Mayo club's Connacht LGFA semi-final moved thanks to Storm Boelo

The AIB Connacht LGFA junior semi-finals involving Mayo champions Breaffy has been changed due to the Status Orange weather warning accompanying Storm Boelo.

Their game in Coola, Sligo, against hosts Shamrock Gaels was due to be played today (Saturday) but has been refixed for Monday (October 26) in the same venue, throwing in at 1 p.m.

In the intermediate grade, Mayo champions Moy Davitts are due to welcome their Galway counterparts, Tuam Cortoon, tomorrow (Sunday) at Green Road, also at 1 p.m.

Moy Davitts go into that game on the back of their AbbVie Mayo intermediate success, with victory over Aghamore in the final on a 2-7 to 1-6 scoreline. Kasey Ruane was the difference that day, finding the net on 20 minutes and again on 25 to give the Moysiders a 2-4 to 1-2 interval lead. Aghamore pulled back to within a goal in the second half, but a long-range point from Tracey Hall on 49 minutes and a late Orla McHale insurance score saw Colm Carney’s side over the line.

At the other end, goalkeeper Emma Galligan was outstanding, pulling off a string of excellent saves to deny Aghamore some great goal chances, and she was a deserving player of the match winner.

Moy Davitts' Mayo semi-final was tighter still. Old rivals MacHale Rovers hosted them in Ardagh, and it took a late Ruane goal from close range to restore a three-point cushion before Moy Davitts finished two points to the good.

The Mayo intermediate title completed a league and championship doubles For captain Sandra Hall it is a full-circle moment, as she was part of the team that came up from junior in 2011 and won intermediate in 2013, and the club now returns to senior after nine years in the top flight and a spell back at intermediate.

Meanwhile, Tuam Cortoon arrive with plenty of hurt behind them and a provincial game already under their belts. They lost the 2025 Galway intermediate final by 1-13 to 0-13 against Caltra Cuans but put that right this year, beating Bearna na Forbacha 2-9 to 1-5 in the county final. They had earlier accounted for St. Fursey's (2-15 to 1-5) in the semi-final, and in the Connacht quarterfinal they beat Leitrim’s Kiltubrid by 0-15 to 2-4.

Tuam Cortoon have conceded just eight, eight and 10 points in their three knockout games, so Moy Davitts’ goal threat against that defence could well decide it.

The winners will face CT Gaels or Pádraig Pearses, who meet in the other semi-final, in the Connacht decider.

At junior level, Breaffy haven't been doing things the easy way this season, and Monday’s trip to Sligo is the latest chapter in a memorable year. Their AbbVie Mayo Junior A title was the first adult LGFA championship in the club’s history, and they left it until the final seconds at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

Kilmoremoy, fancied by many beforehand, scored the first five points inside nine minutes and led 1-9 to 0-6 at the break. An Amy Golden goal on 39 minutes kept Breaffy in touch, but a Ciara Whyte chip had them seven behind on 43 minutes. Points from Vivienne Ward and Niamh Curran trimmed the gap, and Curran punched home a goal on 58 minutes when a long Ward free dropped short. With Breaffy still two adrift deep in injury time, Katelyn McManamon won a penalty, and Ward held her nerve to fire it home for a 3-12 to 2-14 win.

If the county final tested their nerve, the Connacht quarterfinal against Roscommon champions Four Roads tested their staying power. On home soil, Breaffy looked set for a comfortable afternoon when they opened up a seven-point lead in the first 25 minutes, with the scores spread across Aisling Flanagan, Vivienne Ward and the Moran trio of Sophie, Emily and Katie.

Four Roads refused to go away, however. A Clodagh Finneran goal before half-time sparked a revival that cut the gap to a single point with eight minutes of normal time left. Breaffy found an answer, and Sophie Moran’s two late goals stretched the lead to nine early in injury time. Even then, goals from Donna Kelly and Síofra Finneran meant the Mayo champions needed a fine save from goalkeeper Niamh Flanagan in the final seconds to close out a 2-12 to 3-7 win. Chloe Fahey’s driving runs from midfield stood out, and McManamon was central to things again, this time with a commanding display at full-back.

Shamrock Gaels bring plenty of drama of their own. They are Sligo Junior A champions after a 2-16 to 2-14 extra-time win over neighbours Eastern Harps at Markievicz Park, a result that also earns them promotion to intermediate next season.

Orlaith Scanlon was the key figure with a goal in normal time and another in extra time. The Gaels had the breeze in the first half and led by four at the break, but Harps fought back to force extra time with a late equaliser and then went four clear early in the additional period before Scanlon’s second goal turned the game back in the Gaels’ favour. It was a measure of revenge, too, as Harps had beaten them 3-11 to 4-9 in the group stage.

There is little to separate these sides on form. Both are newly crowned county champions, both have shown they can come back when a game seems to be slipping away, and both carry a real goal threat. Breaffy will be wary of having conceded five goals across their last two games, while Shamrock Gaels have home advantage and fresh legs, with this being their first outing since the county final.

The winners will meet St. Brigid’s (Leitrim) or Gráinne Mhaols (Galway) in the Connacht final.

Tickets for the semi-finals are available via Universe.