Sixteen go to post for 2022 Moclair Cup
SO, who are the contenders for the Moclair Cup in 2022? Well, I can tell you I was a bit taken aback myself when I had a look at Paddy Power’s prices for the championship. Ballintubber head the list on 7/2, Westport are in second spot on 4/1 and the defending champions Knockmore are at 9/2, with last year’s beaten finalists, Belmullet, available at 20/1.
Following Knockmore, Ballina and Castlebar are next on 11/2, with Breaffy also in the top six at 9/1. After that it’s Garrymore 12/1, Ballaghaderreen 16/1, Belmullet 20/1, Aghamore 25/1, Charlestown 33/1, Mayo Gaels 33/1, Balla 50/1, Claremorris 50/1, The Neale 66/1 and Davitts 100/1.
There has to be some each-way value with those prices but it is still hard to get away from the top five in the market – Ballintubber, Westport, Knockmore, Ballina and Castlebar.
It might be as well to start with the obvious – Knockmore. Will the fact that Ray Dempsey failed to land the Mayo job after he was backed by punters which forced the suspension of betting for the Mayo job have an effect on his push for three in-a-row? No is the short answer. In fact, it is likely to reinforce his efforts to bring the club to their first ever three-in-row, a feat which was last achieved by Castlebar Mitchels (2015-2017).
However, they are in a tough group that includes neighbours Ballina Stephenites, who were knocked out at the quarterfinal stage last year by a late Westport point, Aghamore and Ballaghaderreen, but this looks like a two-horse race to top the group.
Ballina, who last won the county title in 2007, will feel they could have beaten Knockmore in that recent league semi-final and they might well leave the champions as runners-up in the group, but it's is hard to see a major upset elsewhere. On their day Aghamore can test any team and Ballaghadereen’s league from is too bad to be believed.
Mark Twain’s famous line about his death being prematurely reported was being bandied about in relation to Ballintubber ahead of the championship, but lo and behold they are the bookies' favourites to win the cup in 2022.
The club had struggled through the league but there were obvious explanations (injuries and absentees) for that, and I expect Enda Gilvarry’s team will have more than enough to make the quarterfinals.
It should not be forgotten that it was the reigning champions Knockmore who knocked Ballintubber out last year at the quarterfinal stage, substitute goalkeeper Ryan McDermott the hero of the day as he saved a late penalty from Diarmud O’Connor to force a draw.
The crunch game in that Group 1 will involve the ’Tubber and Westport. Westport were bitterly disappointed after crashing out in the semi-final against Belmullet last year and I expect a big showing from both Ballintubber and Westport, who look to hold all the aces in a group which contains Mayo Gaels and The Neale, the latter not quite the same force without the recovering Tommy Conroy.
WIDE OPEN
Group 3 is wide open. Any of the four clubs – Balla, Breaffy, Belmullet and Claremorris – can make it to the last eight and this is a group that looks destined to go to the wire.
Belmullet’s arrival in last year’s final was no flash in the pan as they brought great excitement to the championship, knocking out both Breaffy and Westport in the knockout stages, but they are no longer a surprise package and they will do well to emerge from this group.
I expect a big showing from Claremorris who, like Castlebar Mitchels, have some serious underage talent coming through.
Having been promoted after winning the intermediate championship last year, Balla did well to retain their senior status and will have learned a lot from that experience, but I’m not sure it will be enough. That leaves both between Breaffy and Claremorris with a big shout, the former likely to prevail if they are back to full strength – but do keep an eye on Claremorris.
Similarly, Group 4 is another one that is going to ask a few questions but you would have to be on Castlebar Mitchels following their league victory over county champions Knockmore.
Castlebar seem to be learning all the time and that league final, which needed extra-time to find a winner, tested the character of a team that seems to be striking the balance between the new and the not-so-old.
The league was the ideal platform for the Mitchels to start rebuilding under the new management team of Barry Moran and Neil Lydon, and their decision to draw from the pool of talent evolving at Under 17 and Under 19 has paid promising dividends thus far.
Division 2 league champions Davitts, Garrymore and Charlestown are well matched but despite their failure to deliver in the league, I have a feeling Garrymore will be once again be back in the knockout stages along with Mitchels – although Charlestown, who last won the senior title in 2009 when they beat Knockmore in the final, are capable of taking any scalp on their day. Meanwhile, that league success will certainly put more than a pep in the step of Davitts, who have yet to win a senior title having lost in their only final appearance to Knockmore in 1983. They are the complete outsiders for the title at 100/1 and that just might get the Boyler to rally the troops.
Overall, it looks like an interesting championship which will see the group stages run off over three weekends.
Round one takes place this coming weekend (September 3/4), followed by round two the following weekend (September 10/11). The third round of the groups stages will be played two weeks later, over the weekend of September 24/25.
TOP TIP
My good friend GG, an expert on all sporting matters from hurling to hockey, tells me that Boylesports have Castlebar Mitchels priced at 8/1.
I still think Knockmore remain the team to beat but I would certainly put Castlebar, Ballina and Westport in the mix as serious contenders, and for my dark horse, I pick last year’s semi-finalists, Garrymore.