The Mayo GAA Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship is proving to be tight as always as we head into the final round of group games, with plenty still to play for for the majority of clubs.
In group one Park-Keelogues-Crimlin are heading to the last eight on the back of their two wins to date over Davitts and Islandeady respectively and they will be wrapping up their round robin series with a clash against a Bonniconlon side heading for the relegation play-offs in Bofennaun on Sunday lunchtime. The West Mayo men have impressed so far and with a place in the last eight secured, they could take the opportunity to change things up a bit before they head into the knock-out stages, but they won't want to stop that winning momentum.
The other game in the group is where it all comes down to what happens over the course of the hour when Davitts and Islandeady meet in Tourmakeady at 4.15pm on Sunday afternoon. These sides entered the intermediate championship from opposite sides last term, with Davitts dropping down from senior and Islandeady coming up as junior champions. The west Mayo men have achieved their first objective of the season to retain their status, but will still fancy their chances of having a run into the knock-out rounds. Davitts have a young side sprinkled with some real experienced heads who've been there and done it all before and that could be key when it comes to the crunch here.
In group two, there are three sides vying for spots in the last eight of the competition, Louisburgh and Ardnaree will face off in Newport with Kilmeena and Kiltimagh meeting in Islandeady. If Louisburgh pick up a win or a draw they're into the last eight topping the group, while if Ardnaree win they put themselves in with a shout of making it to that stage. In the other game Kilmeena who reached the final last season, will be looking to get back to winning ways after being beaten by Lousiburgh last time out, a win should see them back into the knock-out rounds of this time around.
Both of the games in group three have plenty of the line for all four sides for different reasons, on Saturday evening Hollymount-Carramore and Ballinrobe will meet in Garrymore with the winner taking top spot and seeding in the quarter finals after both sides won their opening two games. While it's the first part of this year's plan achieved for both already achieved, local bragging rights and a prized top seed will have the makings of interesting battle in this one.
The other game in the group sees Burrishoole and Kiltane head to Crossmolina to decide, which teams season comes to an end this weekend and both want that to be them, with the loser heading into the relegation play-offs and the victors, knowing that they will be back to have another crack at this grade come next season. Neither side has put in a performance, they'll be overly happy with this year, but the north Mayo men pushed Ballinrobe for a long time in their last outing and will be hoping to draw from that defeat. But don't count out Burrishoole, who will surely have another kick in them and they won't go down without a fight.
In group four there is one game where it is all on the line, when Castlebar Mitchels B and Crossmolina Deel Rovers clash in Knockmore, with a spot in the last eight up for grabs for the winners. Mitchels put themselves right back in contention with their win on the road against Kilmaine in the last round, but the Deel Rovers might just have too much for Kevin Filan's men, but Mitchels won't mind having their backs against the wall. In the other game, Bohola Moy Davitts will be expecting to keep up their winning momentum and take maximum points from the group stages when they take on Kilmine in Mayo Abbey. The south Mayo men will need to pick up their performance from their last two outings if they are to get anything from it and a good showing will be needed from them as they get ready to try and navigate their way through the relegation play-off battle that lies in store for them.
Mayo GAA Intermediate Football Championship Round Three
Group One: Bonniconlon v Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin, Sunday, September 17 at 1pm in Bofeeenaun, Davitts v Islandeady, Sunday, September 17 at 4.15pm in Tourmakeady
Group Two: Kilmeena v Kiltimagh, Saturday, September 16 at 5pm in Islandeady; Louisburgh v Ardnaree, Saturday, September 16 at 5pm in Newport
Group Three: Burrishoole v Kiltane, Sunday, September 17 at 1pm in Crossmolina; Hollymount-Carramore v Ballinrobe, Saturday, September 16 at 7.30pm in Garrymore.
Group Four: Kilmaine v Bohola Moy Davitts, Sunday, September 17 at 3.30pm in Mayo Abbey; Castlebar Mitchels B v Crossmolina Deel Rovers, Sunday, September 17 at 3.30pm in Knockmore.
