Championship weekend in Mayo commences with a game of high drama
The championship weekend kicked off with a game of high drama under lights in Garrymore yesterday evening, where Kilmaine secured the draw they needed against Hollymount/Carramore to book their place in the last eight of the intermediate competition.
The 0-18 to 1-15 result leaves Kilmaine second in the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship Group 4 table behind Moy Davitts, who were confirmed as group winners before a ball had been kicked this weekend. Moy Davitts will have home advantage in their last eight game, regardless of what happens this afternoon when they face Louisburgh in Islandeady at 5.30 p.m. today (Saturday).
There was a big incident just before half-time in last night's game when Kilmaine were awarded a two-pointer for a shot by Brian Mullin when video footage showed he was inside the 40-metre arc as he executed the kick. The score stood, however, and it contributed to Kilmaine securing the result they needed to go through on score difference ahead of Hollymount/Carramore.
“We have put an awful lot of work into the training field, and it has become good in the last while,” said a delighted Kilmaine manager Ollie Walsh after the game. “We are going to keep going from here; our supporters can rely on that. This group of players will always keep trying to the last minute. The belief is really, really strong now among us. It’s in the gut in them all to succeed.”
Elsewhere, the Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 games in the intermediate grade will all be played tomorrow (Sunday). The fixtures are as follows: Group 1 – Ardnaree Sarsfields v Castlebar Mitchels B (4 p.m. in Foxford), Ballinrobe v Lahardane (4 p.m. in Kilmeena); Group 2 – Cill Chomáin v Kilmeena (12 p.m. in Crossmolina), Burrishoole v The Neale (12 p.m. in Tourmakeady); Group 3 – Davitts v Kiltane (4 p.m. in Breaffy), Islandeady v Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin (4 p.m. in Clogher).
It's all to play for in Group 1, from which any of the four teams could go through, though Ardnaree and Ballinrobe look best placed to do so.
Unless there is a massive swing in the scoring difference, both Kilmeena and Cill Chomáin look certain to advance to the quarterfinals from Group 2. To see any change from this, you would need Cill Chomáin to lose and Burrishoole to carve out a big victory over The Neale.
In Group 3, with two wins from their two games, Kiltane have already booked a place in the quarterfinals, but they still need a point from their encounter with Davitts to make sure they top the group.
For Davitts, they will not alone need to win this clash, but will also need Islandeady to beat Parke if they are going to make the last eight – a tall order indeed. In reality, it's difficult to see anything other than a Parke win that would see them join Kiltane in the quarterfinals.
UP FOR GRABS
Meanwhile, in the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship, just three teams have qualified for the quarterfinals ahead of this weekend's fixtures, meaning five places are still up for grabs today and tomorrow.
The three Bs – Belmullet, Ballaghaderreen and Ballintubber – have all secured their quarterfinal spots while remaining unbeaten, but the group winners will only be decided on the outcome of this weekend's round three games.
Group 2 and Group 3 will be decided today. Of the two, the former is the most intriguing, with a number of permutations in play. Belmullet have qualified with two wins from two games, but any of the other three – Castlebar Mitchels, Breaffy and Aghamore – can make it through.
Mitchels must beat Aghamore in Claremorris (5.30 p.m.) – not an easy task – and hope that Belmullet beat Breaffy in Ballina (same time). If Aghamore were to secure victory, they too would need Belmullet to win the other game. A draw in the Mitchels v Aghamore game would be of some help to the latter given their slightly better score difference, but it would depend on how much Belmullet were to win by in the other game.
The scenario for Breaffy is somewhat more simple: win and they go through to the quarterfinals (and as group winners to boot). Breaffy have yet to catch fire in the championship, but they might just find the spark they need this afternoon.
Group 3 is the only one from which two teams have already qualified for the last eight already. Those two, Ballaghaderreen and Ballintubber, meet in Garrymore at 8 p.m. in a game that will decide who tops the group.
The other game between Claremorris and Charlestown (Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence at 8 p.m.) will determine who avoids the relegation battle. Having survived last year, Charlestown will be anxious to avoid a similar fate this time and look to have sufficient experience still at their disposal to secure their senior status for another year.
Group 1 and Group 4 will be finalised tomorrow. There's a possibility that defending champions Ballina Stepehenites could be absent when the final eight are known as they face Garrymore in Charlestown (4 p.m.) knowing that a win is a must if they hope to join Crossmolina in the last eight. Otherwise it's Garrymore who will be in the quarterfinals.
The Deel Rovers play Ballyhaunis in Kiltimagh (same time) safe in the knowledge that whatever happens, they have secured their place in the quarterfinals.
In Group 4, Knockmore look well placed to go through ahead of third round game against Mayo Gaels in Parke (1 p.m.). They should secure a victory there that would most likely see them reach the quarterfinals as group winners.
The second game between Balla and Westport in Castlebar (also 1 p.m.) is more interesting. Balla gave their hopes a tremendous boost with a big win over Mayo Gaels last time out, but let’s not forget they are facing the county champions of 2022 in Westport, who have a lot of experience on board from that team with Pat Holmes now at the helm. The Covies should emerge from the group with Knockmore, but Balla won't make it easy for them.
The Treanlaur Catering Exclusive Junior Football Championship race is beginning to take shape as well after the games played two weeks ago. 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.
Today's fixtures are: Kiltimagh v Northern Gaels (5.30 p.m. in Bofeenaun), Kilmovee Shamrocks v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh (5.30 p.m. in Mayo Abbey), Achill v Swinford (5.30 p.m. in Newport) and
Eastern Gaels v Shrule/Glencorrib (5.30 p.m. in Hollymount). Tomorrow's fixtures are as follows: Bonniconlon v Killala (12 p.m. in Bonniconlon), Ballycroy v Ardagh (3 p.m. in Ballycroy).