either. We’re going to have “Since I opened the gym three or four about sponsoring prizes and discounts Conor Keane from Ballinrobe has enlisted the help of a health and to go in very small groups of one to years ago, I probably had the most suc- and the response has been really good. is trying to think outside the safety consultant to implement all the four initially. I think the personal train- cessful January and February I’ve ever We’re all trying to band together, sup- box. Pic: Conor McKeown guidelines and procedures into his new ing and group training model is going had. We ran a rowing fundraiser over porting local, and trying to get footfall gym before they began the stages of to be quite important going forward. Christmas and it seemed to do really back into the town as soon as we can. re-opening. “The days of 20 to 25 people in a class well on the back of that. “Hopefully it will keep people active,” “It will be at least a month or two isn’t going to work anymore and a lot “We were doing a lot of programs, a he adds. “Since the virus, people are now before I can open my doors,” he said. will have to re-think their business lot of strength and conditioning work looking at exercise as an outlet or a men- “But a lot of gyms with large rented model. There’s a big area of common as well for the youth of the area, and the tal escape as opposed to worrying about units, lots of staff, a lot of equipment sense here; we have to do what’s safe local sports teams; it was really going numbers, so this is something that will that needs to be paid on fi nance, I don’t for our clients and for us, because the from strength to strength but then the reward them for that and hopefully the know if they’ll be able. virus isn’t going to follow these steps wheels came off the cart.” community too.” “It’s not going to be a light-switch of re-opening.” Keane unable to keep football going

not feasible anymore, and thing – but it is putting a lot “The length of the season and the day you can't come off the seven hours of sleep, there's Interview something had to give. of strain on players because the scheduling of matches is gas either, because you don't no beating around the bush GER FLANAGAN “I’ve been playing football a you need to work your life tough,” he said. “If you could want to go back and head into with that – if you want to per- long time and you really need around football, as opposed to pinpoint the starting of fi nish- a match where you're not fully form, seven hours is mini- to put the hours in right now the other way around. So you ing point of the season and you fit or your skills have mum. because that game has changed need to be honest with your- know you will have matches dropped. “So you're constantly playing BEFORE Covid-19 halted all so much in terms of condition- self.” for however many months, you “Getting enough sleep is also catch up. It's not a case of I got GAA activity, Conor Keane ing,” he said. “Players are faster, The unpredictability of fi x- could say, ‘Right, I’m going to a problem,” he continued. six tonight, I’ll get eight tomor- had already decided to step a lot stronger, and you need to tures calendar also wasn’t con- do that’. “When you have a class start- row. You need to hit that seven away from Gaelic football for be looking after yourself just ducive to juggling a business “But the season is so long, ing at 6.45am, you need to be minimum every night to sus- 12 months and focus on his to be competitive. and committing to a full season it's very hard to stay motivated up at 6.15am to be in there early tain optimum performance. gym, Momentum Perform- “The day has gone where you of GAA club activity. to train hard all the time when to get everything set up, ready “That's where I fi nd it's quite ance. have a couple of pints after a Another major issue with his the matches are sporadic and to go. And that's going on most tough. If there was a case that It wasn’t an easy decision, match at the weekend – that line of work and club football spread out days of the week. the season was more defi ned but the versatile Ballinrobe won’t cut the mustard any- was getting the required “You could have three and “So you might be training the essentially It would be easier captain was approaching a more. number of hours sleep every four weeks of no matches and night before at 8pm, so it will to set time for it.” junction in life where trying “Teams are much more pro- night, which was becoming that's a killer in the middle of be after 11pm by the time you When he puts it like that, to combine the two was just fessional – which is a good more and more diffi cult. the season. And at the end of get to sleep. And you need something had to give. TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 11 SPORT LIFE IN THE NEW NORMAL SERIES Life on the roller-coaster

AARON DOHERTY TRIATHLETE

I HAD quite a bad car accident back in FULLY FOCUSSED February and that threw a major obstacle Aaron Doherty is pictured training on in my way in terms of my training because his stationary bike at his home in I put in a really good winter and I felt the Westport last week. Pic: Michael McLaughlin crash destroyed all that. I was on the way to the airport for a training camp in Dubai and the roads were icy. I broke my eye socket, my cheek- bone, my nose and I had to get 20 stitches down the front of my forehead so I have a pretty nice scar there right now! It was pretty bad, but I was lucky I didn’t suffer any injury that will affect me for the rest of my life. The most devastating part for me was thinking about all the races that I was training for which I’m now going to miss. But they ended up being cancelled because of Covid-19, so it probably made it a bit easier in terms of dealing with it all. The injury kept me from training for six or seven weeks and it probably should have been longer, but I took my own advice over the doctors and started back a bit early! That meant that I hadn’t done an awful lot of training for our ‘Backyard Ironman’ for Pieta House that I did with my broth- ers, Con and Ethan, recently. But I found the event great as a way of raising money and motivating myself to train. I only got Then I’ll rest for the day, eat some food Con was doing triathlons at the time, black wondering what is swimming about two or three weeks in before the and go back in the evening for a run. so I said I’d give it a go. I swam until I underneath me and that if I take any challenge, so it was like cramming for Training indoors is nothing new to me was 14 or 15 and I was running up until water on, there’s absolutely no one around exams! and it helps having my brothers to train I was 17, so it wasn’t completely new to to help me! Right now I’m training at home all the with because on the days where I don’t me. Obviously with running there’s more This summer was due to be a busy few time on the treadmill or the turbo train- want to do it, I’ll see Con or Ethan train- impact on the body and it takes its months of competing, and right now we ers. Obviously the pools are closed and ing and that motivates me to get up off tool. don’t know if we’ll even be back in August the one we have at the house is pretty my arse! After three months of it, I ended up or September, there’s a lot of uncer- cold so I’m not doing a lot of that, but The Olympics I was a full-time cyclist until I was 18 with a stress fracture in my femur in tainty. with the restrictions easing to 5k, I can years-old (two years ago) and raced in February last year – so February hasn’t My long-term goal is the Olympics. I’m get out on the road a bit more right is my goal the World Junior Cycling Champion- been a good month for me! hoping 2024 will be a good year for me, now. “ ships that year. I took a year out after One thing I found diffi cult to grasp too so I’m just going to keep training away Typically I might train for three hours my Leaving Cert to go full time but what- was swimming in open water, which I and hopefully everything will fall into a day. I’ll do two hours on the bike in the ever clicked in me that winter, I decided hadn’t done a lot of. The size of the ocean place.” morning; three hard 20 minute intervals that I wanted to do something else and can be overwhelming because you could and easing off on the breaks. felt cycling wasn’t for me. be out there looking down into pitch In conversation with Ger Flanagan

Working from home or just at home? What’s your most prized possession at the I’d say I’m just at home keeping myself busy. moment? QUICKFIRE With this ongoing pandemic, my health is Strangest thing you do to pass the time? probably my most prized possession at the Painting shoes, clothes and other bits – any- moment. If we are talking about materialistic QUESTIONS body want anything done? things then it’s my bike.

What’s the best thing about going First thing you’ll do when the lockdown nowhere? ends? Being able to relax at home knowing you’re not Hopefully a big night out! meant to be somewhere else. One old match you’d love to watch back? Best thing about social distancing? As a Liverpool fan, Champions League fi nal It’s probably doing a good job to prevent us all 2005. I did watch it live but I was only fi ve from getting Covid-19. years-old at the time.

Worst thing about social distancing? LEGEND Ayrton Senna What do you miss most about training? Not being able to see friends and family. Thankfully I have a turbo for the bike and a A$AP Rocky, Conor McGregor and Ayrton treadmill at the house so I’m not missing out on Favourite song to wash your hands to? Senna. Three absolute legends. much. Wash your hands with Baby Shark. Name: Aaron Doherty What’s your guilty pleasure TV show? Sum up Coronavirus in three words? Club: Westport Tri Club Age: 20 Which three celebrity guests would you Prison Break! I think I have watched it two or Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Occupation: Triathlete/Cyclist invite to your Zoom party? three times by now. 12 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020

READING GREENS Declan McDermott, Enda and Niall Monaghan. ACTION RESUMES AT CASTLEBAR GOLF CLUB

SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES WERE IN EVIDENCE LAST THURSDAY

Pics: Conor McKeown

LADIES LUCK Margaret Kennedy, Nora O’Reilly and Patricia Walsh

ON COURSE Castlebar Golf Club mens captain Tom Martyn and Mick Byrne

ON THE TEE Martin Lydon, Paddy and Ray Kenny KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE Declan Reilly, Declan Kilkelly and Johann Collins TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 13 GOLF NEWS Getting back on course again

Feature AUSTIN GARVIN [email protected]

HOSE of us that love the game of golf looked forward to Monday last like a The car par child awaits Santa at Christmas. The advent of Covid-19 meant golf courses was packed T all over the country were closed to the “ public for months. to capacity The new protocols issued by the ILGU and the GUI — in tandem with Government guidelines — meant golf was one of the sports that was allowed to resume on May 18. We booked a tee-time at our local Golf Club in Claremorris well in advance in order to make closed golf competitions will be allowed to com- sure of taking to the course after months of mence. cocooning. On June 29 ‘closed’ and ‘open’ golf completions Even though the course was closed to the pub- will be allowed, while on August 10 the restau- lic for some time, the young vibrant Council, rant and bar will be allowed to open, depending under the chairmanship of Phelim Munnelly, had on everything going to plan. put the downtime to good effect with improve- In addition to the game of golf, the banter and ments evident everywhere. companionship associated with it are attractions Prior to the pandemic they had already revamped to be cherished. That isn’t possible at present the inside of the clubhouse. but that will all change on August 10. As we meandered close to the course we noticed Claremorris Golf Club enjoys a large number that the clubhouse had been newly-painted. There of Galway members. The membership is prob- were signs everywhere giving due notice of the ably split ‘fi fty-fi fty’ between Mayo and Gal- new protocols and the rules and regulations to way. be adhered to. The friendly banter and joviality one witnesses The car par was packed to capacity but vehicles in the clubhouse before and after big match days were parked in an orderly fashion. between the two old rivals is an attraction in We arrived well in advance in order to conform SIGN OF THE TIMES Claremorris Golf Club, which draws its members from both Mayo and itself. to the rules. Galway, re-opened last Monday. For now though, one must be thankful for hav- The Secretary/Manager Chris Rushe welcomed ing the opportunity of playing again, even on a us in her usual friendly fashion. Kieran Canavan, two young single handicap play- bashing and breaking of their older playing com- restricted basis. One only misses something when Anthony Hennelly, the Men’s Captain, was in ers, and they were busily preparing on the prac- panion. it’s taken away from them. Very often we can attendance and had a genuine friendly word for tice putting green prior to starting out. I took leave of them after nine holes and thanked take things for granted when we should cherish everyone as they arrived, even if hand-shaking They hit their opening tee shots out of sight, them for putting up with me. them and live in the moment. was out of the question. while yours truly knocked down his opening In keeping with the current rules, I put the As one drove home last Monday, our thoughts After booking in, we had a quick look out at drive. Unfortunately, that trend continued for clubs in the car and drove home without going went out to the many people that aren’t around the course and couldn’t but be impressed at the most of the round. into the clubhouse as this is currently forbid- to play golf due to the pandemic. lush green fairways and slick-looking greens. The two young lads understood as they got on den. Sadly, many have been taken away far too My playing partners were Niall Maxwell and with their game, seemingly unperturbed by the Things will begin to free up on June 8 when soon. Are you back golfi ng again?

Why not send us your story about getting back on the course, in 200 words or less. Or send us a photograph of you and your ‘socially distant’ golfi ng partners.

e-mail: [email protected] or you can write to: Sports Editor, The Mayo News, The Fairgreen, Westport, Co Mayo.

READY FOR ACTION Castlebar Golf Club members Bernie Burke, Ann Melvin and Nuala McGowan are pictured at their local golf course last week. Pic: Conor McKeown 14 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 SPORT FEATURE Protein still plays major part

Column EVAN REGAN

HE current Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a variety of chal- lenges for both profes- T sional and amateur athletes in terms of their train- ing routines and daily life- style. For example, the GAA player of today is very accustomed to regular gym-based strength and conditioning sessions which are no longer possible due to all sporting facilities being closed at the moment. This means players have had to change their typical training methods, with a rise in popu- larity of home-based workouts, as well as 5km and 10km dis- tance running, which is why the need for protein in their diets is as essential as ever.

PROTEINS ROLE FIRSTLY, proteins are made up of amino acids. These are our bodies building blocks and are essential for the growth and repair of our muscles and tissues, while they also play a THE FUEL OF CHAMPIONS Water, fruit and energy bars are a staple of most modern dressing-rooms. But protein also remains a crucial part of all athletes' diets. Pic: Sportsfi le key role in the production of hormones, enzymes, antibod- ies and neurotransmitters This retention of muscle mass aim to distribute this as evenly POST EXERCISE • In simple terms I recommend rich snack in the evening around within our bodies. Without should be high on the list of as possible throughout your PROTEIN including a quality source of two hours before sleep is rec- adequate protein intake we can priorities for any GAA athlete meals. I would recommend IN the hours after exercise protein alongside a quality ommended. This provides the leave our bodies at risk of mus- and especially those who are aiming for a minimum of 25g muscle protein synthesis (for source of carbohydrate while body with a fi nal supply of pro- cle wastage, injury and infec- currently either trying to main- of protein per meal and eating growth) and muscle protein also including two-three vegeta- tein and has shown positive tion. tain their body composition or every three to four hours to breakdown both increase. The ble sources post-exercise. impacts on recover levels. Our body is constantly break- perhaps aiming to reduce their ensure we are providing our balance between muscle pro- • Including a source of carbo- I recommend a pre-sleep snack ing down and creating new body fat during this time. bodies with a consistent sup- tein synthesis (MPS) and break- hydrate after exercise is recom- such as natural yogurt with a proteins which is why includ- A protein intake of 1.8 to 2.2 ply of protein and energy down determines whether our mended to help your body small portion of almond nuts ing adequate protein in the diet grams per kilogram (kg) of throughout the day. muscles remain constant, recovery and replenish the and one/two kiwi fruits that is key. We want to prevent body weight per-day during Here are some options of increase in size (Hypertrophy) energy stores that were depleted have also reported some posi- muscle protein breakdown as calorie or energy restriction protein sources that can be or decrease in size (Muscle during exercise. tive results on our serotonin much as possible as this will (calorie defi cit) is suffi cient for included throughout the day: Atrophy). A quick and easy post morn- levels which is the hormone that lead to a loss of muscle mass the retention of muscle mass. Breakfast: milk, eggs, dairy, To get the most from our ing exercise meal could be a regulates our mood and infl u- and in turn have a negative My recommendation would cheese, bacon medallions, tur- training sessions, there are a two-three egg omelette with ences sleep. impact on our performance be to aim for a daily protein key medallions, smoked salmon, number of points to focus on. chicken pieces, spinach, onion, and energy expenditure. intake of 2g of protein per nuts, seeds, beans. • Post exercise meal to con- bell peppers and some whole- MORE INFO kilogram (kg) of body weight Lunch and dinner: chicken, tain a minimum of 0.3 - 0.4g of meal brown bread. For post For more information on all RETAINING MUSCLE per day turkey, tuna, salmon, red meat, protein per kilogram of body evening or mid-day exercise, things nutrition, lifestyle and AS previously mentioned, pro- Example: a 70kg footballer tinned fi sh, ham, eggs, dairy, weight (usually between 20 - chicken and pasta with some exercise follow @EvanRegan_ tein is key for muscle growth should aim to eat 140g of pro- tofu, quorn, chickpeas, lentils, 30g) and ideally along with 1 added spinach, onion and bell Nutrition on Instagram and and development but it is also tein per day. legumes, beans. - 1.2 grams of carbohydrate per peppers will do the trick. Facebook. Enquiries can be vital for the retention of mus- Snacks: nuts, seeds, yogurt, kg body weight. This should be made through email to Info@ cle mass (keeping the muscle MEAL BREAKDOWN milk, dairy, whey protein, pea- consumed as soon as possible PROTEIN NIGHTCAP evanregannutrition.com or mass you have already devel- ONCE you have calculated your nut butter, almond butter, cot- post exercise and ideally within TO aid recovery through the website www.evanregannutri- oped). daily protein target you should tage cheese. two hours. night the addition of a protein tion.com.

Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 • Estd 1892

mayon Can’t get to the shops to pick up a paper? ew s.ie 098 2 5311

edito r@ mayo news .ie faceb themayonook.c om/ ews twitter.com/ them ayo news

€2.60 | £2.25 M NOTICE

The next be in edi morninsho tion of ps as T g usual he May restri , March 24, G ctions on next o News overnment are unle will pandem put in s Tues due p s furthe day po ic to lace r ssible . Cu the Co b HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY TO AL M t stom y the emoriamo em ers a vid-19 Obi ail re tuar s, Acknor t urged, 25 ie eleph 311 s dir owl on wh or rem ectly edg e ere to me embe the offi nts and ring@m ce o n ayon 098 L O ews.ie UR READERS AT HOME AND ABROAD .

COVID-19 Mass exodus CRISIS Thirt as een pa Fr J killer bu ge ohn Kenny, s of ext in Partr g ti ghten ens Our digital edition is ready and waiting for you Mi y on S P s ive cha ar gr coverage Ken el Neary.undayish P ip o ny rie Closures place n co sai The mor st o unt d he M ning, f Pa y Call for community found ass was dtortry mobilise pubs in crisis ue and the ex to Tou broadc the Covidrmak per e New ience ‘surast to parishione-1 ady, s 9 restr said Page real a ictions Mass t 12 nd ee rs on p o € r ut in p an e ie rad mpt ’. P io la Plea to stay a • Vulnerable ic: Micha on 1 ce by A y chu e 06. rc l McL 5FM rchbishoph augh from CF sufferer need help li but F n r t home during Covid-19 News ANTO Pa ge 1 rer crisis – Ring N MCN 1 ONLY 1.50 U LTY No Achill parade TH for fi E m of Cov vol obil rst t untary grisation of comm a id-1 138 years a cruc ble groups,9 accoand ime in ial par oups for prot i R t in cu n May unit ural and Co ect News o y and ment Michae rdin ing v rtail ca g to ulner- Page ing the s n play The mmuni M 4 p Departmentl Ring. of Health inist better read at the ty Devel er tim I known Mayo reaction from are 1 e op- reland 69 confi o f g , with nine as t associ oing the he around the world rmed c to pr sta west corona int that theted offi cially . W ase hile virus s of virus c th ate , in News Cov re in M onfi ere has beend wi CO id-19, rmed re th Page a yo, 6 its co ports no CASTLE STREET nfi rmed of th Mayo pe a e rrival continue show their INS d ople page , CASTLEBAR 3 meitheal News MUSIC Pag TEL: es 16 MODERN & 17 TRADITIONAL OR 094 902 8668 WE STOCK IT

now at www.mayonews.ie/digitaledition OVER 100 YEA ALL IN SELLING RS EXPERIENCE & MAKI PER EDITION NG MUSIC TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 • THE MAYO NEWS SPORT 15 SOCCER NEWS The man in the middle

“You’re as well to do something to keep Interview yourself on the ball so that if you were OISIN McGOVERN to come back in six weeks time you’d be ready to go.” With the eyes of the world fi xed on the recently-resumed German Bundesliga, IT may not always be the easiest job in soccer folk are acutely aware that the the world, but referees like Damien Mac- game won’t be back to normal at grass- Graith are just as eager as players and roots level for quite some time. Offi cials spectators to see soccer return. We enjoy life have received a detailed document from As the best-known referee in the county, the FAI explaining the new protocols MacGraith has also become an estab- as well as the they will be expected to follow. lished fi gure in both the Mayo Football “ “We’ve to travel to matches on our own League and the League of Ireland. He next person in individual cars,” he explains. “Dress- has also offi ciated at European level, ing room capacity will be reduced, con- including being an assistant referee at tact with team offi cials and players will the 2012 European Championships. be at a minimum or nil depending on The postponement of all sporting activ- the guidelines. ity means MacGraith hasn’t blown his “The usual regulations in terms of hand whistle since March 10 when Galway hygiene and no shaking hands will United defeated Athlone Town in the apply. EA Sports Cup. “Locally, if there are three offi cials And although his trade is regarded as appointed to a Super League match, it’s thankless at best and dangerous at worst, likely that they will arrive on their own MacGraith says he has gotten great enjoy- in their kit, referee the match, return to ment out of it over the years. their cars and leave so there will be no “People view referees as being the use of facilities, which I suppose is going enemy and that they’re dry and don’t back to an old era but that’s the way it have the craic,” he told The Mayo News. has to be.” “But we do have really good times when A dreaded second wave of Covid-19 we meet up. We’d chat about football “I send the local referees questions on later this year could threaten to derail and everything else going on in the world, the laws of the game every ten days. So whatever sporting activity does resume. but we do enjoy life as well as the next they’d just look them up and talk about MacGraith says that guidelines relating person. them and discuss them. If there were to hygiene and social distancing must “Obviously if you’re reffi ng on a Sun- any issues we’d have a chat.” be followed if games are to return at day morning at half 10 or 11am, being out MacGraith has also kept up with the local level, and everyone is to stay in the pub [the night before] isn’t some- fi tness regime referees at his level are safe. thing you’d do very often. So the social required to follow. Even during lock- “You’re on a fi eld of play with 22 other life is defi nitely affected. down, offi cials have to stay sharp for players, two assistants and a fourth offi - “We can’t meet fellow referees and when action returns later this year. cial. You’ve a multitude of substitutions colleagues at the minute, but during the He explains: “The FAI fi tness coach on the touchline. You’re at close prox- season we absolutely do.” sends us out a programme every week. imity to a big number of people. You’re A secondary school teacher by day, the We have three online strength and con- still at the same level of risk as anyone Inver native is still in touch with the ditioning classes on a Sunday, Tuesday else on the fi eld. game in his role as an FAI Referee Instruc- and Thursday for 45 minutes. “I know there’s not supposed to be any tor. “Then you do your cardio, intervals, physical contact but you’re still within long runs as often as you can during the two metres of players at various stages. week. At present, I try to get out every There’s no 100 percent risk-free area RARING TO GO Referee Damien evening just to keep ticking over. It’s when people return. If we continue to McGrath from Inver is hoping to be back much easier to maintain fi tness than to do all the right things we lessen that in action later this year. try and regain it. risk.”

Working from home or just at home? What’s your guilty pleasure TV show? QUICKFIRE Working. Always David Attenborough! Strangest thing you do to pass the time? What’s your most prized possession at the Beating Chrissy Downey in Snapchat soccer. moment? QUESTIONS The man of the match trophy for the a college What’s the best thing about going All-Ireland Final. nowhere? Saving my diesel. First thing you’ll do when the lockdown ends? Best thing about social distancing? Straight to the pub for the week. Not getting the virus I suppose. One old match you’d love to watch back? Worst thing about social distancing? Liverpool v Chelsea when Steven Gerrard Being stuck in the house every day. slipped. I could watch that over and over and not get bored. Favourite song to wash your hands to? Wagon Wheel. What do you miss most about training? Scoring goals on Darren Flatley. Name: Michael Guilfoyle Which three celebrity guests would you Club: S&F United Age: 23 invite to your Zoom party? Sum up Coronavirus in three words? Occupation: Production Operator Kevin Hart, Marcus Rashford and The Rock. SNAPCHAT Chris Downey Load of s*** – I hope I can say that! 16 SPORT THE MAYO NEWS • TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 GAATHE NEWS VIEW FROM HERE OUR WEEKLY ROUND-UP FROM THE WORLD OF MAYO SPORT Mayo cyclists join forces for Croí

OR the past ten weeks cyclists all over the country have been locked down as restrictions have stopped them from Fcycling any further than two kilometres from their homes. This has been increased to fi ve kilometres in the last week. The weather has been abnormally good for the time of year, so for cyclists who are used to logging daily spins in excess of 100kms, it’s the equivalent of a kid being stuck in a sweet shop and not been allowed to take a sweet! So the Mayo cycling league — with the help of the on-line app ‘Zwift’ — have stepped up and set up a weekly league consisting of eight rounds. Some evenings there were over 60 riders racing each other virtually. A select group of hardened (mad in the head) cyclists dreamed up a unique challenge for themselves — to virtually climb Mount Everest from their own homes. It sounds crazy, but with a bit of planning and a lot of suffering, the 13 Mayo riders will have raised a lot of funds for the Croí Heart and Stroke charity come next Saturday evening, May 30. Starting at 5am next Saturday morn- ing, the 13 riders scattered around the county of Mayo will attempt to ride the same amount of vertical metres as climbing Mt Everest using dle in their own homes climbing away virtually for one or more of the climbs Wheelers); Aidan Gill, Keith Mulroy, Marrey (Western Lakes CC). ‘Zwift’ connected to a direct-drive for hours looking at their laptop to see what it’s like. Rob Flynn, Bryan Hyland, Tom Bourke, turbo trainer to simulate the real screens. Anyone who would like to The riders taking part are: Alan Aidan Campbell (Westport Covey TO DONATE thing. support them on their own bikes can Concannon (Belmullet CC); Darragh Wheelers); Colin Loughney, Janis Go to https://www.justgiving.com/ It will take 14 hours, glued to a sad- simply join one of the participants Delaney, Eoin Waldron (Annagh Blinovs, Kieran Heneghan, Pádraig campaign/vEveresting Garrymore GAA plan PPE fundraiser

EMBERS of Garrymore GAA club Over the June Bank Holiday weekend (May and around the world — to come out in their more. Anyone taking part can also send in have sourced 100,000 units of Per- 30/31 and June 1), the Garrymore GAA club club gear or club colours and join them in videos or photos by tagging Garrymore GAA sonal Protective Equipment (PPE) senior football team will be doing a 5k Fun doing their own 5k fun run/jog/walk within on Facebook or Twitter by using #Garry- on behalf of Western Care Associa- Run to help to raise funds to purchase this the allowed radius. Once completed, you can more5k, by emailing them to pro.garrymore. Mtion during the current COVID-19 PPE. simply donate to Western Care on the fund- [email protected] or by texting them to 086 crisis. They are inviting everyone — both locally raising page at www.gofundme.com/f/garry- 1600395.

TWEETS RICHARD JOLLY NEASA CONNEALLY LIAM HORAN KIERAN CUNNINGHAM Dominic Cummings travelled The Last Dance, but it’s Is it Tuesday or August? Getting a bit tired of people with OF THE further in lockdown with about Michelle Smith and the @HoranLiam zero medical expertise telling us coronavirus than Crewe Alexandra 1996 Olympics. Come on that sport has to return soon. WEEK have ever gone for a competitive now, you know we need it. @KCsixtyseven game in their 143-year history. @neasaconneally @RichJolly