Just three weeks after the disappointment of the men's senior All-Ireland final, the club championship starts back this weekend. Six weeks after the end of the league campaign, all 16 teams will get a chance to start afresh in the chase for the Frank Fox Cup. With four groups back in play for this year’s competition it is much simpler to see how teams can progress through to the latter stages.
Group 1:
Group one will kick things off with the meeting of Mountbellew/Moylough and Salthill Knocknacarra in Tuam Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 2021 champions Mountbellew/Moylough are still under the guidance of Val Daly but have become a severely depleted side since then.
With a number of players emigrating to Australia including the influential Eoin Finnerty added to the continued loss off the injury plagued Mike Daly and Patrick Kelly, Mountbellew/Moylough are a side that could struggle this year. Their relegation to division two in the league shows how hard they have felt the loss of these players but with the return of John Daly to the side after the inter county campaign and the ever dangerous Barry McHugh then any form of progression through this group will be seen as a step in the right direction.
Their opponents, on the other hand, will be looking to push on having lost both the 2022 final and the 2023 quarter-final to Maigh Cuilinn. Finian Hanley, in his first year as manager will be hoping that John Maher and Rob Finnerty will be able to bring their impressive county form back to their club.
This along with the ability of both Tomo and Mikey Culhane will make the seasiders a handful for any team they play against. The second game in this group involves Caherlistrane and Naomh Anna Leitir Mor. this game will also be played on Saturday but will throw in at 4.30pm in Pearse Stadium.
Both sides have new management teams from 2023 where they both struggled and will know that this game will go a long way to seeing who makes it through and who will be in relegation trouble after the group stage. Caherlistrane preserved their division two status in the league with a final round win over An Ceathru Rua while Naomh Anna won promotion to division two with a 9 point win over Michael Breathnachs in the league final.
Group 1 fixtures
Saturday:
Mountbellew/Moylough v Salthill Knocknacarra, 3pm, Tuam Stadium
Caherlistrane v Naomh Anna Leitir Mor, 4.30pm, Pearse Stadium
Group 2:
Group two kicks off with St. James v Monivea/Abbey on Saturday in Tuam Stadium. After a successful 2023, the Jimmies will be looking to go at least one step further and reach the semi-final.
A one point loss to Mountbellew/Moylough in the quarter-final last year shows how much this side have come on under the guidance of Barry Downey. With the return of Sam O’Neill to fitness, his drive and hunger after missing large chunks of the year will be hugely important for his side.
Monivea/Abbey’s return to senior football sees them play against the side that relegated them in 2022. With the likes of Glenn Kelly and Keith O’Reilly taking some of the pressure off the more senior players last year, it will take a sustained group effort from Bunty’s side to alleviate any worries about relegation early on.
As for every newly promoted side the first task is to make sure you don't go back down and anything after that is a bonus. The other game in this group sees Maigh Cuilinn play Dunmore MacHales on Sunday evening in Kenny Park.
With Mark McHugh in coaching the only team to have won two championships this decade there is sure to be a resurgence from last year’s beaten finalists. Maigh Cuilinn have enough of a squad at this stage that they should be able to give Seán Kelly a break for the group stages at least and allow the likes of James McLoughlin feel his way back into championship football after missing large parts of the last two years with a number of injuries.
Gary Delaney remains the manager of Dunmore MacHales after seeing his side retain their position in senior football last year and kick on by winning his side win promotion from division 3B in the league the shafts are continuing to progress nicely in their aims to regain their status as one of the top teams in Galway football.
Group 2 fixtures
Saturday:
St. James’ v Monivea/Abbey, 4.45pm, Tuam Stadium
Sunday:
Maigh Cuilinn v Dunmore MacHales, 6pm, Kenny Park
Group 3:
Group three sees current champions Corofin start off their new campaign against Oughterard. Kevin Johnson is in his third season as manager and will be aiming to guide his team to another Frank Fox title.
After winning the league for the third year in a row he is able to welcome back his contingent from the county squad and will have some serious selection headaches as including injuries he was missing nine players from the team that defeated Tuam in the league final. Oughterard are unlikely to change too much from their style that has seen them remain in senior football since their return in 2020 and know that they are in an extremely tough group.
Their defensive style has come under criticism at times in the last two years but they also know that just a single win could see them progress through to a preliminary quarter-final and avoid the dreaded relegation play-offs. The other game in this group sees Claregalway face Tuam Stars with both sides having high hopes of a breakthrough year.
Claregalway seem to always have a young side progressing from their successful underage sides over the last 10 years but have flattered to deceive on many occasions. With former Galway minor manager, Alan Glynn in the hot seat this year, the Balchies will at the very least be well set up allowing the likes of Barry Goldrick to take control and have space to pass the ball into from the half forward line.
Tuam Stars are one of the few sides safe from a hangover from the All-Ireland final and may see it as a blessing in disguise that they had no players involved in the county set-up this year. They may have lost the league final to Corofin but they were on top for most of the game and can blame an off day in front of goals for their loss in that game.
Group 3 fixtures
Saturday:
Corofin v Oughterard, 6.15pm, Pearse stadium
Sunday:
Tuam Stars v Claregalway, 4.15pm, Kenny Park
Group 4:
Last year’s surprise package, Milltown, will be out to show that it was no fluke and do the same again this year. They open their campaign against Killannin on Sunday afternoon aiming to show that direct and accurate football is key to a successful campaign. With the accuracy and panache that Michael Martin and Mark Hehir show in front of goal and the speed that comes from the two Costello’s, Liam and Niall the Milltown forward line will be difficult for any side to deal with.
They are a side that can produce magic in an instant so the longer they can stay in any game the more difficult it will get for their opposition. Killannin remains a bit of an enigma. They are a side that could either sail through this group or struggle badly but will be hoping that the successful U19 team from 2023 can push through and give a couple of footballers with enough about them to at the very least progress through the group stage.
The second game in this group will be contested between Annaghdown and Barna. Neither side produced what they were capable of in 2023 and will both admit that the new format of the club championship where three teams get a chance to progress through the group will suit them. A first round win will go a long way to seeing that happen and both sides will know the importance of winning this fixture.
Group 4 fixtures
Sunday:
Milltown v Killannin, 1.15pm, Pearse Stadium
Annaghdown v Barna, 3pm Pearse Stadium
Intermediate fixtures:
Group 1:
Saturday:
St. Brendan’s v Clifden, 2pm, The Prairie
Kilconly v Oileáin Árann, 3pm, Kenny Park
Group 2:
Sunday:
An Spidéal v St. Gabriels, 3.45pm, Tuam Stdaium
Corofin v Williamstown, 4pm, Duggan Park
Group 3:
Saturday:
St. Michael’s v Oranmore/Maree, 4.45pm, Kenny Park
Sunday:
Menlough v Glenamaddy, 2.15pm, Duggan Park
Group4:
Saturday:
Cartoon Shamrocks v Kilkerrin/Clonberne, 6pm,
Milltown
Sunday:
Caltra v Michaél Breathnach, 2pm, Tuam Stadium
