The final round of the Galway SFC group stage will take place this coming weekend with quarter-final places still up for grabs, and relegation play-offs that still need to be settled.
Group 1
The state of play in group 1 heading into the final round sees Moycullen guaranteed to be a top seed for the quarter-finals. They sit on eight points, having beaten both Tuam and Corofin, who have six points.
Moycullen now face Naomh Anna Leiitr Móir, who will see themselves sucked into a relegation play-off should they lose, while Oughterard will avoid a relegation play-off if they overcome An Spidéal, and Moycullen do them a favour. An Spidéal, however, are already consigned to the relegation play-offs after losing to Corofin on Tuesday.
Tuam Stars and Corofin are both contenders for second place when they clash on Sunday afternoon. Corofin are all but guaranteed their quarter-final place, given their massive scoring difference, and for this reason a win would more or less confirms them as top seeds, regardless of Salthill-Knocknacarra or Clareglalway victories. Tuam Stars, meanwhile, would require a victory and results elsewhere to go in their favour to be a top seed.
Group 2
Mountbellew-Moylough confirmed their place as top seeds in the quarter-finals with a landslide victory over Barna last weekend and they will play St James’ in the final round of fixtures.
The Jimmies need a victory to give them a chance of avoiding a battle to survive, but know it will be hard to achieve against Val Daly’s team.
Annaghdown and Barna's clash is one of the more intriguing fixtures of the last round. Barna need a win to eliminate all possibilities of a relegation battle.
Meanwhile, despite a poor start to the campaign, a victory for Alan Flynn’s Annaghdown will give them a great chance of qualifying. If the opportunity presents itself to increase their scoring difference, they will need to take it to maximise their chances.
Salthill-Knocknacarra need a big win against An Cheathru Rua in Inverin on Sunday to stake their claim for a place as top seeds should Corofin beat Tuam Stars. The Connemara based side will want a positive performance as it prepares for another dogfight to retain senior status.
Group 3
It was predicted to be the most competitive group of the championship and those predictions have come true. There are now so many different permutations for group three that the calculator will be taken out once results are confirmed.
Top place is still up for grabs for Claregalway, Milltown and St Michael’s. Claregalway play Milltown in one of the ties of the weekend on Saturday afternoon in Kenny Park. A win for Claregalway confirms top spot for them, while a win for Milltown does the same.
St Michael’s play Monivea-Abbey, also on Saturday afternoon, with a win for the Westside team giving them top spot, if Claregalway and Milltown draw.
Monivea-Abbey will be in a relegation play-off due to the head to head rule as they lost to both Caherlistrane and Killanin. The latter two sides is the final fixture of group three on Saturday afternoon, with the loser also entering the relegation play-offs.
Senior round 5 fixtures
Saturday September 24: Mountbellew/Moylough v St James, Kenny Park 3.15pm; Milltown v Claregalway, Kenny Park 5pm; St Michael's v Monivea-Abbey, Tuam Stadium 5pm; Killanin v Caherlistrane, Pearse Stadium 5pm.
Sunday September 25: Oughterard v An Spidéal, Pearse Stadium 3pm; Maigh Cullen v Leitir Móir, Ros Muc 3pm; Annaghdown v Bearna, Pearse Stadium 4.45pm; Salthill-Knocknacarra v An Ceathrú Rua, Indreabhán 4.45pm; Corofin v Tuam, Tuam Stadium 4.45pm/
