Swinford made their way into quarter finals of the Mayo intermediate championship last weekend thanks to a 1-11 to 1-6 win over Davitts in Ballyhaunis. The east Mayo men became the seventh team into the last eight, with one spot left up for grabs in the competition. On Sunday in Bonniconlon Davitts will get their second bite at the cherry when they take on Belmullet in a winner takes all clash at 2pm. The play-off was necessitated by all three sides finishing level on points in their group and one game in the group not being played, and a walk over handed to Belmullet, so points difference couldn’t be taken into consideration.
The draw for the play-off saw either Swinford or Davitts getting two shots at making it to the last eight, while Belmullet were given only one chance and they will be going all out to take it on Sunday. Last weekend’s game against Swinford played in rain-lashed Ballyhaunis didn’t suit Davitts’ style of play against a more physical Swinford side. They had David Heaney putting in a starring role in the middle of the park, kicking two points, and their goal coming from Colin Dempsey, with former Mayo underage star Aidan Campbell also chipping in with three points of his own.
The draw for the quarter-final now pairs Swinford against Tourmakeady, with the winner of this weekend’s game facing off against Cill Chomain in the last eight. The last side to make it into the junior football championship quarter-final will also be known this weekend when Islandeady and Charlestown meet in Kiltimagh on Saturday evening at 6pm. The winner of this clash will take on a fancied Parke side in the last eight at the end of the month.
Hurling semi-finals this weekend
The semi-final stages of the Mayo senior hurling championship are down for decision this weekend. On Saturday evening in Ballyvary, Ballyhaunis will take on James Stephens Ballina at 4pm, while at the same time in Ballyheane Tooreen will take on Westport in the second semi-final.
U-21 draw made
The draw for the knock-out stages of the Mayo U-21 football championship was made during the week, following the conclusion of the group stages of the competition. In the A championship, Breaffy will face off against Burrishoole, Knockmore take on Ballinrobe, Ballintubber will square off against east Mayo men Swinford, while Castlebar and Aghamore will go toe to toe in the final quarter-final. The semi-final pairings have also been made and it will be Breaffy/Burrishoole v Castlebar/Aghamore and Knockmore/Ballinrobe v Ballintubber/Swinford.
In the B championship, St Gerald’s and Belmullet will face off in one quarter final, Kiltane and Ballaghaderreen in the second, the third pairing is Ballyhaunis and the Neale with the final last eight game seeing Kiltimagh and Achill square off. The semi-final draw is St Gerald’s/Belmullet v Kiltimagh/Achill, Kiltane/Ballaghaderreen v Ballyhaunis/The Neale.
Three minors pick up injuries
Last weekend’s round of club games at various levels saw two of the Mayo minor side pick up knocks ahead of their All-Ireland final against Armagh. Ballaghaderreen man Keith Rodgers had picked up an injury before the All-Ireland semi-final against Down, but did play in the game. Last week two of the heroes of that semi-final win, goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann and two-goal man Cillian O’Connor, picked up knocks in club action, Schlingermann an ankle injury in his club’s u-21 game against Ardnaree and O’Connor in the west Mayo minor final against Castlebar, when he was playing for his club Ballintubber.
See the Mayo Advertiser next week for a full preview of the All-Ireland final as Mayo go in search of their first All-Ireland minor championship since 1985.
