The Mayo GAA Senior Football Leagues are down to the final four across the top three divisions, with a feast of knock-out football taking place this coming weekend.
In Division One, the last four teams standing are defending county champions Westport, Knockmore who claimed the two previous championship titles, a resurgent Castlebar Mitchels, and Garrymore, who once again showed they will be there or thereabouts come championship time.
Both semi-finals are taking place on Saturday evening with 7pm throw-ins in both clashes. Westport will be at home to Garrymore, while Mitchels will be heading north to St Joseph's Park to take on Knockmore.
Westport booked their spot in the final four with a 2-11 to 0-10 win over Aghamore last weekend at home in St Patrick's Park, where Oisin McLaughlin and Niall McManamon both hit the back of the net, and Alan Kennedy top-scored for his side, chipping in with six points over the course of the contest. Garrymore had to go the extra yard in their quarter-final against Ballintubber, with extra-time needed to separate the sides before the south Mayo men came out on top on a score of 1-12 to 0-12. Darren Quinn registered seven points for Martin Maloney's side with Trevor Nally bagging 1-1 to edge their side into the semi-final - both sides will face off again in the group stages of the championship in the not-too-distant future in what promises to be another intriguing encounter.
Knockmore continued their good run of form in their 2-16 to 1-10 win over Ballinrobe in the last eight last Saturday evening. Mayo squad member Aiden Orme hit 2-3, while Caolan Hopkins chipped in with five points, and Keith Ruttledge finished the day with three points as the north Mayo men laid down a marker of intent for what they hope to deliver when the championship comes around.
Equally impressive in their quarter-final win was Knockmore's opponents this weekend, Castlebar Mitchels, who brushed aside the challenge of Ballina Stephenites last Sunday lunchtime. The Mitchels hit 1-20 along the way and were in control of the game right from the get-go. Ethan Gibbons finished up the day with six points, while Mark Cunningham hit five from play, and Neil Douglas added 1-2 to their tally.
The action in the final four of Division Two will also take place on Saturday evening, with Belmullet traveling to Balla and last year's Intermediate Champions Ballyhaunis facing off against fellow east Mayo men, Bohola Moy Davitts. The Moy Davitts side had a weekend off last weekend after Kilmeena conceded their quarter-final last time out.
Belmullet came out on top in their all north Mayo quarter-final meeting against Crossmolina Deel Rovers last Sunday. The Erris men went into an early big lead and ran out six-point winners at the end on a scoreline of 1-12 to 0-9 - with Ryan O'Donoghue back in the swing of things for his club side, scoring 1-6 over the hour, with Ronan Murray adding two points to their final total.
Balla hit four goals to see off the challenge of Hollymount-Carramore in their quarter-final clash, winning on a scoreline of 4-9 to 2-7 against the South Mayo men. Iarlaith Golding bagged 2-2 for the victors, while Conor Walsh hit 1-2 and Jack Harte 1-1 on the way to victory for a Balla side who so far remain unbeaten in their league campaign.
It was a clash of last year's intermediate champions and junior champions when Ballyhaunis and Islandeady met in Ballyhaunis last Saturday evening, and it was the team who will be playing senior football this year who emerged victorious, with Ballyhaunis winning the day on a score of 1-13 to 2-7. Joshua Webb got the Ballyhaunis goal, while Jason Coyne landed seven points, and Aidan Sloyan chipped in with three to seal the win.
In Division Three, Swinford will host Ardnaree on Saturday evening, and Knockmore B will be at home to local rivals Ardagh on Sunday lunchtime, with the winners of both games heading up to Division Two for next season. Ardnaree had a 1-9 to 1-6 win over Achill in their quarter-final, while Swinford were 1-9 to 0-4 winners against Castlebar Mitchels B, Ardagh saw off Shrule-Glencorrib by five points, and Knockmore B were engaged in a high-scoring encounter against Lahardane where they prevailed on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-13.
Division Four has reached the quarter-final stage where Claremorris B will host Moygownagh, Kilmovee will entertain Kilmeena B, Davitts B will travel to Lacken, and the final last eight clash is a meeting of Balla B and Burrishoole B. It is also quarter-final time in Division Five with three of the games slated to take place this evening at 8 pm. In those games, Killala B will face Bonniconlon B in an all-north Mayo clash, it's an all south Mayo affair when Garrymore B hosts Ballinrobe B, and the final game down for this evening is the meeting of Aghamore B and Kilmaine B. The final quarter-final is the meeting of Louisburgh B and Ardnaree B on Sunday lunchtime.
