Hastings Cup (U-21 Football) First Round

Mayo 3-16
Donegal 1-6

In Ballina last Saturday (9/12/2000) a promising Mayo U-21 side convincingly brushed aside a much weaker Donegal outfit.
Although Mayo did win very well their defence was criticised and will need to tighten up before the first round of the Championship. The Midfield was satisfactory but the Forwards got most of the credit (and why not with the score as high as it was).
Marty McNicholas, Brian Maloney and Micheal Keane tortured the opposition defence. Billy Joe Padden distributed the ball well and Ronan Loftus made good use of it, scoring 1-8.
The Mayo team is very strong but like any other they need to sharpen up and the Hastings Cup is ideal for this. Micheal Keane had the ball in the Donegal net in the first minute thanks to Marty McNicholas and Brian Maloney. Keane struck again with a goal goal moments later, again helped by Brian Maloney.
Donegal replied with a goal on 10 minutes courtesy of Martin Caulfield, and the two sides continued to exchange scores, Mayo’s Defence looking very weak. Peader Easpey pointed for Donegal after 12 minutes. Then Mayo replied with 5 points without reply, Ronan Loftus scoring 3 of them and Brian Maloney and Sean grimes getting the other two.
Donegal scored 3 points before the break, Martin Caulfield with 2 and Gareth Blake with 1. Mayo replied through Billy Joe Padden and Brian Maloney and at half time the score stood at 2-7 to 1-4 in the home side’s favour.
Donegal’s Brendan Boyle dislocated his shoulder early in the second half and the game was delayed for 10 minutes. This loss was undoubtedly a big factor in Mayo’s big win. Soon after this Ronan Loftus struck a goal for the home side and although Donegal got back two points courtesy of Martin Caulfield, Mayo scored a further 9 points thanks to Ronan Loftus (4), Micheal Keane, Micheal Webb, Stephen Healy, Marty McNicholas and Brian Maloney.
Mayo: P. Tiernan, P. Finnerty, E. Casey, A. Moran, M.J. Meneaghan, S. Grimes, I. Knight, P. Kelly, M. Webb (0-1), R. Loftus (1-8), B.J. Padden (0-1), C. Lyons, M. McNicholas (0-1), Brian Maloney (0-3), M. Keane (2-1). Subs: P. Coady, S. Healy (0-1), E. Casey, T. Naughton, K. Kelly, K. Duignan, L. Brady.
Mayo take on Leitrim in the second round of the Hastings Cup this Saturday. Manager Paul McStay will be missing all the Galway NUI players due to Sigerson Cup Duty.

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My View

Welcome to our second edition of My View. My Mail box was chocker-blocked with e-mails this week about last weeks topics and I apologise if I do not mention you all.

Firstly the topic of the National League. I got numerous e-mails on this, but I’ll just mention one from Stan (an obsessed fan of the Ruddy Report). To cut his e-mail short, he believed that the National League should be re-structured so it is like a soccer league and not the way it is with the top two of each division from 1A - 4B competing in a knockout competition. I tend to agree with you Stan. P.S. Sorry I didn’t reply sooner mate!

Second Topic Mayo. In last weeks edition I said that Mayo have been making great strides since they lost to Sligo last summer in the Connaght championship. Well I got an e-mail from Bob the Builder and he believes Mayo are fixing their troubles quite well in all fairness and he thinks that we should be booking our All Ireland tickets, and maybe Sam will make a visit this Autumn.

I would also like to mention an e-mail I got from some boys from the Bahamas who wanted to know WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?????

This week’s Topic: Should we knock the Hill???? I saw this week what Croke Park is proposed to look like when they eventually finish the development and I was amazed to see that the Hill was still there. I know there is a lot of history with it and I heard someone say it was like the Kop - well look what happened to that! I SAY KNOCK IT - we can’t stay in the past for ever and we can’t have a complete top class stadium with that lump of rubble there.

C’MON HAVE YOUR SAY, E-MAIL ME!!

So if you have anything to say on these three topics please don’t be shy, your opinions are all welcomed just e-mail me at johnruddy@currane.net and put "MY VIEW" in the Subject area.

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Currane is near Achill Sound, Co Mayo in the west of Ireland and is also known as Corraun or Corrán.