Fascinating finish to Mayo intermediate groups in prospect
By Aiden Henry
IT may be hard to believe but after two rounds of the group stages of the Egan Jewellers Mayo intermediate club championship, not one team is 100% certain of a place in the quarterfinals.
All eight qualifying teams will not be known until after the third and final round of group games the weekend after next.
This promises to make the final round of group games the most interesting ever and leaves nearly all the teams involved still with hope of making the knockout stages
In Group 1, both Louisburgh and Crossmolina Deel Rovers will be the odds-on favourites to advance to the quarterfinals. But the other two teams in the group, Bonniconlon and Lahardane, can’t be ruled out. For Bonniconlon to have a chance of making the last eight they would first have to beat Louisburgh, and beat them well, especially if Crossmolina get their expected victory over Lahardane as scoring difference would then come into play to decide the two qualifiers. However, were Bonniconlon to beat Louisburgh and Crossmolina to lose or draw against Larhardane, a one-point victory would be good enough for Bonniconlon to advance.
For Lahardane to have an outside chance they would need Louisburgh to beat Bonniconlon well and for them to hand out a big beating to Crossmolina. That would put them on two points along with Crossmolina and Bonniconlon, with scoring difference then deciding who would join Louisburgh in the last eight.
However, the safe bet to advance from this group are Louisburgh and Crossmolina.
In Group 2, Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin have to beat Burrishoole in their game knowing that victory would be good enough to give them a place in the last eight. However, if Parke do beat Burrishoole, Ballinrobe would at least need a draw against Kiltane to be sure of qualifying as Burrishoole have a better scoring difference than Ballinrobe at present.
One would have to say Ballinrobe are warm favourites to come out of this group, with the winners of Burrishoole versus Parke also advancing.
In Group 3, the big game in round three will be between Bohola Moy Davitts and Castlebar Mitchels B. Should Castlebar avoid defeat, then themselves and Ballyhaunis would advance to the quarterfinals. A win or draw for Ballyhaunis against Ardnaree would also guarantee them their place in the last eight.
However, should both Ballyhaunis and Castlebar B lose their games, it would come down to scoring difference between the two of them to see who joins Moy Davitts in the quarterfinals from this group.
It's certainly all to play in Group 4 for going into the final round as all four teams are on two points each. In the final round, Kiltimagh face Kilmeena and Hollymount/Carramore meet Kilmaine. The two winners here will advance. Should either game, or both, end level, scoring difference will decide who advances.
Meanwhile, Group 1 of the TF Royal Hotel junior championship looks almost decided, with Cill Chomain and Eastern Gaels looking set to make the last eight. For Ballycastle to have any chance they would need to have a huge win over Cill Chomain in their final game as their scoring difference with the top two is way off.
In Group 2, it's a case of Ardagh and Swinford meeting to see who tops the group as both are already safely through to the quarterfinals.
There are only three teams in Group 3 – Islandeady, Killala and Kilmovee Shamrocks. Islandeady, who defeated Killala in round one, only need a draw in the final game against Kilmovee Shamrocks to top the group and advance to the quarterfinals with Killala. However, should Kilmovee defeat Islandeady, scoring difference would decide which two teams advance to the last eight.
Group 4, like Group 2, is already decided, with the top two teams, Shrule/Glencorrib and Tourmakeady, having already qualified for the quarterfinals. They face off in the final round to see who tops the group.