Only in Mayo

LAST year, the National Football League was launched in a blaze of lights and fireworks, but the plug is set to be pulled on the planned floodlit showpiece for the start of this year's competition.

Croke Park officials had hoped to kick-start the league with a televised NFL opener between Mayo and neighbours Galway under floodlights in Castlebar.

However, the night-time fixture is in doubt as Castlebar Town Council's decision to grant retention planning permission for the €10m McHale Park development is being appealed to An Bord Pleanala on behalf of the McHale Road residents.

The game is due to be the first played under floodlights at the revamped Mayo venue on Saturday, February 6, and is scheduled to be screened live on Setanta Sports.

Mayo County Board chairman James Waldron says the match will go ahead at McHale Park, but cannot yet say whether it will be played on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon.

"As of now it's still fixed for Saturday night, but it would really be down to whether we are allowed use the lights or not," he explained.

A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said they hope to deal with the matter "on or before April 29".

Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the inter-county futures of Mayo's Billy Joe Padden and Austin O'Malley who've both been excluded from John O'Mahony's squad for the Connacht FBD League. Padden is now based in Down with O'Malley in Dublin.

I didn't even know they had electricity there. Talk about launching the league in a balze of glory.

JimWexford wrote:LAST year, the National Football League was launched in a blaze of lights and fireworks, but the plug is set to be pulled on the planned floodlit showpiece for the start of this year's competition.

Croke Park officials had hoped to kick-start the league with a televised NFL opener between Mayo and neighbours Galway under floodlights in Castlebar.

However, the night-time fixture is in doubt as Castlebar Town Council's decision to grant retention planning permission for the €10m McHale Park development is being appealed to An Bord Pleanala on behalf of the McHale Road residents.

The game is due to be the first played under floodlights at the revamped Mayo venue on Saturday, February 6, and is scheduled to be screened live on Setanta Sports.

Mayo County Board chairman James Waldron says the match will go ahead at McHale Park, but cannot yet say whether it will be played on Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon.

"As of now it's still fixed for Saturday night, but it would really be down to whether we are allowed use the lights or not," he explained.

A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said they hope to deal with the matter "on or before April 29".

Meanwhile, speculation surrounds the inter-county futures of Mayo's Billy Joe Padden and Austin O'Malley who've both been excluded from John O'Mahony's squad for the Connacht FBD League. Padden is now based in Down with O'Malley in Dublin.

David Heaney is also excluded. Billy Joe and O'Malley will be in the squad come Summer, just not for the FBD League which is a nothing competition in fairness. It was the same story last year for Heaney, was not included in the squad against NUIG, but came back. O'Mahony generally uses the FBD league to experiment with new players and judging by his squad, it's going to be interesting to see if there's some new talent somewhere in there. Aidan O'Shea is in First year in College, and this year the Freshers are allowed to play with their county so he might make an appearance. Ger Cafferkey is injured and so's Kilcoyne.

As for the lights, it's disappointing. It'd be class-I'm optimistic it'll go ahead though!

Aidan O'Shea is in First year in College, and this year the Freshers are allowed to play with their county so he might make an appearance.
Wouldn't be too sure on this. If they play with a college now don't think they will be allowed play with anyone else again not 100% but have heard something on the grapevine regarding it.

JimWexford wrote:Aidan O'Shea is in First year in College, and this year the Freshers are allowed to play with their county so he might make an appearance.
Wouldn't be too sure on this. If they play with a college now don't think they will be allowed play with anyone else again not 100% but have heard something on the grapevine regarding it.

Aidan O'Shea is named in the squad. Freshers aren't allowed play Sigerson Football this year that's why the First Years can be included. Neil Douglas is another first year included!

it will hardly pull the same crowd as Tyrone would so i wouldn't lose any sleep over it

bocerty wrote:it will hardly pull the same crowd as Tyrone would so i wouldn't lose any sleep over it

The Galway fans are desperate travelers. At the Connaught final in 2006, there was only a very small amount, same in 2008. Even at home in Pearse Stadium, particularly for NFL matches, there's only a small crowd.

EstherMayo1951 wrote: Galway fans are desperate travelers..

Very harsh on sound forumite Clash there Essie. Dead on about the other fellow though......

Boxtyeater wrote:

EstherMayo1951 wrote: Galway fans are desperate travelers..

Very harsh on sound forumite Clash there Essie. Dead on about the other fellow though......

Yes. On the other hand Mayo are renowned travellers.

KerryKatriona wrote:Yes. On the other hand Mayo are renowned travellers.

"Until they met in the vale of Cross with"

JimWexford wrote:

The game is due to be the first played under floodlights at the revamped Mayo venue on Saturday, February 6, and is scheduled to be screened live on Setanta Sports.


A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said they hope to deal with the matter "on or before April 29".

Maybe a motion to An Bord Pleanala to have Mayo abolished altogether might meet with a little more urgency on their behalf.

Given the Corrib mess I'd say ABP would go for that.

mossbags wrote:

JimWexford wrote:

The game is due to be the first played under floodlights at the revamped Mayo venue on Saturday, February 6, and is scheduled to be screened live on Setanta Sports.


A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said they hope to deal with the matter "on or before April 29".

Maybe a motion to An Bord Pleanala to have Mayo abolished altogether might meet with a little more urgency on their behalf.

Thought that would of been a standard time frame for the Whest

There was an article in the local paper saying how Roscommon had bigger attendances for the league last year compared with Galway.

clash-of-da-ash wrote:There was an article in the local paper saying how Roscommon had bigger attendances for the league last year compared with Galway.

Yeah but no one in Roscummon could actually read the article so it makes no odds really