You remember, champs, how we used to complain about the long gap between the end of Mayo’s championship campaign and the start of the club championship?

Well, there’s no such gap this year, with the opening rounds in the senior and intermediate championships set to get underway next weekend. The opening shots at junior level will, meanwhile, be fired later this evening.

Someone told me at the homecoming event in Claremorris yesterday that an unnamed junior club bainisteoir, when informed the other day that, yes, his club would indeed be in action at the weekend, replied plaintively “But sure I don’t even know where my players are”! I doubt he’s the only manager scratching his head today, thinking frantically about what his team’s line-up will look like later on.

Most of this weekend’s junior ties take place tonight and then there are three titles deciders on tomorrow. Here’s the full list of games taking place:

Treanlaur Catering Exclusive Junior Championship

GROUP 1

Killala Acla at Killala, Friday 7pm

Northern Gaels v Ballycroy at Kilfian, Friday 7pm

GROUP 3

Kilmovee Shamrocks v Swinford at Kilmovee, Friday 7pm

Tuar Mhic Éadaigh v Eastern Gaels at Páirc Naomh Muire, Friday 7pm

Premier Junior Championship

C FINAL: Bonniconlon v Ballyhaunis at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Saturday 4pm

B FINAL: Breaffy B v Crossmolina B at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Saturday 5.45pm

A FINAL: Knockmore B v Westport B at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Saturday 7.30pm.