Mouthwatering quarterfinal ties in Mayo senior championship
TYNAN'S TAKE
EVEN the most casual supporter of club action in Mayo football will have been licking their lips following the draw last Sunday evening for the quarterfinal stages of the Mayo club championships.
In the senior championship, you couldn't have picked two better games to be broadcast nationally. Reigning champions Knockmore will be given their stiffest test so far as they taken on Castlebar Mitchels at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. These two met in the league final before the championship began and it was Mitchels who got the better of that one. They have looked impressive at times in the group stages but have also made life more difficult than it should have been.
They have blooded many young players since Barry Moran and Neil Lydon have taken change and while they're building nicely, the Knockmore game may be one step too far for them.
Ray Dempsey's men lost in the group stages for the third year in a row – against Ballina – but impressed against Aghamore and Ballaghaderreen. Considering they have won the last two senior title despite a loss in the groups, they may feel it's a good omen.
The other is a local derby with Breaffy and Ballintubber. Both enjoyed serene progress to this stage, although the nature of Ballintubber's loss to Westport will have been of some concern. Breaffy have looked mightily impressive to date but the challenge that Ballintubber will impose cannot be stated enough.
Ballintubber have had Breaffy's number in recent championship outing yet where both sides stands, this may be Breaffy best chance to date.
The other two senior quarterfinals see Ballina face Claremorris and Westport take on Garrymore. Claremorris will be happy to be in the knockouts after they bounced back from a limp display against Breaffy to beat Belmullet and Balla. However, I'd expect Ballina to be one hill too steep to climb.
Westport are many people's favourite after they blitzed their way through the group. However, Garrymore will pose a much greater challenge and while I do think Westport will come through, it won't be without a scare or two.