It is all to play for in the Claregalway Hotel Galway Senior Football Championship in what promises to be an enthralling weekend of action.
Every group is finely poised with plenty at stake in every game in terms of qualification for the quarter-finals, or the dreaded relegation dogfight which will ensue for the bottom-placed teams.
In group one, Tuam Stars sit joint top of the group and will look to consolidate their place in the quarter-finals when they face local rivals Cortoon Shamrocks on Saturday at 4pm in Tuam Stadium. The Shamrocks appear destined to finish bottom of the group following losses to Killanin and St James’ in the previous rounds, and it is those two clubs which seem to be fighting it out for the second quarter-final spot from group one. They will meet in Pearse Stadium at 4pm on Saturday also.
Each team still has a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals in group two. This group threw up one of the surprises of the previous week when Milltown almost shocked last year’s beaten finalists Mountbellew-Moylough, and in the end they had to settle for a point. Milltown go into this weekend’s fixture with St Michael’s knowing only a victory will give them hope of progressing to the quarter-finals, while a win for the Westside team will guarantee them a spot in the final eight. The two sides meet in Kenny Park on Sunday at 3.45pm. The other game of the group sees Val Daly’s Mountbellew-Moylough face An Spideál in Pearse Stadium at the same date and time. An Spideál need two points to have any hope of progressing, though a point may be enough for the black and amber.
Reigning champions Moycullen are sitting pretty at the top of group three having come out the right side of two titanic battles with Claregalway and Annaghdown respectively which has effectively sealed their place in the latter stages. They come up against basement side An Cheathru Rua in Ros Muc on Saturday at 4.30pm. An Cheathru Rua looked set for a relegation semi-final as they sit on zero points and face the daunting prospect of trying to topple the holders. The tie of the weekend on paper is the meeting of Claregalway and Annaghdown in Tuam Stadium at 3.45pm on Saturday. Both sides will feel that a win for their team will clinch their place in the last eight. The game will be broadcast live on TG4.
Corofin’s place in the quarter-finals seems sewn up, barring an extraordinary swing of results which would alter their points advantage and scoring difference advantage dramatically. They must first concern themselves with the tricky challenge of overcoming Monivea-Abbey, who will be carrying momentum from their breathtaking late win over Salthill-Knocknacarra almost a fortnight ago. Throw in is 1.45pm on Sunday in Kenny Park.
There is much riding on the remaining two fixtures in the group where Caherlistrane meet Oughterard in Tuam Stadium and Salthill-Knocknacarra go head-to-head with neighbours Barna in Peare Stadium, both also at 1.45pm. A win is imperative for all four of Monivea-Abbey, Oughterard, Caherlistrane and Barna if they have ambitions of getting out of this tricky group. There is a strong possibility it could come down to scoring difference at the final whistle, which will be in the back of the minds of each team. As a result it should provide serious entertainment for supporters.
Galway SFC Group Tables
