The National Football League has been put to bed for another year, last Sunday’s disappointing capitulation at the hands of Cork will have to be put to bed this weekend as clubs around Mayo welcome their stars back. This weekend’s round of club games could give the players and opportunity to exorcise some of the demons from Croke Park. Sunday sees action return to Division 1A and 1B at 2pm with a full round of games in both the top divisions. Shrule Glencorrib, who currently sit top of the table thanks to wins over Claremorris and Ballaghaderreen, will make their way to Ballintubber looking to make it three out of three, while James Horan’s side have won one and drawn another. Crossmolina Deel Rovers are just behind Shrule-Glenncorrib in the table on points difference, and John Maughan’s men will be looking to make it three out of three when they venture to Claremorris. The south Mayo men shook off their opening day defeat to Shrule Glencorrib, to see off Moy Davitts in the last round by five points. Last year’s league and championship winners Charlestown will be hoping to shake off a lacklustre start to their campaign for 2010 when they host Moy Davitts, Ciaran McBrien’s men have lost their first two games this season going down to both Ballina and Ballinrobe. Moy Davitts are in the same position as their east Mayo neighbours having lost to Crossmolina and Claremorris. Ballinrobe, who started off last season in a good vein of form before fading away in the championship, have had a similarly good start in 2010 with two wins out of two under their belt. This weekend Norman O’Brien’s side will make the short trip to take on last season’s intermediate champions Westport who have only played once so far this year in the league picking up a draw against Ballintubber.
The late throw in on Sunday in Division 1A sees Ballaghaderreen and Knockmore come face to face in Charlestown at 3.30pm, the second part of a top class double bill on Sunday following up the Charlestown v Moy Davitts game. Knockmore have had only the one game under their belts so far when they were beaten by north Mayo rivals Crossmolina Deel Rovers. Ballagh are another side who are pointless after two rounds of games and will be looking to get back to winning ways as the season starts to kick in.
In Division 1B, there are a number of intriguing ties, probably the big one being the meeting of local rivals Breaffy who will host near neighbours Castlebar Mitchels. The Mitchels have won their solitary league outing against last year’s junior champions Kiltimagh. Breaffy lost on the opening day to Kiltaine, but followed it up with a comfortable win over Davitts. The Ballindine club will this weekend will be hosting junior side Islandeady who currently sit top of the table thanks to two wins out of two against Tourmakeady and Belmullet. Burrishoole, who made their way to the County Cup final last weekend with a win over an under strength Knockmore side, will have table toppers Garrymore visiting McGovern Park on Sunday afternoon. Kiltaine who lost out to the Newport based club in their last game will make the long trip from Bangor to the west Mayo Gaeltacht to take on Tourmakeady in what promises to be a tough uncompromising physical encounter. The final game in the division sees battle of the bottom two, both Aghamore and Kiltimagh have lost both their games so far this season and both sides will be looking to make it off the bottom of the table on Sunday. For a full list of this weekend’s fixtures across all the divisions see www.advertiser.ie/mayo; and for a match report on the Breaffy v Castlebar Mitchels game see the web site on Sunday evening.
