Mayo GAA football championships continue with intriguing games
The Mayo GAA championship weekend started with a senior relegation semi-final yesterday (Friday), Mayo Gaels getting the better of neighbours Balla on a 0-15 to 0-11 scoreline, and continues today with further knockout games.
In the senior grade, Aghamore welcome Castlebar Mitchels for a 4.30 p.m. start in east Mayo. Aghamore are one of just four teams still unbeaten along with Breaffy, Claremorris and Garrymore – and that follows a relegation battle last year, in which they beat Ballyhaunis.
They find themselves as serious contenders on the back of some excellent results, including a draw with Crossmolina, but while Mitchels have not set the championship alight, they have the potential to bring home a title they last won in 2017.
You have to go back to 1972 – when they traded under the name Aghamore Shamrocks, having amalgamated with neighbours Kilmovee – for the club's only senior title. They were in two finals under the Aghamore banner, in 1971 and 1974, but lost on both occasions to a Garrymore team who completed three in a row (1974-76).
Garrymore themselves haven’t won the championship since 1982, when they put back-to-back titles together.
The south Mayo men have been one of the teams of the championship so far, however, with group wins over Ballina Stephenites, Balla and Mitchels. That earned them a home quarterfinal, which will be played at 7.30 p.m. this evening against a Crossmolina Deel Rovers team not yet firing on all cylinders.
It has the makings of a cracker. Garrymore are a hard-working bunch but also include two of Mayo’s star players, Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession, and they have a chance this season to close a gap of 44 years since they last won the title.
Crossmolina’s path to the quarterfinal has lacked consistency, injury problems not helping, but the return of Kobe McDonald is a boost. Still, this evening's quarterfinal will be a serious test of their stamina.
Westport put an end to their swaggering gallop at the semi-final stage last year but the Deel Rovers might be ready now to go a step further. They will need to be at their best to beat Garrymore, but it's a game they can win.
The second relegation semi-final is down for decision today at 4 p.m. in Kiltimagh, where neighbours Charelstown and Ballaghaderreen meet. Ballaghaderreen failed to register any points following three defeats in a group which included Breaffy, Belmullet and Knockmore. Charelstown, who lost heavily to Westport in their opening game and also went down to Claremorris, losing by just three points, did manage to beat Kilmeena, which would suggest they could have the edge in this one.
There's just one intermediate quarterfinal today – but what a cracking game it promises to be. Ardnaree, the hosts, and Ballinrobe, the guests, will go into the game – which throws in at 4.30 p.m. in north Mayo – confident that they can progress to the last four.
Ardnaree are unbeaten but only drew their last group game against Kiltimagh. However, they mixed team up for that game having been already confirmed as group winners. Their eye-catching result was away to Islandeady, where they secured a 5-14 to 1-9 win, and also had an impressive victory over Kilmaine at home.
Ballinrobe, on the other hand, found themselves under severe pressure after losing to Ballyhaunis in round one. However, they regrouped to beat The Neale and followed that up with a great win over Castlebar Mitchels B. That second win really caught the eye as they ended up with a tally of 2-19.
Home advantage might just swing this for Ardnaree, but this could go right down to the wire.
*Compiled by Brian Gillespie, with reporting by John Melvin and Aiden Henry