After a hectic weekend of action in round one of the senior championship, this coming weekend will make or break the senior championship for a number of teams.
Group One
Garrymore v Ballaghaderreen
Saturday, August 8 at 7pm
This is a must-win for the home side after their surprise defeat to senior newcomers The Neale. Damien Egan's side will have to hit the ground running on Saturday if they are to have any more interest in this year's championship, and players like Shane Nally and Caolan Crowe will need to be at their best. The visitors got their championship off to a winning start last weekend and looked impressive down the home stretch. Andy Moran, Keith Rogers, and Kuba Callaghan were all to the fore for Paul McHugh's men who look good to make it two wins from two.
Verdict: Ballaghaderreen
Belmullet v The Neale
Sunday, August 9 at 2pm
The Neale were the story of the weekend from round one, less than a decade on from winning the junior title they took the scalp of Garrymore in their first ever senior game. Eoin Hughes will have been busy all week making sure that that his side remember there is still more to do. Tommy Conroy, Michael Varley, and Seanie Cosgrove will need to keep up their good form when they head to north Mayo. The hosts have to win this one to keep their interest going into the final weekend of games - they kept with Ballaghaderreen for a long time before being burned off down the home straight. Damien Mulligan will have to make sure his side hit the ground running from the get-go.
Verdict: The Neale
Group Two
Aghamore v Davitts
Saturday, August 8 at 5pm
Coming away from Clogher with a point was a big result for Aghamore last Saturday evening, but they will need to follow that up with a big showing again at home on Saturday evening. They only managed to hit 1-4 in their draw with Ballintubber, but on home soil they will be looking to open up a bit more up front. The visitors also come into this one with a point in the bag following their draw with Moy Davitts last time out. Having got to the quarter-finals last year and with Colm Boyle, Josh and Mark Roynayne to call on they will push their hosts hard - but home advantage could swing this one.
Verdict: Aghamore
Moy Davitts v Ballintubber
Saturday, August 8 at 7pm
Moy Davitts will have been happy to head home from Ballindine with a point following last weekend's round of action, but they will be facing a wounded county champions side who will be looking to lay down a marker in round two. The Moy Davitts attack has plenty of punch with Brian Reape, Brian Henaghan, and Anthony Jordan on board - but Ballintubber have shown over the years they are the masters of closing down a threatening forward unit. Kevin Johnson's men will be frustrated with not having got off to a winning start last weekend and will be keen to show what has made them two time defending champions.
Verdict: Ballintubber
Group Three
Claremorris v Ballina Stephenites
Sunday, August 9 at 3pm
The visitors have the look of one of the form teams this season so far. They dispatched the challenge of Kiltane with ease last Sunday. Enda Gilvarry's teams attack really hit form in that game with Simon Leonard bagging 2-4 and Evan Regan kicking six points. They were also able to welcome Mikey Murray and Ciaran Tracey back from injury off the bench in that win. Claremorris kept pace with Knockmore for the first half last Sunday, but they were burnt off by their hosts in the second half going down by nine points.
Verdict: Ballina Stephenites
Kiltane v Knockmore
Sunday, August 9 at 4pm
This north Mayo derby looks like it will have only one winner, the hosts were put to the sword by Ballina last weekend while Knockmore eased past the challenge of Claremorris. But write off Kiltane at home at your peril. Ciaran O'Hara will have a busy week getting his charges ready to step up to the challenge. The visitors will be looking to wrap up progress to the last eight this weekend, and with Aiden Orme and Peter Naughton returning big scores last weekend they will be confident of having enough to pick up the points again this weekend.
Verdict: Knockmore
Group Four
Westport v Charlestown
Saturday, August 8 at 5pm
Westport picked up a big win last weekend holding off Breaffy to win by a single point on Sunday. Mark Moran, Fionn McDonagh, and Kevin Keane all impressed. Keane had to leave the field injured after just 20 minutes but by that stage he had hit 1-2. It looks like the club are building on the promise of underage success over recent years and will be looking to keep up that momentum at home. The visitors held their own with Castlebar Mitchels right down to the home stretch last Saturday evening, before a flurry of late scores went against them. Paul Towey and Jack Reilly impressed but they will need more to stand up if they are to take anything from this one.
Verdict: Westport
Castlebar Mitchels v Breaffy
Sunday, August 9 at 2.30pm
It is win or bust for the visitors on Sunday. They almost reeled in Westport at home last Sunday in the final quarter but they fell short at the end. It is something that they will have to put right this weekend if they are to have any interest in the latter stages of the championship but it's not going to be easy against the Mitchels. The hosts lost both Neil Douglas and Donal Vaughan to injury last weekend, but their conveyor belt of young talent continued to show its worth against Charlestown and they will love nothing more than putting their near neighbours out of contention with a win in this one.
Verdict: Castlebar Mitchels
