The draw for the quarter-finals of the Treanlaur Catering Senior Football Championships have pitted the historic big two of the game in the county against each other for a place in the semi-final. Pat Holmes’ Castlebar Mitchels’ reward for topping their group including Breaffy, Crossmolina, and Davitts is a meeting with John Healy’s Ballina Stephenites, whenever the games get around to being played. Both sides are far and away the top dogs in the role of honour in the championship with Ballina Stephenites having claimed the title on 36 previous occasions and Castlebar Mitchels winning 27 titles.
The defending county champions Ballaghaderreen have been pitted against a progressing Breaffy side, who shook off a heavy defeat in round two of the championship to Mitchels to overcome Davitts in their final game to book their final eight spot. Ballintubber who are looking to make it three titles in four years after being deposed last season will take on the third most winning team in championship history, Knockmore who have won the title eight times, all of them in the last 40 years, and this year marks the ruby anniversary of their first senior title. The final quarter-final pairing pits last year’s intermediate champions and the winners of Knockmore’s group Charlestown against south Mayo men Garrymore. The Garrymore men saw off the challenge off both Ballinrobe and Aghamore to make it out of a very tight group, where table toppers Ballaghaderreen drew two of their three games.
The relegation play-offs where the bottom side in each of the four groups square off, will have Aghamore and Davitts meet in one semi-final and Shrule-Glencorrib and Tourmakeady in the other. The losers of the semi-finals will meet in a relegation final in one last chance to save their senior status.
In the intermediate grade Burrishoole, who have lost the last three finals at this level, were handed a very tough draw when they were pulled out of the bowl to meet Kiltane in the last eight. The north Mayo men who were relegated from senior football last year are on a huge drive to regain their status this season. Last year’s junior champions, The Neale, will meet Moy Davitts for a place in the last four. The final two quarter-final games sees Kilmaine take on Kiltimagh and Killala get to grips with Parke. In the relegation semi-finals the islanders from Achill will meet Mayo Gaels and it is an all north Mayo clash in the other game with the meeting of Bonniconlon and Belmullet.
The junior championship quarter-finals sees four of the sides who have made the senior championship last eight also have their B teams in action at the junior grade. Ballintubber B will face Cill Chomain, Louisburgh face Charlestown B, Lahardane were drawn against Castlebar Mitchels B, and Ardnaree meet near neighbour Ballina Stephenites B.
