It is down to the final four in the Galway Senior Football Championship. Will Moycullen make the decider for a chance to retain their crown? Can Mountbellew-Moylough finally get over the line? Can Corofin show they are not a fading force? Or can Killanin shock everyone?
This picture will become clearer after Sunday’s action has played out in Pearse Stadium, and it looks like weather could play a part. With the forecast bleak, weather conditions are likely to have a massive bearing on the outcome, but hopefully not the quality of the spectacle for supporters.
The first of the double headers is the clash of Killanin and Corofin which throws in at the early time of 12.30pm.
Kevin O’Brien’s Corofin are blistering hot favourites to progress from this tie, so all of the pre-game pressure is on the former seven-in-a-row champions.
Although handed what many believe was an easy draw to this point of the championship, Corofin have gone about their business quietly and effectively. As always there is a plethora of options at Kevin O’Brien’s disposal, and it will be fascinating to see if any of the big names return to the field at the weekend.
Ian Burke and Jason Leonard started the quarter-final on the bench, along with All-Ireland U20 conquering stars Matthew Cooley and Tony Gill. When you factor in that Daithi Burke and Gary Sice have barely featured, O'Brien has a talented bunch from whom to select.
Killanin, on the other hand, will relish the underdogs tag. They have been knocking on the door in previous years to get to this stage of the championship, and finally they have their breakthrough year. Despite the three-point margin in their last eight victory over Oughterard, they were convincing winners on the day. Their only loss in the championship to date was against a Tuam Stars team which would count itself unlucky not to have beaten the champions Moycullen. It promises to be an intriguing battle and could go right to the wire.
The second match of the double header is the rematch of last year’s county final - the reigning champions Moycullen and beaten finalists Mountbellew-Moylough collide once again. Throw-in for this mouth-watering contest is 2.15pm.
Don Connellan’s Moycullen has been through the mill so far in this championship, having won three of four games to date by the minimum. None of them hass been more dramatic than Peter Cooke’s exceptional last-gasp point against Tuam Stars in the quarter-final.
Moycullen got out of jail against Tuam Stars with a few dubious frees given their way towards the end of the game, but they will take heart from the character shown after coming back from four points down.
They will be aware however, that if they let Mountbellew-Moylough into a similar position then it could be tougher to recover.
Val Daly’s side will be expected to enter this contest with the bit between their teeth following the sickening loss suffered in last year’s final. Having finally overcome Corofin in the 2020 semi-final after seven years trying, to fall at the final hurdle will still irk.
Mountbellew-Moylough have not done it the easy way so far this season. They eventually beat a dogged Annaghdown in the quarter-final by showing all their class in extra time. Yet again, captain Eoin Finnerty has been their stand-out player and will take some stopping on Sunday.
Both sets of supporters and every neutral supporter in the county expect this to be the tie of the weekend. There is sure to be nothing between the sides.
The IFC semi-finals will also be played this weekend:
Cumann Peile Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir v CLG OileáinÁrann, Saturday 2pm Pearse Stadium
Dunmore MacHales vs St Brendan’s, Saturday 3pm Tuam Stadium
