There is a ‘super Saturday’ of hurling in store for several Mayo GAA hurling clubs this coming weekend with both the Connacht Gold Junior A and Junior B Hurling Championship finals down for decision.
On Saturday Caiseal Gaels and Castlebar Mitchels B lock horns for the Tom Earley Cup in the Junior B Mayo GAA Connacht Gold hurling championship final with both clubs eager to finish the year with some silverware after an exhilarating Mayo GAA Junior Hurling Championship season.
The game at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Saturday at 4:30pm should be a close encounter, with both clubs displaying some outstanding stick work and excellent team play during the earlier rounds of the championship.
New kids on the block Caiseal Gaels have made huge strides in recent years and with two players on the Mayo senior hurling panel this year in Paddy Dozio and Luke Connor, they will be eager to collect their first piece of hurling silverware since the club entered a junior hurling team in the championship just over twelve months ago.
Mayo GAA hurling stalwarts Castlebar Mitchels B however are seasoned campaigners and can call on a host of former greats who are still dedicated to the cause of hurling in the county town. Claremorris hurling club won the Mayo Junior B hurling crown last year after a titanic struggle with Caiseal Gaels.
In the Mayo GAA Connacht Gold Junior A hurling championship final, Ballina Stephenites Hurling Club and Moytura Hurling Club will go head to head for the Kieran Byrne Cup at 6:30pm on Saturday in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
Ballina Stephenites continue to impress since returning to hurling action a few years back and with a number of their players featuring on the Mayo GAA senior hurling panel in the past two years, they are slight favourites heading into this game.
The impressive Cathal Maloney will feature prominently for Ballina and his ability to create openings for the inside forwards has been a feature of their play this season. Moytura Hurling Club are competing in their first ever Mayo GAA Junior ‘A’ hurling final this year and the excitement in south Mayo is palpable this week.
Phenomenal work has taken place in the past two years to get the team to this level and they are heading to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park full of confidence. The team have already tasted success in the CúChulainn Cup this year and with three regulars on the Mayo GAA senior hurling team, their optimism is certainly justified. James Murphy featured in all of Mayo’s Allianz National Hurling League games and Christy Ring championship games this year and his ball-winning ability on the edge of the small square at full-back has been a major factor in their run to the Mayo GAA Connacht Gold Junior A Hurling Championship final.
Brothers John and Evan Heraty are also excellent hurlers who have featured with Mayo this season. John’s powerful running and accuracy in front of the posts will cause Ballina Stephenites problems on Saturday, while Evan is a teak tough man-marker.
