Bank holiday weekend or not, eight teams go to post in round four of the Shay Murtagh senior football championship. Garrycastle have already secured their place in the semi-final thanks to their 4-13 to 1-8 win over Bunbrosna last Sunday.
The action gets underway on Saturday evening in Moate at 5pm with the meeting of Castledaly and Tubberclair. Fresh from their win over Killucan, Castledaly know that a win would edge them closer to a quarter-final spot. Defeat however could bring the prospect of a relegation play-off into play heading into the final round of games.
Things are even clearer for Danny Sammon’s men who simply must win to avoid a relegation play-off. Both of these sides have been badly hit with both injuries and emigration but with so much at stake there will be no room for excuses.
With Tubberclair fighting for their survival they are sure to put up a spirited performance but I expect Castledaly to edge a tight match.
St Loman’s and Killucan meet in Cusack Park at 7.30pm on Saturday evening. The absence of Paul Greville and John Heslin significantly weakens each team but also balances things out.
The Saints certainly raised eyebrows with their 12-point demolition of Tyrrellspass in their last outing. They look well positioned to book their place in the semi-final though Killucan will make them earn it.
On Sunday at 2.30pm Shandonagh hosts St Malachy’s and Tyrrellspass. In recent years the outcome of this would have been straightforward with Tyrrellspass expected to hold too many aces. The Pass are not the force they were as was seen in their last round drubbing by St Loman’s. St Malachy’s know how to battle and knowing that a win would ease relegation concerns they will make a right game of this. Ultimately though, I am giving a hesitant nod to Tyrrellspass to take both points on offer.
The final game down for decision this weekend is the meeting of Maryland and The Downs on Sunday in Cusack Park at 7.30pm and it promises to be a cracker. Both sides have their eyes set on securing a quarter-final spot and the outcome of this decides a lot.
The Downs lost their two opening games against the big guns of Mullingar Shamrocks and Garrycastle but had better luck against Bunbrosna. Maryland sit on four points with wins over Bunbrosna and Athlone.
We in Athlone will be keeping a close eye on the outcome of this as a win for The Downs would mean we have to win our two last games against Shamrocks and The Downs to avoid a relegation play-off. A Maryland win would mean that our final round meeting with The Downs would decide who gets caught up in a relegation play-off.
While I would love Maryland to oblige, and perhaps they will, my head is telling me that The Downs are finding form at the right time and they can reverse the outcome of their league meeting from a few weeks ago.
