Galway Bay fm - Sports

Walkers taking to the road for Pieta House

The Maroon Charity Run for Pieta takes place on March 9th with 75 runners leaving Garrycastle in Athlone and heading to Fohenagh with the funds raised going to Pieta House.

Galway and Pearses Camogie legend Tracey Laheen has been a great supporter of the event and is organising a fundraising night in Gerry Macs Bar Castleblakeney on February 10th.

Tracey has been a tremendous advocate since day one and is running the final leg of the run along with some of her fellow camogie legends.

Tracey spoke to John Mulligan on Saturday Sport. 

RACING: George McDonagh’s Saturday Six (6th January 2023)

Racing at home on Saturday (6th January) is in Cork.

While cross-channel, there are meetings in Newcastle, Wincanton, Southwell and Kempton.

To preview the action with his 'Saturday Six,' here's Galway Bay FM's George McDonagh.

RUGBY: Ireland legend Noel Mannion with Galway Bay FM’s Darren Kelly after being inducted into the Galway Sports Stars Hall of Fame

Ballinasloe's Noel Mannion will be inducted into the Medtronic Galway Sports Stars Hall of Fame on January 19th at the Galway Bay Hotel.

The rugby legend scored one of Ireland's greatest-ever tries against Wales in Cardiff Arms Park in 1989, and also went over the whitewash twice against Japan in the 1991 World Cup.

As well as representing Connacht 34 times, he also was part of the Galway senior football panel in 1987, winning a Connacht medal and playing against Cork in that year's semi-final.

After hearing the news, Noel chatted to Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly.

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The 'Over The Line' weekend preview show broadcasts every Friday evening from 7pm on Galway Bay FM.

FOOTBALL: Galway and Corofin forward Ian Burke with Galway Bay FM’s Darren Kelly looks ahead to Galway’s opening game in the FBD League against Leitrim

Galway's senior footballers get their 2024 season underway next Friday (12th January) when they face Leitrim in the semi-final.

The two teams met in the same competition 12 months previously with Padraic Joyce's team running out comfortable 3-21 to 1-13 victors.

The Tribesmen welcome back Liam Silke, Kieran Molloy and Sean Mulkerrin this year but there are still doubts about Peter Cooke's involvement.

One player definitely out is Corofin's Ian Burke who got accepted at the prestigious French university INSEAD last autumn ruling him out for the year.

He has kept up with football developments and during a placement in Singapore this week, he took time out to reflect and look forward with Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly.

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Throw-in at the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome  on Friday is 7pm and we'll have LIVE coverage on 'Over The Line' here on Galway Bay FM.

The 'Over The Line' weekend preview show broadcasts every Friday evening from 7pm on Galway Bay FM.

HURLING: Former Galway manager Anthony Cunningham joins Galway Bay FM’s Darren Kelly to look ahead to Galway’s Walsh Cup opener against Offaly

After suffering a 2-18 to 0-18 defeat to Laois on Thursday (4th January), Offaly will be Galway's first opponents when they begin the defence of the Walsh Cup on Sunday (7th January).

It's their first meeting in this competition since Galway manager Henry Shefflin's first game in charge two years previously.

Former Galway boss Anthony Cunningham knows about this time of the year after spending four years at the helm between 2012 and 2015.  He caught up with Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly to chat about the upcoming game.

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Throw-in at Glenfisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday is 1.30pm and we'll have LIVE coverage here on Galway Bay FM.

LGFA: New Galway President Frank Kearney chats to Galway Bay FM’s Darren Kelly about the formation of the organisation

Over the Christmas period, Galway's LGFA county board honoured their first chairperson and one of their founding members Frank Kearney from Lackagh, when they named him President of Galway LGFA.

It marks the 50th anniversary of the organisation, both locally and nationally, and Frank played a big part in its founding along with many more.

To look back at the formation of Ladies Gaelic Football Association both in Galway and Ireland, Frank Kearney reflected with Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly.

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The 'Over The Line' weekend preview show broadcasts every Friday evening from 7pm on Galway Bay FM.

FOOTBALL: Mayo forward Ryan O’Donoghue with Galway Bay FM’s Darren Kelly as he looks forward to lining out for University of Galway in the Sigerson Cup

Electric Ireland has teamed up with six intercounty Camogie and GAA stars to look ahead to the upcoming matches and rivalries across the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships.

Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unexpected alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA.

Despite being bound to their county through a traditional allegiance, intercounty camogie stars Emma Manogue (TUD & Kilkenny) and Kerrie Finnegan (TUD & Dublin) will put their rivalries to one side as they seek to defend their first ever Electric Ireland Ashbourne Cup title. Likewise, intercounty footballers Sean Kelly (University of Galway & Galway) and Ryan O’Donoghue (University of Galway & Mayo), and intercounty hurlers Mark Rodgers (UL & Clare) and TJ Brennan (UL & Galway) will look to set conventional competition aside as they work towards Electric Ireland Sigerson and Fitzgibbon titles in 2024 with their college sides.

Ryan O'Donoghue had a chat with Galway Bay FM's Darren Kelly

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In the first round of Sigerson Cup action, University of Galway take on TUD while UL have been drawn in a group with ATU Galway and TUS Mid-West for their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign. The Ashbourne Cup action is already underway with TUD facing DCU in round 2 in the new year. The draw for the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships took place on 27th November 2023 and 5th December 2023 respectively.

Uachtarán an Cumann Camógaíochta, Hilda Breslin, said: “It is with great excitement that we look ahead to the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships. We wish all colleges and participants the best of luck. These championships are fantastic, showcasing the skill and drama of our game, an important part of our games calendar. We look forward to what will no doubt be a thrilling conclusion to this year’s Championships, which has been made all the more exciting with Electric Ireland’s continued support.”

Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy, said: “The return of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships is always a very exciting opening to the GAA year and I have no doubt this year will be the very same. We look forward to seeing these competitions reach new heights throughout the 2024 season and wish the very best of luck to all of the colleges involved.”

Sarah Sharkey, Group PR and Sponsorship Manager at Electric Ireland, commented: “We are delighted to welcome back the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships and Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships for another season. Once again, we look to celebrate the strong bonds formed between these players as they set long-established rivalries aside and come together in pursuit of a common goal.”

Through the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Leagues and Championships sponsorship and along with the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level sponsorship, Electric Ireland is continuing to build on their commitment to young Irish talent across Gaelic Games.

Follow the Championships and be a part of the conversation on social media using the hashtag, #FirstClassRivals.

Follow Electric Ireland on social media: Twitter: @electricireland, Facebook: @ Electric Ireland, Instagram: @electricireland

New York hurling reaction

Declan Molloy Galway manager post New York

HURLING: New York 1-27 Galway 1-16 (Connacht Junior League semi-final report with Galway Bay FM’s Sean Walsh)

Galway development went down to New York at the Connacht GAA Centre, Bekan on Thursday (4th January).

AJ Willis' goal on 49 minutes settled a contest that the visitors led for most of the game.

Galway Bay FM's Sean Walsh reports