With a round to spare, the shape of the Galway Senior Football Championship is already becoming clear. Some sides are safely through to the knockouts, while others are staring into the relegation abyss.
Salthill/Knocknacarra and Tuam Stars have both sealed their quarter-final berths. At the other end, St Michael’s, Annaghdown and Monivea/Abbey are bracing themselves for the relegation playoff. Bearna na Forbacha look most likely to join them, but they still have an outside chance of catching Killannin and sneaking into the preliminary quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Oughterard, Mountbellew/Moylough, Maigh Cuillinn, St James’, Dunmore MacHales, Claregalway, holders Corofin, Milltown and Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir are all assured of at least a prelim place, meaning that seeding and form are now the main concerns as the final round approaches.
Group 1
Mountbellew/Moylough v Oughterard
There is no danger here for either side, just the question of who will take second place and earn a potentially kinder draw in the prelims.
Fergal O’Donnell’s Mountbellew/Moylough pushed Salthill/Knocknacarra closer and dismantled St Michael’s more decisively than Oughterard managed. The Connemara men will need sharper attacking returns than the 1-11 they mustered last time out. Expect this to be competitive, but Mountbellew/Moylough to win in a tight affair.
Prediction: Mountbellew/Moylough
Salthill/Knocknacarra v St Michael’s
A city derby in name, but little at stake.
Salthill/Knocknacarra have secured top spot regardless of the result, while St Michael’s are already consigned to bottom. For Michael’s, this game is more about finding some form and spirit ahead of the relegation battle. Salthill’s strength in depth should see them through, even if there is some heavy squad rotation.
Prediction: Salthill/Knocknacarra
Group 2
Bearna na Forbacha v Killannin
This is a do-or-die clash for Bearna na Forbacha. Only a win will give them a chance of avoiding relegation, and even then, they will need St James’ to take something from Maigh Cuillinn.
The possible return of Cian Hernon could be a game-changer, but they will need to find an extra gear on anything we’ve seen so far in 2025. Killannin, buoyed by their earlier win over James’, were undone by a Dessie Conneely-inspired Maigh Cuillinn last time, but a spirited late rally showed they still carry a threat. All form points to Killannin.
Prediction: Killannin
St James’ v Maigh Cuillinn
Plenty on the line here. If Maigh Cuillinn avoid defeat, they top the group. For James’, victory coupled with a Bearna na Forbacha result could catapult them to first place.
Maigh Cuillinn’s big tally of 3-17 last time out underlined their attacking potency and their commanding scoring difference offers them additional insurance if things get tight. Could we possibly see the return of Jack O’Neill from the States to trouble last year’s runners-up? The form book favours Cathal Clancy’s men.
Prediction: Maigh Cuillinn
Group 3
Tuam Stars v Annaghdown
Another top versus bottom. Tuam Stars are riding high, their league form translating seamlessly into the championship, capped by a derby win over Dunmore with Brian Mannion in sparkling form.
Annaghdown, by contrast, are scrapping for survival and will be desperate for a lifeline. They need something to stop the rot, otherwise they are in real bother.
Prediction: Tuam Stars
Claregalway v Dunmore MacHales
Second and third place are at stake here, and both sides will weigh up whether to push for momentum or manage resources ahead of the prelims.
Claregalway’s forwards Jack Mullen and Danny Cummins both found the net against Annaghdown. While Dunmore leant heavily on the in-form Padraic Costello in their loss to Tuam. The presence of both Galway goalkeepers Connor Gleeson and Conor Flaherty adds an intriguing subplot, though Flaherty’s recent midfield deployment is another element. This could be tight, but Dunmore’s physical power might prove decisive.
Prediction: Dunmore MacHales
Group 4
Corofin v Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir
Corofin’s draw with Milltown raised eyebrows, but their class usually tells when it matters.
Naomh Anna showed glimpses of sharpness with Kasey Ó Cellaigh in form against Monivea/Abbey, but the scoring difference and Milltown’s favourable matchup with Monivea/Abbey make it unlikely they will top the group. Corofin rarely slip twice in succession and one would expect the holders experience to guide them to victory here.
Prediction: Corofin
Milltown v Monivea/Abbey
Milltown will have one eye on that 20-point scoring gap to Corofin, knowing it is a tall order but not entirely impossible given the firepower of Mark Hehir, Mike Martin and Liam Costello.
They are already assured of progression to the knockouts but can pip Corofin if they cut loose against a side with essentially nothing to play for. Monivea/Abbey, meanwhile, are focused solely on survival – and staying in the senior ranks will determine the success of their campaign. Milltown are unlikely to show mercy in this one, however.
Prediction: Milltown
