Fixture details revealed for round three of Mayo GAA football championships

The fixture details for the third round of the Mayo GAA senior, intermediate and junior football championships have been announced.

These third round fixtures will be played in neutral venues in all bar one group in the junior championship, which has five teams and there fore extra rounds to be played.

In the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship, reigning champions Ballina Stephenites have battle on their hands to make the last eight following their defeat to near-neighbours Crossmolina in round two last Sunday. They face Garrymore in Charlestown in their crucial round three encounter on Sunday week (September 7, 4 p.m.) in Fr. O'Hara Park, and need to win to make it through the quarterfinals. Anything less and it will be Garrymore joining Crossmolina from Group 1 in the last eight.

The Deel Rovers – Mayo, Connacht and All-Ireland intermediate champions last season – are already through to the knockout stages. They play their final group game against Ballyhaunis in Kiltimagh at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.

The Stephenites are among a number of teams hanging in there to make the final cut of eight to go through to the quarterfinals. Others still struggling are Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy in Group 2 following their draw last Friday evening.

Belmullet, who picked up another win by beating Aghamore on Sunday, have booked their place at the last eight table ahead of their final game against Breaffy, which will be played in James Stephens Park, Ballina, on Saturday, September 6, at 6.30 p.m. Breaffy, with two points from two draws, would go through with victory, but Aghamore and Mitchels – who also play at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday week in Claremorris – are still in the hunt, and a win for either of them combined with a defeat for Breaffy would see them go through instead. A draw in the Breaffy v Belmullet game and a win for either Mitchels or Aghamore would bring score difference into play.

In Group 3, Ballintubber and Ballaghaderreen remain unbeaten and are guaranteed their place in the last eight. They meet in round three to decide who tops the group. As it stands going into that game, to be played on Saturday, September 6, in Garrymore (8 p.m.), Ballaghaderreen look the form team.

The clash between Claremorris and Charlestown in the same group will determine which team secures safety and which much survive the relegation battle. The meet in Aghamorre at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, September 6.

In Group 4, Knockmore were held to a draw by visitors Westport last Sunday but it does look like both will go through. Knockmore will be expected to beat Mayo Gaels in the final game on Sunday, September 7, in Parke (1 p.m.), but Westport likely to face a tough challenge when they take on Balla at the same time in Josie Munnelly Park, Castlebar. Balla had a big win over Mayo Gaels last time out to keep them in the race for the knockout stages, so Westport still have work to do.

There's much to play for in round three of the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship too.

In Group 1, Ardnaree lead the way on three points but are not guaranteed progress. They would need at least a point against Castlebar Mitchels B in their final group game, but that won't be easy to acheive given the county town's form going into this fixture. They meet at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, in Foxford.

At the same time, in Kilmeena, Ballinrobe take on Lahardane knowing that a win will likely see them through to the last eight. Lahardane could still go through with a win and a defeat for Mitchels B, but it's a long shot.

Kilmeena, the 2023 champions, are guaranteed their place in the last eight going into their Group 2 round three game against Cill Chomáin, which will be played at 12 noon on Sunday, September 7, in Crossmolina. Cill Chomáin, last year's junior champions, are in pole position to join them, but any slip-up could open the door for Burrishoole. It would need a big turnout in score difference, however.

To even have a chance of going through, Burrishoole will have to win well against The Neale when they clash in Tourmakeady at 12 p.m. on Sunday week. For their part, The Neale will be hoping to stave off a relegation battle by inflicting defeat on Burrishoole.

In Group 3, Kiltane's superb form has earned them a place in the quarterfinals ahead of their round three game against struggling Davitts on Sunday, September 7, in Breaffy (4 p.m.). Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin will join Kiltane with a draw or win against Islandeady – they meet in Clogher at 4 p.m. on Sunday week – but if they fail to get a result, it opens the door for their opponents, and for Davitts should they do the unexpected and defeat Kiltane. There are plenty of issues to be sorted in this group yet.

In Group 4, Moy Davitts – last year's runners-up – are top of the group table with two wins from two, and it would be a minor miracle if they weren't still on top following their final game against bottom of the table Louisburgh on Saturday week (September 6) at 5.30 p.m. in Islandeady. Whatever happens, Moy Davitts will be in the last eight. It's a straight shootout between Kilmaine and Hollymount/Carramore to see who will join them. This south Mayo derby will be played on Friday, September 5, at 8 p.m. in Garrymore, and it should be a cracking occasion.

The Treanlaur Catering Exclusive Junior Football Championship race is beginning to take shape as well after the games played last weekend. The teams in great shape to progress from the three groups are Bonniconlon, Ardagh, Tourmakeady and Shrule/Glencorrib, but there could be plenty of twists and turns yet.

ROUND 3 FIXTURES

Friday, September 5

Egan Jewellers IFC Group 4

Hollymount/Carramore v Kilmaine (8 p.m. in Garrymore)

Saturday, September 6

Connacht Gold SFC Group 2

Aghamore v Castlebar Mitchels (5.30 p.m. in Claremorris)

Belmullet v Breaffy (5.30 p.m. in Ballina)

Connacht Gold SFC Group 3

Ballaghaderreen v Ballintubber (8 p.m. in Garrymore)

Charlestown v Claremorris (5.30 p.m. in Aghamore)

Egan Jewellers IFC Group 4

Louisburgh v Moy Davitts (5.30 p.m. in Islandeady)

Treanlaur Catering JFC Group 2

Kiltimagh v Northern Gaels (5.30 p.m. in Bofeenaun)

Kilmovee Shamrocks v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (5.30 p.m. in Mayo Abbey)

Treanlaur Catering JFC Group 3

Achill v Swinford (5.30 p.m. in Newport)

Eastern Gaels v Shrule/Glencorrib (5.30 p.m. in Hollymount)

Sunday, September 7

Connacht Gold SFC Group 1

Ballina Stephenites v Garrymore (4 p.m. in Charlestown)

Crossmolina Deel Rovers v Ballyhaunis (4 p.m. in Kiltimagh)

Connacht Gold SFC Group 4

Knockmore v Mayo Gaels (1 p.m. in Parke)

Balla v Westport (1 p.m. in Castlebar)

Egan Jewellers IFC Group 1

Ardnaree Sarafields v Castlebar Mitchels B (4 p.m. in Foxford)

Ballinrobe v Lahardane (4 p.m. in Kilmeena)

Egan Jewellers IFC Group 2

Burrishoole v The Neale (12 p.m. in Tuar Mhic Éadaigh)

Cill Chomáin v Kilmeena (12 p.m. in Crossmolina)

Egan Jewellers IFC Group 3

Davitts v Kiltane (4 p.m. in Breaffy)

Islandeady v Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin (4 p.m. in Clogher)

Treanlaur Catering JFC Group 1

Bonniconlon v Killala (12 p.m. in Bonniconlon)

Ballycroy v Ardagh (3 p.m. in Ballycroy)