Mayo’s half-season ratings

1.David Clarke
Can count him lucky as one of the few Mayo players to survive last Sunday’s game with his reputation intact. Played well throughout the league and kept his defence well marshalled throughout. 8/10

2.Chris Barrett
Unlucky not to have nailed down a starting place earlier in the league as he made some good contributions from the bench throughout. Finally got his chance in the two Cork games and should have done enough to keep his place in the corner come championship time. 7/10

3.Ger Cafferkey
Dropped midway through the league after some lacklustre displays he regained his place against Monaghan and kept it for the rest of the campaign. Ger needs to up his game considerably for the championship because too many players are roasting him every Sunday. 3/10

4.Liam O’Malley
Had been one of the success stories throughout the league but his confidence will no doubt have taken a knock following the league final. Badly needs to bulk up as he seems too light and easily thrown off the ball. Has not become a bad player overnight though. 6/10

5.Donal Vaughan
Has confounded all his critics, myself included, during the league with some stellar displays from wing-back. Vaughan is fast become the leader of this Mayo defensive unit and is even chipping in with the odd score, particularly the goal against Monaghan which kept Mayo in the game. 8/10

6.Trevor Howley
Not a county standard centre back. Always put 100% effort into the position but was found wanting when coming up against big name players like Donnacha O’Connor and Declan O’Sullivan. Could be moved to the corner come championship time. 4/10

7.Kevin McLoughlin
Undoubtedly the find of the league campaign. The u21 captain has nailed down the #7 shirt for the championship following some brilliant displays, particularly against Cork (twice) and Kerry. Was Mayo’s man of the match in the league final. 9/10

8.Tom Parsons
How Parsons is still a starting member of the Mayo 15 is beyond me. He carried his poor form of 2009 right through the league and never once looked like a player who could catch the ball, let alone control midfield. The emergence of Seamus O’Shea should bring an end to Parson’s days as starting midfielder. 1/10

9.Seamus O’Shea
Was finally given an extended run in the team after years plagued by injury and O’Shea grabbed it with both hands. Was one of Mayo’s best performers in every game so far this year, either at centre forward or midfield, and should start alongside McGarrity for the championship. 8/10

10.Andy Moran
A mixed campaign for the Ballaghdereen man. Will be happy to be back among the forwards but I still doubt if O’Mahony knows exactly where to play him. (He ended up as a 7th defender in the league final) Always gave 100% and could be one of Mayo’s best players this summer once he knows his role in the team. 7/10

11.Alan Dillon
Coming back from Australia not much was expected of Dillon in this campaign but he brought his best football back with him. Dillon hasn’t played this well since the 2006 season and seems to be really enjoying the centre forward role. Everything goes through the Ballintubber player and he rarely makes the wrong decision. 8/10

12.Trevor Mortimer
Must be sweating on his starting place for the championship with the return of Aiden Kilcoyne to full fitness. Wastes too much ball with wayward passing and shooting. Always gives 100% but that is not enough these days. 4/10

13.Conor Mortimer
Took longer than Dillon to rediscover his form after travelling Australia but finished the league with a bang. Has brought some passing into his game which can only help the other forwards and is still banging over a couple of points in each game. Along with Dillon he was the only Mayo forward to end the league final with his reputation intact. 7/10

14.Aiden O’Shea
Second season syndrome took a hold of O’Shea and it took a strong hold. Could not keep up with the pace of games and continued to try and go it alone whenever he has the ball, even if there is a team mate in a better scoring position. Needs to become more of a team player and work on his fitness if 2010 is not to be a wasted season for the young DIT student. 3/10

15.Mark Ronaldson
Started the league magnificently with Conor Mort’s absence leaving a whole that needed to be filled but petered out by the end of the campaign. Being taken off for McGarrity at half time in the league final was probably his lowest point as a Mayo player. 5/10

Keith Higgins
Unlucky to be injured against Monaghan but thankfully it was not as bad as originally feared. Still Mayo’s best defender and man-marker and he was sorely missed against Cork. Will be back in situ by the championship opener against Sligo. 6/10

Peader Gardiner
Also unlucky with the injury sustained against Dublin as he had been playing well in the wing back role up to that point. Will find it hard to break back into the team when he returns thanks to the form of McLoughlin in his absence. 4/10

Ronan McGarrity
Another player who missed some time due to injury but returned against Cork in the league final. Will be needed at 100% fitness for the championship as he is still Mayo’s leading midfielder and holds the ability to control a game from midfield. 4/10

Aiden Kilcoyne
Yet another injured player for Mayo this season, only returning against Cork in the league final. Will be needed at his sharpest this summer and could steal the #12 jersey from Trevor Mort. Offers more to the team in attack than T. Mort. n/a

Enda Varley
A great find for Mayo this season. A sub on the All-Ireland winning u21 team in 2006, Varley grabbed his chance with the senior team to such an extent that he finished as Mayo’s top scorer and was hugely missed in the league final against Cork. A definite starter for the championship and a star for the future. 8/10

Kieran Conroy
Done well when replacing Cafferkey for two games in the middle of the league but inexplicably lost his place and hasn’t been seen on the pitch since. Should be Mayo’s starting full back for the championship. 6/10

Pat Harte
Reliable when called upn from the bench. missed the opening part of the league but can be happy with what he contributed. will be pushing for a starting place during the chmapionship but more likely to be used as an impact sub.

Injuries could be used as an excuse for the league final collapse against Cork but that would be unfair on Cork. Mayo played well throughout the league up to the final with most of the same players injured and it was not a problem.

The defeat to Dublin will be seen as one that got away from them as they hit 18 wides but did have 27 shots on goal. This shows the forwards, particularly the younger players, had no fear of taking on the shot.

Mayo need to quickly get over the Cork defeat and pick themselves up for the trip to Sligo on June 5th. The Division 3 champions will fancy themselves to take a huge scalp in that game following the respective performances of the two teams in the league finals.

St.Coleman's supporters let Hogan Cup champions down

Saturday April 10th 2010 will go down in the history books of St. Colman’s college in Newry as the day they won back the Hogan Cup after a 12 year absence. But that is not all the day will be remembered for in Newry.

The behaviour of a minority of the St.Colman’s supporters left a very bad taste in the mouth of not only this reporter, but also undoubtedly in the mouths of their opponents, St.Brendan's of Killarney.

Arriving at the end of the Vocational Schools final between Clonakilty and Newry’s near neighbours St. Malachy’s the group of 200 or 300 students and past pupils made their presence known at the back of the lower section of the Hogan Stand.

Abuse was hurled down on their fellow footballers and supporters from Co. Down once the final whistle blew and two flares were lit in the middle of the stand, emitting a plume of blue smoke. The same colour as their school’s flag.

The worst abuse, however, was held for Kerry footballer and St. Brendan’s coach Paul Galvin. Chants about Galvin’s previous on field actions aswell as off-field controversies were rained down on him for the entire 60 minutes and even some time before the teams emerged from the tunnel.

To his credit Galvin never rose to the bait and completely ignored the St.Coleman’s supporters who were merely yards away from him for the entire match.

Scenes like this are completely alien to Croke Park, even when the rugby and, especially, soccer were being held in Croke Park there was never any trouble on this scale.

Five of the St. Colman’s supporters were taken away by the gardai following the final whistle as they attempted to make their way onto the playing surface.

Drink, no doubt, was a major factor in the behaviour of the supporters as the smell of alcohol emanating from their section of the ground was strong and a number of bags filled with bottles of beer were confiscated by the match stewards.

It is a shame that the Newry school was let down by their supporters on such an important day for the players and the school but unfortunately that is the way sport seems to be heading in this country.

Gerry Thornley claims it is happening, albeit not to the same extreme, in rugby and hopefully this is just a one off for the GAA.

Credit must go to the Croke Park stewards as they managed to successfully keep the supporters from gaining access to the pitch and kept them seperated from the real supporters and also to the other St.Colman’s supporters who were cordial in their success and cheered their team on with respect from the opening minute.

It is a shame that these same supporters, who were there to see their sons, brothers and friends win an All-Ireland final in Croke Park, should be said in the same breath as the thugs who were also following the Hogan Cup champions.

I congratulate St. Colman’s on their success and wish them further success in the future as they are clearly a good football team as their destruction of St. Gerald’s in the semi and St. Brendan’s in the final show.

But I sincerely hope that something is done, both by the St.Colman’s school and by the GAA, to make sure that scenes like the ones in Croke Park on Saturday are never seen again.

Leinster reach last four yet again

Leinster 29-28 Clermont Auvergne (RDS)

Leinster kept a hold on their European Cup with a thrilling 29-28 quarter-final victory over Clermont Auvergne in the RDS last night.

Jamie Heaslip scored two tries for the hosts and Julien Malzieu grabbed a hat-trick for Clermont, but a titanic contest was ultimately settled by the boot.

Leinster Out-Half Jonny Sexton had a fantastic night as he kicked 7 out of 8 attempts to finish the night with a total of 19 points, whereas Clermont’s Australian international, Brock James, endured one of the worst nights of his career as he kicked away 24 points, including two drop goals which would have won the game at the death.

Clermont are well known for having difficulties on their travels, losing to both Leicester and Osprey’s in the group stages, but at times last night it looked as if they might finally get that monkey off their back.

They started as if they were determined to lose that reputation and deservedly raced into a 10-0 lead that should probably have been more. Their powerful running shook Leinster early on and they would have led after five minutes had James not missed with a straightforward penalty after handling in the ruck.

The French side grabbed their deserved lead after 11 minutes when James chipped over the top of the Leinster defence and the ball was quickly moved out to Malzieu who made no mistake in crossing the line. James added the extra two points with an impressive kick from the sideline.

Aurelien Rougerie's break after the winger outjumped Isa Nacewa to a high ball set up James for another penalty and this time he slotted it from the touchline.

Leinster were being overpowered and had not been inside the Clermont 22 in the first quarter, but they came away with points from their first foray downfield. The visitors were caught offside following Ledesma's crooked lineout throw and Sexton slotted from right in front.

All of a sudden Leinster woke from their slumber and over the following ten minutes the game was completely turned on its head.

Brian O’Driscoll, so often the saviour for Leinster over the years, made a great break from midfield and a brilliant backhanded pass sent Jamie Heaslip crashing over the line. Sexton added the conversion to level the scores.

James then missed two penalty chances for the French side. It almost seemed to confirm that the momentum had shifted.

This proved to be true in the 33rd minute when quick ball from Eoin Reddan set Heaslip up to power over the line from three yards out. Sexton easily added the two extra points from directly in front of the posts.

A penalty soon after left Leinster ten points ahead and the half was ended when Morgan Parra, having taken over kicking duties from James, was well short with a penalty.

The first score of the second half was always going to be crucial in such an open game and that proved so when Clermont saw the momentum shift back in their direction when Malzieu scored his second try of the game.

The forwards made a burst through the middle and when the ball was spread wide Malzieu managed to touch down in the corner before Shane Horgan could force him into touch.

James missed the conversion but with momentum in Clermont’s favour it wasn’t long before they moved ahead of their Irish opposition.

James and Sexton swapped penalties before Clermont moved ahead again through Malzieu’s third try of the game.

Shane Horgan made a complete mess of a clearance from James and his clearance was blocked down by Marius Joubert. Malzieu still had plenty to do but he collected and kept his nerve to cross for the score. James converted and the lead was five points again.

This was to be Clermont’s last score of the game as the momentum shifted towards the home side once again.

A late hit from Morgan Parra was penalised and Sexton slotted the penalty between the posts. An opportunity for the lead was handed to Leinster when Anthony Floch was sin binned for a deliberate knock on, but Sexton missed the resultant penalty.

But with the numbers against them Clermont found their defence coming under severe pressure and as Leinster surged forward the Clermont defence was caught offside and Sexton moved Leinster ahead with the penalty.

Still James should have won it for the visitors, but twice after sterling work from his forwards in setting up good field position, the number 10 wasted good drop-goal chances.

Leinster will be extremely happy with this win as they managed to come through a serious test of character with the defence of their trophy intact. Sexton, Heaslip and Kearney proved to be the main players for Leinster on the night and Sexton especially will be happy with that after the comments from Ronan O’Gara, questioning Sexton’s bottle in a big game, earlier on Friday.

It’s France all the way now for Leinster if they are to successfully defend their trophy as the are away to the winners of Toulouse and Stade Francais and the final is being held in Paris.