Mayo club championships go up a gear as round two commences
Nothing could separate Breaffy and Castlebar Mitchels in the battle of the neighbours as the second round of the Mayo GAA club championships commenced this evening.
A low-scoring Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship Group 2 encounter finished 0-12 apiece, a result that leaves both clubs still in with a chance of progressing to the quarterfinals, but it won't be an easy passage.
The picture will become clearer after the Belmullet v Aghamore game on Sunday. For now the pressure is on Mitchels, who lost their opening game against Belmullet and have just one point heading into the final group game against Aghamore.
Breaffy, who also drew their opening game away to Aghamore, should reach the quarters with a win over Belmullet in their final group game, but that won't be easy. There's a lot to play for in this group yet.
In Group 1, meanwhile, Ballyhaunis delivered a much improved performance at home to Garrymore but still lost by two (2-11 to 2-13). With their new stand open for the game, the home side put their heavy defeat away to Ballina Stephenites in the opening round to one side as they battled all the way against Garrymore, who had drawn with Crossmolina in round one.
However, it still wasn't enough to secure the win and the defeat leaves them out of the running for the knockout stages barring a surprising run of results.
The second round two game in this group will be played in St. Tiernan's Park on Sunday when Crossmolina host neighbours Ballina Stephenites in a highly anticipated clash.
In the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship, Kilmeena maintained their winning ways with a 2-16 to 1-16 victory away to The Neale in Group 2. Building on the opening round victory over Burrishoole, it leaves Kilmeena with a great chance of further progress. It's a second successive defeat for The Neale, however, following on from the loss to Cill Chomáin in round one, leaving them with little chance of going into the knockout stages.
The game between Burrishoole and Cill Chomáin will be played on Sunday in Newport, throwing in at 3.30 p.m.
Finally this evening, Davitts suffered a huge setback in Group 3 as they were soundly defeated at home by Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin, the central Mayo side winning on a scoreline of 2-19 to 0-14. The Ballindine club were relatively lucky to draw their opening game away to Islandeady and would have been hoping for a win at home to kick-start their campaign. However, Parke – who suffered defeat at home to Kiltane in round one – were too good on the evening and got their championship firmly back on track with this victory.
Kiltane host Islandeady in Bangor on Sunday, after which the picture in Group 3 will be much clearer.
The championship action continues tomorrow with a big number of games in the senior, intermediate and junior grades.