The second round of the Mayo GAA Junior Championship will get down and dirty this weekend, with 14 of the 16 teams in the competition in action over Saturday and Sunday.
In group one, Kilmeena and Kilmovee are out in front after round one four weeks ago, seeing off Ballina and Ballycroy respectively in round one. Both sides will be expected to pick up wins this weekend and book their place in the last eight of the competition ahead of the final round of group games.
Kilmeena will host Ballina Stephenites second string side on Saturday evening - the West Mayo men were impressive in round one, running up 4-20 against Ballycroy on the road with Darragh Keaveney hitting 1-9 and Joey Smyth bagging 2-2.
Ballina lost out to east Mayo men Kilmovee Shamrocks, in a far closer affair in round one, going down by just two points on a score of 0-9 to 0-7 in James Stephens Park, with Cathal Horan the leading man for them. Kilmovee will look to improve on their performance in round one when Ballycroy come calling on Sunday afternoon and will be favourites to pick up the points, before they head into a potential table topping clash with Kilmeena in round three.
In group two there is just one game down for decision this weekend, with Ardagh's clash against Achill not taking place, due to James Carr's involvement with the Mayo senior side in next week's Connacht Senior Football Championship against Roscommon.
The one game this weekend is the meeting of the B teams from Westport and Knockmore on Saturday evening under the shadow of Croagh Patrick. Both sides registered defeats in round one with Ardagh seeing off Knockmore and Achill beating Westport. Ardagh had five points to spare over Knockmore, while Westport were beaten by 15 points by Achill in their round one game. The winner of this one will in all probability ensure that they maintain their status in the junior championship for next year and a tight battle lies in store.
In group three on Saturday evening the two sides who won their opening games will meet in north Mayo when Cill Chomain host Castlebar Mitchels B at 7.30pm. In round one Mitchels saw off Ballycastle with ease, running out 3-18 to 1-8 winners at home with a side featuring big named players like Barry Moran and Aidan Walsh patrolling the middle of the park.
Cill Chomain had it tougher against Charlestown B on the road, seeing off the east Mayo men 1-12 to 0-8 in Fr O'Hara Park, thanks to a strong second half showing with Justin Healy bagging the goal and vital scores from Darragh Murphy and Jason Murphy getting them over the line. The meeting of Ballycastle and Charlestown B in north Mayo on Sunday should be a keenly contested affair, with a win almost guaranteeing the victor a place in next season's Junior A Championship.
In group four, Kilmaine burst out of the blocks in round one, seeing off Tourmakeady with ease in the Gaeltacht, running out 2-22 to 0-7 winners, with Adam Barrett kicking ten points for the south Mayo men. On Saturday evening they will welcome Killala to their home patch and will be expecting to pick up another two points, the north Mayo men were well beaten at home by Ballintubber B at home in round one.
The Tubber will be at home in an all west Mayo clash on Saturday evening when a wounded Tourmakeady come to to town at 7.30pm, Alan McHale was in top for for Ballintubber in round one hitting 1-2 and with Tourmakeady struggling they will be looking to pick up another two points and put their foot in the last eight later in the summer.
Mayo GAA Junior A Round Two Fixtures
Group One
Kilmeena v Ballina Stephenities B (Saturday, May 18 at 7.30pm )
Kilmovee Shamrocks v Ballycroy (Sunday, May 19 at 2.30pm )
Group Two
Westport B v Knockmore B (Sunday, May 18 at 6pm )
Group Three
Cill Chomain v Castlebar Mitchels B (Saturday, May 18 at 7.30pm )
Ballycastle v Charlestown B (Sunday, May 19 at 2pm )
Group Four
Kilmaine v Killala (Saturday, May 18 at 5.30pm )
Ballintubber B v Tourmakeady (Saturday, May 18 at 7.30pm )
