The quarter final pairings for the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championship and the Mayo intermediate and junior championship have thrown up a number of interesting battles that are sure to get hearts racing next weekend. Despite seven of the eight sides which made it to this stage of the competition last year being back again, the draw managed to avoid any repeat parings from this stage last year. Defending champions Ballintubber, now under the tutelage of Anthony McGarry following the ascension of James Horan to the Mayo hot seat, will take on Shrule-Glenncorrib. The defending champions will go into the game as favourites. Knockmore, whose win over Breaffy saw them leapfrog the west Mayo men to top their group, were rewarded with a tie against Ballaghaderreen for a place in the final four. The aforementioned Breaffy managed to avoid the two other west Mayo sides which were potential opponents and book a spot against an impressive looking Ballina Stephenites side who have been moving very well so far in the championship. The final clash in the Treanlaur Senior Championships sees our columnist John Maughan and his Crossmolina Deel Rovers facing off against Castlebar Mitchels in the last eight. The county town side are of course managed this year by Pat Holmes who played for many years under Maughan with Mayo and replaced him as manager at the turn of the century.
In the relegation play offs Tourmakeady will take on Garrymore while 2009 champions Charlestown and Kiltane will face off against each other. The losers of those two games will have to do it all again in a relegation final, with the defeated side in that game dropping to intermediate next year.
In the intermediate championship, last year’s beaten finalists Burrishoole are looking good again this season and they will take on Hollymount/Carramore in their last eight match. Davitts and Kilmaine will get to grips with each other in a south Mayo derby. Last year’s junior winners Parke, who came through their group thanks to a last gasp draw, face a tough challenge against Cill Chomain, while Belmullet and Ballyhaunis will battle it out in the last quarter final game.
In the battle to avoid the drop to junior championship for 2012 Bonniconlon and Kilmaine will square off in the first relegation semi final and Kilmeena and Achill will have a west Mayo showdown in the other relegation play off.
The junior championship last eight will also be a hotly contest affair with Islandeady looking to overcome Castlebar Mitchels B, and Louisburgh and Ardnaree fronting up in what could be the game of the round. Lahardane will take on Ballintubber B, and Ballina B and The Neale will clash in the final game of the quarter finals.
