Last Monday night’s draw for the final stages of the Mayo club championships across all three grades has set up some exciting games over the coming weeks. The main interest on the night was on the senior championship pairings, with two west Mayo and two north Mayo teams going into the hat. The luck of the draw kept the divisional rivals apart, with last year’s beaten finalists Castlebar Mitchels being pitted against a fancied Knockmore side, and the defending champions Ballintubber squaring off against Ballina Stephenites.
The games, which will be played in a fortnight’s time, will throw in with Pat Holmes’ Mitchels taking on Ray Dempsey’s Knockmore on Saturday October 1 at 4.30pm in McHale Park. The second semifinal will take place the next day in the same venue at 3.30pm, where Anthony McGarry will be looking to follow in the footsteps of James Horan and book Ballintubber’s spot in the final for the second year in a row against John Healy’s Ballina Stephenites. At the other end of the spectrum in the senior championship, the battle to beat the drop will see a showdown between Tourmakeady and Charlestown in Claremorris on Sunday October 2 at 12pm.
No easy game in the intermediate championship
In the intermediate championship the four teams left fighting it out for the Sweeney Cup will all fancy their chances of making the final. Last year’s beaten finalists Burrishoole, who needed a replay to get over the challenge of Hollymount Carramore in the last eight, were pitted against a Ballyhaunis side which has been moving in the right direction all year so far. In the other semifinal last year’s junior champions Parke will take on a fancied Davitts side. This game may be a bridge too far for Parke, who have done extremely well to make this stage of the competition in their first year back in the grade. Burrishoole will get to grips with Ballyhaunis on Saturday October 1 at 3pm in McHale Park, with the same venue hosting the second semifinal the following day at 2pm. In the relegation play off Bonniconlon, who lost to Killala last weekend in the relegation semi-final, will enter the last chance saloon against Kilmeena at 12 noon in Crossmolina on Sunday October 2 in the battle to avoid the drop to the basement.
All sides capable of making the big break from junior
Sunday week sees the semifinals of the junior championship down for decision with two very exciting looking semifinals. Three of the teams left in the competition have come very close to making the breakthrough in recent years, with the fourth side which will not be found wanting for effort and enthusiasm when the ball is thrown in. Ardnaree will take on Lahardane in Crossmolina at 3pm, while Islandeady and The Neale will do battle in the county grounds at the same time on September 25.
U21A draw promises plenty of interest
While the adult grades were the main focus of attention during the draw on Monday night, the last eight pairings for the ever competitive u21 A football championship were also drawn. This competition over the past few years has provided some of the most exciting and entertaining games in the county and this year looks no different.
The action in the last eight gets under way on Sunday at noon with two very exciting games on the cards. Aghamore and Swinford will do battle in an all east Mayo encounter in Kiltimagh, while in Westport it is an all west Mayo affair where Breaffy and Ballintubber square off in what looks like a mouth-watering clash. Next week, Castlebar Mitchels and Knockmore will get some practice in before their meeting in the senior championship at 7.15pm in McHale Park where Castlebar will look to defend the title they won last year. The final semifinal is the meeting of Ballina and Hollymount Carramore in the same venue later that evening under the lights at 8.30pm.
Hurling semi-finals down for decision
Tomorrow in McHale Park the finalists for this year’s Mayo Senior Hurling Championship will be known. Tooreen and Westport will meet in the first semifinal at 3pm, with Ballyhaunis and Castlebar Mitchels going toe to toe in the second semifinal at 4.30pm.
