Race for supremacy in Mayo senior championship reaches semi-final stage
Defending champions Ballina Stephenites will have to get by neighbours Knockmore if they hope to reach a fourth successive Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship final.
The semi-final draw has pitted the Stephenites against the team they defeated in last year's final, a game they won convincingly.
No doubt Ray Dempsey's men, back-to-back champions in 2020 and '21, will be looking to exact some revenge on Ballina and get back into the county final. The game will be played in Crossmolina on Sunday, October 5, throwing in at 1.30 p.m.
In the other semi-final, the 2022 champions, Westport, will face an exciting Crossmolina Deel Rovers team that has made the step-up from intermediate to senior with incredible ease. They clash in Fr. O'Hara Park, Charlestown, on Saturday, October 4, at 4 p.m.
Crossmolina, the Mayo, Connacht and All-Ireland intermediate champions of last season, have hardly put a foot wrong this year and were in flying form in their quarterfinal as they defeated Belmullet by 1-24 to 0-12 in St. Tiernan's Park.
Westport had a much more dramatic encounter with Breaffy, where they recovered from a nine-point deficit and numerical disadvantage to defeat their hosts by a goal, 2-16 to 1-16.
The Stephenites were 1-14 to 2-7 winners in Ballaghaderreen, while Knockmore got the better of Ballintubber on a scoreline of 3-6 to 0-9.
Meanwhile, in the senior relegation playoff semi-final on Sunday, Charlestown secured their senior status with a dramatic late win against Mayo Gaels in Claremorris. On Saturday, Aghamore defeated neighbours Ballyhaunis by 1-15 to 0-13.
The senior relegation final between Ballyhaunis and Mayo Gaels will be played at 12 noon in Ballindine on Sunday, October 5.
INTERMEDIATE
In the Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship quarterfinals, favourites Moy Davitts were given a searching examination by Ballinrobe before prevailing by three (2-14 to 1-14) in Foxford. The victory sets up a semi-final against Ardnaree, who defeated Parke in a close encounter in Ballina on Saturday evening. The last four encounter will be played in James Stephens Park, Ballina, on Sunday, October 5, with throw-in timed for 4 p.m.
The other semi-final sees Kilmeena take on Kiltane after they defeated Kilmaine and Cill Chomáin respectively in their quarterfinal encounters. St. Joseph's Park in Knockmore is the venue for that last four encounter on Saturday, October 4, starting at 2.30 p.m.
Islandeady and Lahardane prevailed in the intermediate relegation semi-finals against Louisburgh and Burrishoole respectively, both game having their share of drama. The intermediate relegation final pits Burrishoole and Louisburgh against each other. They meet in Islandeady at 12 noon on Sunday, October 5.
JUNIOR
Elsewhere, in the Treanlaur Catering Exclusive Junior A Football Championship, the quarterfinal pairings are: Ardagh v Northern Gaels (Saturday, September 27, 4.30 p.m.), Shrule/Glencorrib v Kiltimagh (Saturday, September 27, 4.30 p.m.), Eastern Gaels v Ballycroy (Saturday, September 27, 4.30 p.m.) and Tourmakeady v Bonniconlon (Sunday, September 28, 2 p.m.).
The Junior B semi-finals will both be played 2 p.m. next Sunday (September 28). The fixtures are: Moygownagh v Achill and Kilmovee Shamrocks v Ballycastle.