Ballyhaunis and Kilmeena get the nod to advance to Mayo intermediate decider

By Aiden Henry

BOTH Egan Jewellers Mayo IFC semi-finals are down for decision today (Saturday), with Kimeena taking on Bohola Moy Davitts in Pairc Josie Munnelly, Castlebar, while Claremorris will be the venue for the second semi-final between Ballyhaunis and Hollymount/Carramore.

With the four teams left in the intermediate championship all hitting good form at the right time, we should be treated to two close and well contested semi-finals.

While it is difficult to predict the outcome of both games, I have given both Kilmeena and Ballyhaunis to advance to the decider.

Hollymount/Carramore v Ballyhaunis (3 p.m.)

Ballyhaunis and Hollymount/Carramore will go head-to-head in what promises to be a rip-roaring semi-final in Claremorris. With such a long and great Gaelic football tradition between these two clubs, we can expect a bumper crowd for this mouth-watering clash at the south Mayo venue.

It would have been a brave person to bet that these two sides would end up playing each other after the first round of the intermediate championship group stages. Neither team, especially Hollymount/Carramore, gave a great indication that they would be involved at the latter stages of the championship.

While Ballyhaunis staged a remarkable comeback to get a share of the spoils with Castlebar B, Hollymount/Carramore suffered a big defeat, 2-14 to 0-11, at the hands of Kiltimagh. Indeed, such was the tough group Hollymount/Carramore were in, it was difficult to see them finishing in the top two.

But in fairness to both teams, they rose to the challenge put in front of them in rounds two and three in magnificent style. Not only did both teams qualify for the quarterfinals, but did so by finishing top of their respective groups.

Now, after two excellent wins in the quarterfinals, these two clash for a place in this year's intermediate decider. With both teams going into the game confident of winning, it is very difficult to predict which of them will come out on top.

Before the championship started, both Ballyhaunis and Hollymount/Carramore would have been on many people's shortlist as likely title winners. As it now stands, one of them will be in the final. But the burning question is: Which one?

From a Ballyhaunis point of view, they were slow to get going this year. While they did share the spoils with Castlebar Mitchels B in the first round following a remarkable comeback in that game, they didn’t look as if they were a team that would go all the way.

That point of view changed after the second round of games when they travelled to Foxford to play the home side, Bohola Moy Davitts, in round two. It was here that they made a mockery of their opening round performance by producing an eye-catching display. They then went on to contest their final group game against Ardnaree and won without over-extending themselves.

In the quarterfinals they were up against tough opposition in Parke. Again, they put in a solid performance to book their place in the last four.

If Ballyhaunis were slow starters in this year's championships, it was nothing like that suffered by next Saturday’s opposition, Hollymount/Carramore. They were well and truly beaten by Kiltimagh in round one and with games against Kilmeena and Kilmaine in rounds two and three, the odds on them making the last eight certainly didn’t shorten.

However, they rediscovered their best form in these games to carve out two good victories and set up a last eight encounter with Crossmolina Deel Rovers. This game against Crossmolina was never going to be easy, as Hollymount/Carramore were to find out. In a contest that had many twists and turns, the south Mayo side who just held on for a narrow one-point win on a scoreline of 1-14 to 3-7. While Hollymount/ Carramore were delighted to clear this tricky hurdle, they will be a bit worried about conceding three goals.

All of this adds up to an interesting semi-final in Claremorris. While a good case can be made for both sides, I feel Ballyhaunis might just edge it. They seem to be improving with each game and with no major injury worries – especially after last Sunday’s senior county hurling final against Tooreen, where a number of their Gaelic football team were assisting the hurlers – the east Mayo side look to be getting better with each game that passes.

That said, if there's any little slip-up by Ballyhaunis, Hollymount/Carramore will punish them.

Verdict: Ballyhaunis

Bohola Moy Davitts v Kilmeena (3 p.m.)

Like the pairing of Hollymount/Carramore and Ballyhaunis, you would have been given fair odds on Kilmeena and Moy Davitts meeting in the county intermediate semi-final before the final round of games in their respective groups. Indeed, as both ventured into their third round games, earning a place in the quarterfinals for each of them was a major ask.

Kilmeena, who were one of the four teams in the group of death, faced up against a Kiltimagh team that had demolished Holllymount/Carramore in round one. It was a tough ask for Kilmeena, but it was a challenge they rose to before carving out a deserved victory and a place in the last eight.

Meanwhile, Bohola Moy Davitts went into their final game against Castlebar Mitchels B knowing nothing but a victory would send them through against their unbeaten opponents. For three-quarters of the game it very much looked as if Moy Davitts were heading for the exit door, However, they produced a magnificent final quarter before coming from the jaws of defeat to secure a last-minute winning point against a shell-shocked Castlebar.

That one-point victory was enough to give them the runners-up spot in the group and a place in the quarterfinals.

In the quarters, both Bohola Moy Davitts and Kilmeena were handed tough draws. Kilmeena were pitted against high-flying Ballinrobe while Moy Davitts were drawn to play one of the championship favourites, unbeaten Louisburgh. It was in these two games that both Kimeena and Moy Davitts showed they were hitting their top form at the right time and were serious contenders for the intermediate title.

Bohola Moy Davitts caused the shock of the quarterfinal by beating Louisburgh. In what was a brilliant game of football, few could argue that the east Mayo side didn’t deserve to win. After starting well, they gave as good as they got in the opening half. With the sides level at the interval, Moy Davitts opened up a four-point lead after getting a second goal in the early stages of the second half. However, just when it seemed they were on their way, they were pegged back by Louisburgh who hit an unanswered 1-4 to take a three-point lead.

As we had seen against Castlebar Mitchels B, Moy Davitts refused to throw in the towel and again produced another magnificent final quarter. In addition to not letting Louisburgh score again, they tacked on six points themselves to turn the three-point deficit into a three-point victory. That final quarter by Moy Davitts was breath-taking, and Kilmeena will be well aware that their semi-final opponents will take a lot of beating.

Kilmeena’s game against Ballinrobe was a much closer game throughout. However, the reigning All-Ireland junior club champions shaded the opening half and held a four-point lead at the break. They were pegged back by Ballinrobe in the second half and found themselves a point down with less than 10 minutes remaining. However, just like Bohola Moy Davitts in their quarterfinal, Kilmeena upped the ante at the business end of the game, scoring four unanswered points to nudge past their south Mayo opponents.

Going by what we saw from Kilmeena and Bohola Moy Davitts in their respective quarterfinals, this has all the hallmarks for a magnificent semi-final. Both sides have a blend of experience and youth in their sides and, both as we have seen, will battle extremely hard right up to the final whistle.

We can expect a very close game. Indeed, it should come right down to the wire, with the final result very much in doubt up to the final whistle.

As for the outcome, the nod is going to Kilmeena on account of the vast experience they have gained over the past year. The Mayo, Connacht and All-Ireland junior titles secured in the last year will stand to them greatly in this highly anticipated semi-final. However, nothing less than a top-class performance will do for Kilmeena as Bohola Moy Davitts, if they can reproduce their quarterfinal display, will be difficult to beat.

Verdict: Kilmeena