The final round of action in the group stages in the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championship and Egans Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship is down for decision this weekend across the county.
The action in group one is as clear as you can get, both Knockmore and Garrymore are looking forward to a place in the quarter finals before the ball is thrown in between the two sides in Knockmore on Saturday evening. Both sides have already seen off the challenges of Shrule-Glencorrib and Aghamore in their opening two games. All that’s left for decision is which side goes through as table toppers and which will be the second placed team. The real action will be in the other game in the group, where Aghamore make the trip to the border to take on Shrule-Glenncorrib. Both sides are pointless and which ever side loses will be heading for the relegation play-offs and as last year Charlestown proved, no side is too big to go down. Shrule-Glenncorrib have struggled to adjust to life without the Mortimers, despite nearly turning over Knockmore on the first weekend of the championship. While Aghamore had chances to win their opening game against Garrymore and pushed Knockmore for long stages. A real battle should take place on Sunday at 2pm.
Castlebar in poll position
In group two, Sunday could be a day to get the calculators out. Castlebar Mitchels have two wins from two and sit at the top of the table on four points. Ballinrobe and Crossmolina Deel Rovers are behind them on two points each with one win each, while Kiltane are on the bottom of the table winless so far. All games throw in at 4pm on Sunday in this group, Castlebar will host Crossmolina Deel Rovers and Kiltane will host Ballinrobe. Form favours Castlebar to make it three out of three and see off Michael Moyles side. If that happens and Ballinrobe can see off Kiltane for the second time in two years, the south Mayo side will go through with Castlebar. If the north Mayo men can see off Ballinrobe, then the fun really starts as then potentially Ballinrobe, Crossmolina and Kiltane will all be level on two points each it’ll all come down to scoring difference as to who goes through and who finishes in the relegation spots. Despite Castlebar looking nailed on to go through there is still the possibility of an unlikely confluence of results happening such as Crossmolina giving them a serious hammering and Ballinrobe having a big win over Kiltane — leaving all three sides on four points each from their three games and Castlebar squeezed out on scoring difference. It is unlikely but still a possibility.
Clear cut at the top but Davitts and Breaffy have it all to play for
The action in group three is as clear cut as it is in group one, Ballintubber and Claremorris are in the last eight already thanks to wins over Breaffy and Davitts for both sides in their opening two games. Both sides will play off for first and second comes second on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. In South Mayo things are really all to play for in the other game of the group at 4pm. Last years intermediate champions Davitts will host Breaffy in a do or die game for both sides.
Both sides are pointless at the bottom of the table and it’s the relegation play-offs for whomever is the looser in this clash. Breaffy have had a year to forget so far after making the last eight in the last two years, they have been dismantled by Ballintubber and were well beaten at home by Claremorris in the championship so far. Davitts were beaten by Ballintubber much like Breaffy before the end of the first half in their last outing, but came back strong in the second half. Home advantage could be a major advantage come Sunday evening, where neither side can afford to loose.
Second spot in last eight still up for grabs
While there is plenty fun and games to be had in group two depending on how results go on Sunday, it’s the same thing in group four on Saturday evening. There is only one sure thing about this group, Ballaghaderreen are through to the last eight with four points from their two games. Behind them in second place on two points is Tourmakeady, with Ballina Stephenites and Westport then in third and fourth place respectively on one point each. Ballaghaderreen will be hosting Ballina and Tourmakeady will travel to Westport. The simple outcome would be a Tourmakeady win over Westport or even a draw would send them into the last eight with Ballaghaderreen. But if Westport and Ballina win, both will end up on three points and the outcome of the second spot will depend on scoring difference which currently having Ballina ahead by a single point. Text messages and phone calls from north Mayo to west Mayo are sure to be on the rise come Saturday evening as both games roll out.
Not much decided yet in the intermediate grade
Group one of the Egan Jewellers has everything still to be decide when both games throw in on Sunday at 4pm. Parke are top of the group currently with three wins from their two games played and a win over Swinford will confirm their place in the last eight, while a win for Swinford would send them through and leave Parke waiting on results from elsewhere.
Ballyhaunis and Swinford have two points each from their opening two games, while Kiltimagh are on one point. Despite being bottom of the table at the moment, if Kiltimagh manage to beat Ballyhaunis in conjunction with a Parke win, they would make the last eight. While Ballyhaunis win would send the east Mayo side through.
In group two, Charlestown are through with four points from two games and take on pointless Cill Chomain on Saturday evening. The other game is the winner takes all showdown between Islandeady and Achill in Islandeady on Saturday evening at 7pm. Both sides have each beaten Cill Chomain and lost to Charlestown so far. Achill have the scoring difference advantage so Islandeady know they must win in what should be a compelling encounter.
In group three it is all to play for between Bonniconlon who are top on four points and Burrishoole and Kilmaine who are both on two points each. Burrishoole will host Bonniconlon knowing a win will put them in front of Bonniconlon on scoring difference in the table at the least if Kilmaine as expected see off pointless Killala and all three sides finish level on four points each. Kilmaine will need a big swing in scoring difference if that happens also to make it through as they are currently on -4 with Bonniconlon on +7.
In group four, Hollymount-Carramore are top of the table with two wins from two so far. This weekend they host second placed Belmullet who know they will have to win to make sure they put themselves in the best position to make it through when the final whistle goes in the group on Saturday evening.
The second game in the group is the meeting of Mayo Gaels and Moy Davitts. Mayo Gaels need to win to avoid the relegation play off, while Moy Davitts will make the last eight if they win and Hollymount-Carramore beat Belmullet.
