Round two of the Galway football club championship will kick off this weekend. With the new system in place, all the winners from round one will play each other, while the losers from the opening weekend will face off.
Many of the teams who lost on opening weekend will feel the pressure to get a result this time around - but it is not yet do-or-die for these teams in the race for the Frank Fox trophy.
Group 1
Mountbellew/Moylough v Caherlistrane: Saturday, 4.15pm, Tuam Stadium
Salthill/Knocknacarra v Leitir Mór: Sunday, 2.30pm, Pearse Stadium
Salthill/Knocknacarra and Leitir Mór both know that a win this weekend will guarantee progression through to a preliminary quarter-final at the very least. While Salthill will be looking to get much further than that this year, it would at the very least, show improvement for Leitir Mór and will see them avoid the relegation play-offs with a game to spare in the group. Leitir Mór’s opening weekend win over Caherlistrane showed how effective their forwards can be if there is quick ball put in. However it also showed, at times, gaps in their defence. If Finian Hanley sets his team up well they will have plenty of opportunities to catch their opposition out - with the likes of Tomo Culhane and Matthew Thompson in attack being supported by John Maher and Cathal Sweeney. At the other end, if Leitir Mór can get the ball into the hands of their full-forward line, they will give the sea-siders a lot to think about.
Mountbellew/Moylough surprised many on the opening weekend. They came within two points of Salthill/Knocknacarra while fielding a total of nine senior championship debutants across the hour. Barry McHugh will once again be their main man in attack. However Caherlistrane will surely counter this by utilising Johnny McGrath in a man-marking role. Despite losing by nine points to Leitir Mór, Caherlistrane will be buoyed by the amount of chances they created and failed to convert, particularly in the first half. If Neil McHugh’s men can improve their efforts in front of goal, then they should give Val Daly’s men a lot to worry about.
Group 2
Monivea-Abbey v Maigh Cuilinn: Saturday, 5.30pm, Pearse Stadium
St. James’ v Dunmore Machales: Sunday, 4pm, Tuam Stadium
Monivea-Abbey did extremely well to come back from a 0-7 to 0-0 score after 20 minutes of their opening game vs St. James’. However they will need to improve if they are to get the better of the 2020 and 2022 county champions this weekend. Bunty Roche’s side will need both Glenn Kelly and Cillian McDaid to perform like they did on the opening weekend. Maigh Cuilinn looked rusty and unsure of how they were to set up in the opening half of their win over Dunmore, but showed resilience to come back from a nine point halftime deficit to win by one in the end. Seán Kelly and Peter Cooke’s absence from the side was definitely felt during that opening period.
St. James’ and Dunmore Machales will be kicking themselves after not holding on to big early leads - and will be looking to make that right this weekend. Barry Downey’s side might have come out with a draw, but that result will have felt like a loss to the Jimmies. With Matthew Mulvaney set to miss the game through suspension, the experience of Johnny Duane and Paul Conroy will be essential if they are to get over the line against Gary Delaney’s side. Delaney will be keen to press home to his players just how impressive they were in the opening half of their game against Maigh Cuilinn - with Shane McGrath and Thomas Gleeson both playing some fantastic football. A win here is imperative for Dunmore or they will be heading into their final game against Monivea knowing only a win will keep them out of the relegation games.
Group 3
Corofin v Claregalway: Saturday, 6pm, Tuam Stadium
Oughterard v Tuam Stars: Sunday, 4.15pm, Pearse Stadium
Corofin and Claregalway played completely contrasting games on the opening weekend. Corofin garnered a comfortable lead and allowed Oughterard to sit in their defensive shape in an overall dull game. Claregalway on the other hand pressed Tuam for every ball and every kickout and it nearly cost them. Every club in Galway knows very well what Corofin can do if they have space to attack, so the burning question for this game is, will Claregalway continue their high press and risk it all like they did against Tuam to play their own brand of expansive football? After seeing their performance against Tuam, the hope for the neutrals is that they will. In Barry Goldrick, Nathan Grainger and Mark Rohan, Claregalway have some fantastic forwards who can play the game with pace and panache. Corofin must up their game from the Oughterard match if they are to come out on top again this weekend.
In the other game in group two, both sides will have felt unlucky to come out on the wrong side of the result. Oughterard frustrated Corofin for long periods with their shape - and caught Kevin Johnson’s men out on the break on a number of occasions. Hitting the post in the 59th minute would have put them ahead. However they were caught on the break twice in injury time when they had to go for broke. Tuam kicked a lot of wides in their game against Claregalway, especially late on when the game was still in the melting pot. Tuam’s dependency on Jamie Murphy was noticed in the second half when he was brought on to score 1-1 and drag his side back into the game. His quick movement and accuracy in front of goal will be needed again this Sunday, particularly considering the little space his team will be afforded in front of goal.
Group 4
Bearna v Killannin: Saturday, 3.45pm, Pearse Stadium
Annaghdown v Milltown: Sunday, 5.45pm, Tuam Stadium
Annaghdown needed 1-2 in the final minutes to defeat Bearna in their opening game. They will be hopeful that these late scores are not necessary to defeat Milltown. This should be an interesting game with both sets of forwards being the focal point for their sides. Damien Comer and Darragh Hegarty combined for 1-8 of their sides 1-12 in their opening game, and will surely cause trouble again this weekend for the Milltown defence. Milltown will be missing Mark Hehir this weekend, but still have the talented and speedy Costello brothers to cause havoc. A second win for either of these sides will guarantee their progression through the group.
Bearna and Killannin must battle it out on Saturday afternoon, and both sides badly need a win to give themselves hope of progressing to a preliminary quarter-final. Bearna’s dependency on Tomás Ó Curraoin and Seán Ó Doinn was seen in their opening game, with the pair managing 0-11 of their sides 0-13 in the loss to Annaghdown. More scores will be needed from the rest of the team as Killannin are sure to keep a close eye on these two on Saturday. Killannin have brought through some of their successful U19 team from last year. However they weren’t able to keep their good run going when they lost to Milltown. Darragh Walsh stood out for his side with three points from midfield, while Johnny Heaney and Patrick Sweeney put in yet another solid performance for their club.
Intermediate fixtures
Group 1
Clifden v Kilconly: Sunday, 1pm, The Prairie
St. Brendan’s v Oileáin Árann: Saturday, 2pm, The Prairie
Group 2
Corofin v St. Gabriels: Sunday, 2pm, Kenny Park
An Spidéal v Williamstown: Saturday, 3.30pm, Kenny Park
Group 3
Oranmore-Maree v Glenamaddy: Saturday, 4.45pm, Duggan Park
St. Michael’s v Menlough: Saturday, 3pm Duggan Park
Group 4
Cartoon Shamrocks v Caltra: Sunday, 3.45pm, Kenny Park
Kilkerrin/Clonberne v Michael Breathnach: Saturday, 5.15pm, Kenny Park
