The Garrymore/Knockmore game was a real disappointment. In a way you could say that Garrymore didn’t give enough respect to the import of having a real goalkeeper at this level and it caught up with them. With respect to McGrath, he was a tigerish back in his day with Corofin, but he’s no goalkeeper. He’s too small and just looked like a fish out of water tonight and ultimately this cost Garrymore and the game was a bit of a farce really. But Garrymore also we’re toothless in attack. They just don’t have the forwards. Ok, they created as many if not more goal scoring opportunities than Knockmore, ironically enough! But they could finish even one of them. Knockmore won comfortably without having to play particularly well. They were better set up tactically; dropping lots of bodies back, particularly in the first half and just playing counter attack football. Garrymore allowed them space to kick direct ball into attack and Hopkins stood out. He was Knockmore’s most accurate shooter on the pitch. Pearse Ruttledge in the middle put in a measured and controlled performance and I thought King and Nathan Armstrong were very solid at the back.

I didn’t think there was much beteeen the teams. If they played 5 times; it’d be 2/3 (either way). Just tonight, Garrymore did a Kamikaze on it. Knockmore probably couldn’t believe their luck. Not sure they’ll learn much from it.

I've followed Pearce Rutledge over the years and in my view he's gone up a level. Reminds me of Stephen Sweeney from years ago all wiry toughness and intent and a cross country engine.
Knockmore don't have any weaker players. All of them are so well coached and fit that they're all decent club footballers.
It's a credit to the club.
Darragh Staunton is the cut of his Father especially the way they both carry those long arms. The exact same gait.

My heart went out for The Neale keeper Hennelly yesterday. A super performance up to a mistake. Who would be a keeper! Crossmolina were slightly the better team but there is clear evidence that the south mayo lads are building again.

I have to agree with all said by Mayonaze and JP above, Garrymore shot themselves in the foot and Knockmore just controlled things when they got the lead. I felt sorry for McGrath leaving the field for the dressing room at halftime on his own.
Pearce Rutledge my MOTM, he gave a great display.
One last point, I have never seen anything like the level of organisation of traffic and parking by the stewards last night, it was top class, we were out of the parking field and on the road within 90 seconds of the final whistle, no hold-ups, everything kept moving. Well done to all involved.

Agree young fella, credit to Garrymore they had it really well organised.

On the game itself Garrymore lacked clinical forward power, they'll have to be very disappointed not to win at home against a depleted Knockmore. A lot was made of their home record, but when see teams bulk of those wins against it puts slightly different perspective on it. Playing under lights certainly an advantage mind, even as spectator it's different.

Today's games Ballina should win handy enough v a young Mitchels.

I would have said Westport in other game, but now with the conditions it could be much tighter.

Agree with Giz.

Garrymore were poor on the night, maybe you could say Knockmore had the run of the green but considering nearly half their team is out, they deserve it. Great to see two rural clubs, with a fraction of the resources the towns have, still going toe to toe. Whilst the narrative around Knockmore is mostly negative (not playing well, lucky, injuries, lack of hunger, old team etc) for them to be back in a semi final is excellent. Can they win the title? It will be hard with the level of injuries but they are the most successful team left in the championship, based on the last 5/6 years.

I think if Westport lose today serious questions need to asked within their club. Again, they tend to be media darlings and are often spoken up as having unbelievable talent, great underage, money etc. For me, I think they have to win the title this year. Knockmore down half a team, Regan is touch and go with Ballina and Castlebar in a longer transition then they would have hoped. But Breffey are moving well. I think this game could be decided on heart, and if so, I’m backing Breffey. If it’s decided on football talent then it should be Westport. AOS will be the critical factor to the game.

The other QF, hard to look past Ballina but you never know what Castlebar team could show up. If it’s the one from the league then an ambush could be on the cards. I’m f it’s the championship team to date, this will be over before HT

HT at a wet Breaffy.The hosts up by a point 1-05 TO 0-7.A very messy goal for the home side.Aiden best on the park so far.Breaffy wind advantage to come probably worth a point or two.

Was at Cong yesterday..
Pretty poor stuff from both sides...
I think if The Neale were a bit braver and not so defensively set up they could have one , they have good forwards if they kept a couple up the pitch more often.
Went to Ballinrobe match afterwards.
Ardnaree we're better set up in the first half .
Ballinrobe started to move the ball a bit quicker in the second half and were comfortable enough in the end .
I'm not convinced they have improved on last year and the loss of their midfielder to a hamstring injury won't help them going forward...

And Breaffy do the business. Weather and new pitch dimensions a very big factor :)

Aidan o shea, take a bow, what a performance.
Mattie ruane came good in last 15 mins.
Oisin McLaughlin decent for Westport until going off.
Got absolutely nothing in performance levels from Eoghan McLaughlin and Rory brickenden, two starting mayo defenders showing zero in that game.

Aidan is some man, the way he leads that breaffy team is phenomenal and I think have as good as chance as anyone at winning this championship now. Sidenote sean deane has won 7 games in a row for breaffy and he definitely should of got the mayo u20s job.

Ontheroad, probably but young fellas need different voices in their formative years. No point having same fella all way up even if he's good. Let others benefit from him.
He's also doing well with Breaffy, but they were finalists last year, so improvement there is winning Moclair.

Fortuitous goal and weather conditions helped Breaffy today, along with the hurricane Aido who put in a massive shift again.
Westport looked much slicker going forward at pace but greasy ball and slippery underfoot conditions meant a fair few chances were left behind.
Breaffy appear to have a tighter defensive unit under Deane but still need much more up front from the supporting cast,Aido can't be expected to drag them through every game.
Are they comtenders,hard to know on todays showing but would love to see Aiden getting his winners medal.

Westport have to look at themselves. The weather was the same for both teams. Adapt. A lot of talk about Westport and now we see Ballagh, Knockmore and Breffey in the semi finals. I just wonder how ruthless and gritty Westport are. We saw Belmullet knock them out a few years ago, Breffey today too. If the game goes slightly against them they don’t seem to want to really dig in. Skill isn’t the be all and end all to making a good winning team.

Castlebar may not score in this half.

Ballina and Castlebar both poor, a terrible watch for a neutral.

Well done to Breaffy and fair play to Aido he's done player..

Congrats ballina terrible game really but got the job done.

Very poor between ballina and castlebar. Ballina won’t win it this year. Thought tuohy played well

@plunkett you never know with Ballina they might still do it yet but hard to do back to back.... But I wouldn't begrudge Breaffy if they won it would be delighted for Aido.

If Castlebar don't get rid of Barry Moran soon - he will have the football completely coached out of these young Castlebar lads. Disgraceful style of football for the county town team especially when you see the panel of players they have. Mind you Ballina were not a whole lot better. Very very poor standard of football.

What summed up that game was when newcombe was clean through on goal and decided to fist the point instead of going for the goal especially In a dour low scoring game a goal would of been the winning score.

When is draw for semi finals ?

Though both Ballaghdereen midfielders looked borderline county standard...
Other than that I saw no newbies put their hands up for inclusion in county panel ..
David Drake had a solid game as always..
The more games I saw this weekend the more I'm convinced the Mayo Senior county team are in full REBUILD mode ...

Oh my God, I can’t believe I’ve just wasted time watching that crap. Dreadful stuff. Castlebar were awful. They literally have no forwards! I think it was newcombe who took a point when it was a massive goal opportunity. Daft stuff from them. Touhy showed moments of quality but didn’t really do enough for a county player, for me. He should be dominating around the middle. McHugh was far too defensive; they needed him in the centre.. Morahan had a poor game and MacMonagle was decent but that was it. McStay easily man of the match, he just controlled play. Murray and Irwin were solid but Murray’s championship looks over. He has no luck with injuries. If Irwin played a full match like he do for the final quarter he’d be a shoe in for the Mayo panel but we just need to see more of that direct running. Thought we’d see more from Callinan too…he really needs to learn to stop carrying the ball into trouble.

Breaffy have a super chance now to win the county title. I don’t think Ballina will do it again with Murray out and O’Hora could struggle to be fit next weekend. AOS was really solid today. Well done to him. Deane has these lads motoring and they’ll be hard stopped. Good luck to them.

Overall a disappointing weekend from the Mayo perspective of looking for talent/performances etc, even taking weather into account.

Westport’s county players were no-shows. Eoghan and Brick and no positive influence today. Lee isn’t the player he once was. Oisin McL was easily their most influential player but when he limped off their chances of victory declined. He should be brought into the county set. Without question. He has pace. He can score. Hopefully, his injury isn’t too bad.

Aidan , Draws at 6.30 this evening

Breaffy v Knockmore
Ballina v Ballaghadereen

Crossmolina v Ballinrobe
Moy Davitts v Davitts

Eastern Gaels v Bonniconlan
Kilcommon v Swinsford

All those games from senior to junior really hard to call.

O'Hora definitely won't be playing next week looking at him wobble off. Looked out of it.

The refereeing in the Breaffy Wport game was very poor. It was like he had his own rule book!? The ref in Ballina wasn’t much better either tbh.

@Giz, no…he looked out of it. I’d be shocked and a bit worried tbh if he was deemed ok to play next weekend unless absolutely cleared by Medicals

Mayonaze I have to disagree I thought the ref was good in breaffy.he made a few mistakes but everyone does.i didn’t see the ballina game so can’t comment on that.what I would say is the reffing standard in general in mayo isn’t great apart from 3/4 refs

Don't think we'll see O'HORA next week and Mikey Murray will also be missing if his hamstring is gone as it looked. Evan Regan missing again ans Dylan Thornton too so a lot will depend on Ballina's recovery room going forward. If they can hang in there and get their players back they could win it again but surely they need to drop this turgid style that both them and Castlebar employed today. Tbh all the four teams have equal chances now and personally I'm hoping Breaffy and Aido finally get their hands on it.

According to Niall Heffernan, who spoke to Rob for the pod after the game (this will be in the In Their Own Words pod tomorrow), O'Hora has no chance of being available for next weekend. Mikey Murray's injury is a calf one so he has to be a major doubt as well.

I would love to see breaffy do it.just to see o Shea get his hands on moclair. Both semis should be very tight especially with ballinas injuries.

Are we expecting both semi finals to be in mchale park or perhaps next door

Would imagine be in HQ PaddyJoe

Anyone at the Moy Davitts v Hollymount Carramore game and who played well and especially how did Conor Reid and Stephen Coen do.

I was there, Sticks. Conor Heneghan and Dylan Morris showed well for Holly/Carra in the first half as did Ronan Clarke and Brian Reape for Moy Davitts, though the latter didn't reappear for the second half after he took a heavy knock close to half-time.

Cian McHale came into it in the second half, scoring four points (three frees), as Moy Davitts made the wind count coming down the closing stretch. Anthony Jordan did trojan work for them in midfield, Conor Reid was quieter, he linked the play a bit but didn't really win any primary possession and missed a clear scoring chance at the death. Stephen Coen was good, scored two nice points and was well involved throughout. It was a really good contest despite the awful conditions.

Is the ladies final not in mchale park next weekend though?

Thanks Willie Joe for that. You certainly get around.

The LGFA finals aren't this coming weekend, Pullhard, they're on the weekend after, with the Junior decider at 8pm on Friday 11th, the Intermediate final at 2pm on Saturday 12th and the Senior final at 2pm on Sunday 13th.

- Conditions in Breaffy were always likely to result in a dodgy goal which proved decisive.
- Aido to be fair was excellent whole Oisin and Finbarr stood out for the Covies.
- While Breaffy march on they are very dependent on Aido, I certaintly would not begrudge them a County title at this stage though.
- As for Westport they in my opinion need an outside manager to maximise their potential. I said this last December as well as in August so living in hope !!!.

All teams left now in Senior and intermediate will fancy there chances.
Ballina the last big town team left could struggle with Ballaghdereen as they seemed to have picked up a few injuries.Ballaghdereen to win this .Ballagh very solid defence and Ballina may struggle upfront as they very reliant on Evan Regan who has little football played this year.

Breaffy v Knockmore very close to call, will the O Shea factor drag them to a final.of all the 4 teams left Knockmore probably have the more natural scoring forwards. Calling this a draw.

Moy Davitts v Davitts
On paper it would be Moy Davitts but will go with Davitts on this. Davitts have very good mixture of youth and experience and all the pressure is on Moy Davitts going into this game.
They have failed to get past semi final stage now on few occasions.they will be hoping there forward unit click.need to be tighter in defence though to go through.

Crossmolina v Ballinrobe
Ballinrobe would felt they left the final behind them last year, have they improved though on last years form .Crossmolina have tightened up at the back since conceding 5 goals v Moy Davitts.will go for Crossmolina very strong in midfield and have good forwards.

Junior
Kilcommon v swinford
Going to go with swinford think there on an upward curve overall but again this one go down to the wire.

Eastern Gaels v Bonniconlon
Eastern Gael’s for me.moving in the right direction last few years and will fancy chances of winning junior outright.

@CP…really or are you joking? I haven’t spoken to anyone who thinks the ref was good. Some of the decisions were real head scratchers, for both teams but had Breaffy lost I think there would have been considerable frustration toward the official and justifiably so.

The lads on the podcast pretty much said the same. The last time I saw refereeing decisions like that was in Limerick a decade ago…. (Sorry everyone!!)

I think that’s 3 teams from the same group in semi finals of the junior . A 5 team group with 3 of the best sides in it seems so lopsided of a draw originally.

Serious question- is O’Shea playing better than ever? If so, has Joe Canny had something to do with it?

Why canny , that’s a wild one .

Aido is a smart experienced county footballer , my money on any improvement to his game is down to himself and extra dedication .

Personally I would have liked to see a new voice in the the county set up for 25 ,which doesn’t look like happening now , I just think we need someone to put a bit of fire in the belly of some of the lads that are seasoned and maybe just sat back a bit since 21 disappointment. Sat back maybe a bit strong but lost a bit of fire anyway . In 2025 from a mental aspect , Mayo need to find that hunger , a real desire and belief to win the All Ireland . The Derry game this year was unforgivable, I still can’t fathom our lack of desire to kill in the first 20 mins . You didn’t have to be a sports psychologist to know Derry were mentally fragile and waiting for a team to rip them apart . Surely the tactics should of been “ lads first 20mins of this game , I want ye to go to a place in your heads that every single ball is the final phase of the game and we need a point “

@Catcol, I've never seen him play as well. There seems to be a maturity and discipline to his role in FF / overall role that has brought on his performances. He isn't trying to "do it all, be everywhere" and as a result, his output is much more for the team. I think Carter in midfield and Neary in the HF line have helped massively this year in that sense. Both have really stepped up and are having great years, it has taken a bit of the responsibility of Aidan. With Ruane, Carter, Conor O'Shea, Neary in the middle, he can focus on causing trouble inside. He still wanders out but it's planned / tactical when he does so.

I had forgotten Brickenden was playing yesterday until I seen him mentioned above. Not a ringing endorsement for him that Westport decided Keegan was best placed to handle O'Shea for the entire match. I expected that they might rotate between them to allow Keegan have more of an influence on the game.

Oisin McLaughlin was the standout for Westport, he surely has to be in with a shout for Mayo.

Given that midfield is not a massive strong point, I think Carter should be brought into the county setup. Be no means the finished article but it would be scary to see what a couple of years S&C work with Mayo could do for him.

I think it's time to stop making excuses for Westport. The was mention of a dodgy goal being the difference, it was a scrappy one, but one that Westport failed to deal with. I thought Keegan was all over O'Shea for his goal in the second half, not sure how it was given as a free out. And they failed to deal with a few more balls that landed in front of goal, they were lucky that they didn't concede another one or two was my take away.

Mayonaze definitely if breaffy lost they would be aggrieved at the end but you will see every ref in the country favour the chasing team at the end of games.he was consistent for the most part

Cp, I thought the ref was poor. If he was consistently poor, he was still poor.
There were some very odd decisions, thankfully didn't ruin the game though.

We've another pod up on Patreon, this one's our In Their Own Words show, featuring a load of voices from both winning and losing camps from the weekend. It was a great pod to be involved in, doing some of the post-game interviews, and it's one of our favourite shows to do.