Spectators or not, this weekend has some super Mayo GAA club championship quarterfinals in store

by Aiden Henry

WHILE the lack of specators will make for an eerie atmosphere in Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, at the weekend, the four Connacht Gold SFC quarterfinals have all the ingredients to be classic encounters.

Defending senior champions Ballintubber go first into the ring against a battle-hardened Knockmore.

This game, set for throw-in at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon should be the biggest test yet for the defending champions as Knockmore have looked good this year, very good at times, and could have beaten Ballina in their final group game last Saturday but for a late rally from the Stephenites.

But if Knockmore have looked good, so too have Ballintubber.

Okay, they were caught late on in their first championship outing against Aghamore but since then it has been plain sailing for the defending champions.

They remain favourites to reach the semi-finals, but it will be a stern test on Saturday.

In the evening's second game (7.30 p.m.), last year's beaten finalists, Ballaghaderreen, take on a Breaffy team that emerged from the 'group of death' to take their place in the last eight.

Ballaghaderreen probably had the easier group but Breaffy were the second seeds that all group winners wanted to avoid, and don't be surprised if they march on to the last four.

No doubt it will be close, so a Ballaghaderreen win wouldn't come as a surprise either.

The opening game on Sunday (2 p.m.) sees Westport, winners of that group of death, take on The Neale in what most observers would expect to be comfortable enough for the Covies.

No doubt The Neale will have other ideas, but while one wouldn't be foolish enough to write off their chances entirely, it would be a shock if Westport were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage.

The final game in the last eight is the Sunday afternoon clash of Ballina Stephenites and Aghamore (4 p.m.).

Like Breaffy, Aghamore are strong second seeds and their draw with Ballintubber on the opening evening of the championship underlines their credentials.

However, being somewhat hampered by injuries could open the door for Ballina.

Should both Aghamore and Ballintubber win, it will set up a repeat of their group encounter at the semi-final stage.

If Ballina and Knockmore come through those games, however, it would result in a massive north Mayo derby in the last four and a repeat of their group game last Saturday evening.

The second semi-final will be between the winners of the Ballaghaderreen v Breaffy and Westport v The Neale games.

Again there is the potential for replays of earlier group games, as Ballagh' and The Neale were Group 1 rivals and Westport and Breaffy locked horns in Group 4.

In the relegation playoffs, Bohola-Moy Davitts take on Garrymore and Charlestown play Claremorris.

I expect Garrymore and Charlestown to claim victory in these games.

The draw for the Egan Jewellers intermediate quarterfinals, which also took place on Sunday evening, has thrown up four intriguing games as well. Indeed, in all four games a case can be made for either team to come out on top.

Had spectators been allowed to attend these quarterfinals I think we would have got a bumper crowd for the local derby encounter between Mayo Gaels and Balla (Saturday, 3.30 p.m., Claremorris).

This has all the prospects for a real cracker as these two close neighbours will each be wanting a win at all costs.

For me it's the top game in the intermediate quarterfinals. We can expect the two sides to leave everything on the field of play.

I'm going to give Mayo Gaels the nod to come out on top, but it would not surprise one bit if the final result favoured Balla.

The second game on Saturday sees Hollymount/Carramore take on Bonniconlon (4 p.m. in Swinford).

The vote in this clash goes to Hollymount/Carramore, who have been the form team so far in the championship.

Bonniconlon proved a bit of a surprise packet in the championship with good wins over Louisburgh and Swinford in rounds one and two, which guaranteed them a place in the quarterfinals.

However, the opposition is getting stronger now, as they found out against Kiltimagh, and they might find Hollymount/Carramore equally as strong this coming weekend.

On Sunday (August 30), Kiltimagh and Crossmolina Deel Rovers lock horns at 12 p.m. in Ballina.

A very strong case can be made for both, as Kiltimagh have always been tough customers when it comes to the championship while Crossmolina’s great experience makes them serious contenders.

But just going on last weekend’s form, the nod here goes to Kiltimagh. They had a tough final group game that they needed to win against unbeaten Bonniconlon, and win it they did – and in some style too.

Crossmolina didn’t turn up at all in the first half against Ballinrobe and were lucky to be just two points in arrears at the end of the 30 minutes.

While they showed a marked improvement after the break, they were still unable to stop Ballinrobe from winning. They will not find Kiltimagh any easier.

The second game on Sunday (2 p.m. in Islandeady) pits Ballinrobe against Ardnaree.

Again we have two very strong sides going to battle, with the outcome difficult to predict.

However, the way Ballinrobe dug deep to beat Crossmolina last weekend suggests the south Mayo team are getting better with each round that passes.

If Ballinrobe can reproduce anything near their best form they will prove very difficult to beat.

Ardnaree will not be afraid of Ballinrobe, however, and will go into the game in pretty confident mood.

They never make it easy for any side and will battle hard to the very end. Yet it is hard to look beyond Ballinrobe here as they look to be in great form and improving as a unit.

The two relegation playoffs between Ballyhaunis and Islandeady and Burrishoole and Swinford will also be very close.

However, I feel there will be wins for Ballyhaunis and Burrishoole.

The TF Royal Hotel Exclusive JFC quarterfinals are no less interesting, with Kilmeena and Kilmaine on course to reach the final but plenty of strong opposition between them and their title aspirations.

Kilmeena play Achill (4 p.m. in Newport) and Shrule/Glencorrib face Killala (4 p.m. in Kiltimagh) on Saturday, while the Sunday games are Eastern Gaels v Cill Chomáin (1 p.m. in Knockmore) and Kilmaine v Ardagh (1 p.m. in Clogher).

PHOTOGRAPH: Balla’s Steven McNicholas gets in his clearance despite the close attention of Parke’s Sean Corcoran during the Mayo IFC tie at Ballintubber on Saturday. Balla’s reward for victory in that game is a quarterfinal against Mayo Gaels in what is arguably the best tie of all in the knockout stages of the club championships next weekend. PHOTO: DAVID FARRELL PHOTOGRAPHY