Cracking derbies in club championship draws
DESPITE being pitched in with Ballintubber, Aghamore and Charlestown, newly promoted Hollymount-Carramore should make the cut having been elevated to senior championship football for 2016, writes John Melvin.
It's not an easy group by any means, especially with two of their games away, including the opener on May 15 in Clogher against Ballintubber, but the newcomers will be expecting to beat Aghamore at 'the saucer' and it could all come down to their third round clash with Charlestown.
An intriguing feature of Monday night's draw was the amount of local derbies thrown up, with Ballina Stephenites and Crossmolina on a collision course in a group that also features Mayo and Connaught champions, Castlebar Mitchels.
The county town side, who had the Stephenites at the group stage last year also, will feel they have a good draw, Ballinrobe being the other team they will have to face.
Beaten finalists Breaffy should be back in the last eight as they are in the same group as south Mayo heavyweights Garrymore, Davitts and Claremorris, while the dodgy group involves Knockmore and Kiltane alongside the east Mayo pair of Ballyhaunis and Ballaghaderreen. Knockmore are the strongest and favourites to top the group, but any of the other three could make the cut.
In the intermediate championship, a sizzling three-team east Mayo battle has been thrown up in Group 1. Pitched together in the mix are Kiltimagh, Bohola-Moy Davitts and Swinford, Tourmakeady the only team not from east Mayo included in the gorup.
Shrule-Glencorrib, who will be fancied to bounce back to senior championship football via the intermediate title, have last year's junior champions, Ardnaree, in their group, along with Westport and Castlebar Mitchels B.
Group 3 is also going to a minefield as it contains Mayo Gaels, Bemullet, Burrishoole and Bonniconlon, while Group 4 is equally tough, with The Neale, who were short-listed for this title last year, having neighbours Kilmaine, Islandeady and Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin to contend with.
The senior and intermediate group games will be played on May 15, June 26 and July 17, while the junior A and B groups games are pencilled in for June 12 and 26 and July 3. Achill, Cill Chómain, Killala and Kilmeena are the ones to watch out for in the junior A championship, along with dark horses Balla, while Breaffy B might fancy their chances in the junior B grade having reached the final last year, with Knockmore B likely to be strong also.