By the time the meeting of Crossmolina and Kiltane comes to a conclusion, Deelside, on Sunday at around 6.30pm, the limit of the ambitions of most of the sides in the Treanlaur Catering senior and Egan Jewellers intermediate football championships will be known. In section one, wins for Knockmore and Garrymore will send both sides into the last eight of the competition. It would set up the final day showdown between the sides to see who would come out in first place, while condemning the other sides in the group, Aghamore and Shrule Glencorrib, to a winner takes all clash in the last round to avoid the relegation play off. But that is only one possible outcome, Shurle Glencorrib,put Knockmore to the pin of their collar in the first round with Knockmore coming out 1-18 to 1-16 winners after a fierce battle. They will not fear going to Garrymore on Sunday afternoon at all and a win would put them in a very good position to claim a spot in the last eight.
Section two of the senior championship is another interesting grouping. In the last round Ballinrobe surprised Crossmolina and the rest of the county with a 2-13 to 0-11 win in north Mayo. On Sunday at 2pm, they will host Castlebar Mitchels in Flanagan Park. Pat Holmes’ side will be hell bent on making up for the disappointment of losing the last two county finals and they have a 100 per cent record this year in league and championship. The other game in the section sees Crossmolina and Kiltane, both winless, going head to head on Deelside. A win for either will keep them out of relegation trouble and leave them in with a shout of making the last eight on the final day.
Ballintubber head up section three after dismantling the challenge of Breaffy at the end of May, with Claremorris joining them on the top of the table following their win over Davitts. The defending senior champions will have home advantage again on Sunday when they host last year’s intermediate champions, and the men from Clogher will be hot favourites to pick up their second win of the championship. The other game sees Claremorris head to Breaffy for what is a must win game for the homeside if they are to have any chance of making the last eight. The absence of two thirds of their O’Shea brothers’ contingent last time out was a major hindrance and if either Seamus or Aidan can play a part on Sunday it would be a major boost to their chances, but Claremorris will go in as favourites, even though Breaffy did pick up a win in their last league game proper against Ballinrobe.
The final section in the senior championship is the only one which has the action spread out over two days. The ball throws in on Saturday at 7pm when Westport travel to Ballaghaderreen in what will be a big test for Tómas Tierney’s side following their draw against Ballina in the first round. Westport are a side who could make a big impression this year, but they will be up against a Ballagh side who look to be on a mission to get back to the top of the tree in Mayo football this year. On their day, Ballagh are a side who are as good as anyone in Mayo and Westport will be hoping that they are a bit off on Saturday evening. The other game in the section sees Tourmakeady host Ballina Stephenites in the Gaeltacht. Tourmack were give a lesson by Ballaghaderreen in the first round, but they have to dig in a fight now and they will give nothing easy to Ballina on Sunday. If the game is still there to be won and the time is ticking down, Ballina will have to call on all their experience if they want to go home with the points.
