Injured Mayo star Andy Moran pictured watching Ballaghaderreen's Mayo senior football championship quater final victoru over Garrymore at Elverys McHale Park at the weekend. Pic Michael DonnellyMAYO captain Andy Moran could be out for over six months if his worst fears are realised when he visits a specialist in Dublin later this week.

The Ballaghderreen player watched from the wings on Saturday evening as his club skipped past Garrymore to book a championship semi-final meeting with Knockmore.

However, the disappointment was fairly evident on his face of Moran who waved to the crowd as he took his place on the Ballaghderreen bench.

The cruciate ligament injury is one of the most difficult injuries to recover from in Gaelic football but early indications are that Moran will be out for at least six months.

It’s a cruel blow for Moran who was also denied a palce on the Irish team in the Internationl Rules Series when he cracked a bone in his foot.

Mayo mangaer James Horan was in McHale Park for all the weekend activity and the only anxious moment he had was when Danny Geraghty had to leave the pitch with a shoulder injury.

The injury does not appear to be to serious and he will be available for championship selection as Horan considers who wil fill the full-forward vacancy left by his injured captain.

 

Cillian O’Connor, who filled that role adequately for Ballintubber, is favourite to be handed the number 14 shier for the semi-final clash with Dublin but Horan does have a number of attacking options.

Meanwhile, Castlebar Mitchels came up short again in the senior champions losing for the third time in as many years to local rivals Ballintubber.

It was a case Castlebar leaving it behdind them as they were denied three clear-cut goals by the excellence of the Ballintubber goalkeeper Brendan Walsh.

The win puts Ballintubber into semi-final meeting with Crossmooina and on course to win the three-in-row under three different managers.

Crossmolina were never tested in their game against Westport while Knockmore failed to impress in very low scoring game against Claremorris.

The big shock in the intermediate championship was the victory by Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin over Hollymount-Carramore to set up an intriguing semi-final meeting with Burrishoole who just about squeezed past Achill.

The eye-catching performance of the weekend was the big win by Kilmaine over Swinford, the winners now taking on championship favourites Charlestown, who finally wore down game Moy Davitts side.

Semi-final line-up: Senior: Ballintubber v Crossmolina; Ballaghadereen v Knockmore.

Intermediate; Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin v Burrishoole; Kilmaine v Charlestown.

 

Full reports on all the senior and intermediate quatgertsfinals on pages 18 and 19B.