The only thing for certain in the intermediate championship ahead of this weekend's games is that Parke will be in the last eight. The west Mayo men have two wins from two in group one against serious opposition in the form of Ballyhaunis and Belmullet, and they will face another unbeaten side in the shape of Ardnaree in Knockmore on Sunday at 2pm.
The north Mayo men have held both Belmullet and Ballyhaunis to draws in the championship already and it would be a cruel twist of fate if they lost out on a last eight place to one of those sides if Parke get the better of them, and one of the other sides pick up a win.
That is what both Belmullet and Ballyhaunis will be hoping for when they meet just down the road in Ballina at the same time on Sunday, if Parke make it three from three — then whoever wins this one will be heading to the last eight.
In group two Islandeady are out in front at the minute with two wins from two games and they look to be pretty much safe of making the last eight, unless there is big swing in results — they should go through even if they lose to Shrule-Glencorrib on Saturday in Tourmakeady seeing as they have a scoring difference of +22, while second placed Shrule-Glencorrib are on -1 and third placed Mayo Gaels are on -8.
Mathematically any one of Shrule-Glencorrib, Mayo Gaels, and Swinford can make it through to the last eight also, but it would take something special in terms of scoring difference for Swinford to escape the bottom and book a last eight spot. They will take on Mayo Gaels in Kiltimagh on Saturday at 4.30pm.
It is all to play for in group three also, with the meeting of table toppers Louisburgh and Burrishoole in Westport on Sunday at 2pm, the winner takes all with the victor going into the last eight, while the loser will be hoping to join them on scoring difference depending on how the meeting between The Neale and Bonnicolon turns out. That game will see the loser heading to the relegation play-off. Currently both Louisburgh and Burrishoole have three points each thanks to a win and a draw each, while both The Neale and Bonniconlon have one point each on the board. The scoring difference stands at the minute Louisburgh +6, Burrishoole + 4, Bonniconlon -4, and The Neale -6. This one will get very interesting come 3pm on Sunday.
In group four, Moy Davitts are out in front with two wins from two against Tourmakeady and Kiltimagh and they will be expecting to make it three from three when they take on Castlebar Mitchels B on Sunday. If they do it will be good news for the Kiltimagh team they beat in round one, who bounced back from that loss to comprehensively beat Mitchels second string in round two and would be expected to see off the challenge of Tourmakeady in their final group game.
