Club action has now shifted to provincial championship ties and there are a few significant ones involving clubs from the county on this coming weekend.
Let’s start with the only one that’s a Connacht decider. This is the clash between Westport and Galway’s Kilkerrin-Clonberne in the LGFA Connacht SFC final, which takes place at the Swinford Amenity Park on Sunday. Throw-in for this provincial decider is 1pm.
This is a daunting assignment for Westport – whose manager ‘Pop’ Geraghty and a number of the team featured in our latest Mayo Football Podcast episode (free on all platforms, details here) where we launched the Club Stars awards in association with EirGrid – as they go up against the three-in-a-row All-Ireland champions from Galway.
As you’ll hear on the pod, though, Westport are well up for the challenge, coming into Sunday’s provincial final off the back of a fine win over Sligo’s Eoghan Rua in the semi-final last weekend. Connacht GAA are streaming this match live and the link for it is here.
On Saturday, this time over at McGovern Park, Ruislip, Ballina Stephenites face North London Shamrocks in the Connacht club SFC quarter-final. This tie throws in over in Ruislip at 1.30pm on Saturday and the ticket link for it is here. It’s also being streamed live by Connacht GAA – details here.
As I mentioned the other day, Ballina have launched a fundraising appeal, necessitated by the additional travel and accommodation costs for the London trip, which arose – as Niall Heffernan explained on yesterday’s pod – due to a late change in the throw-in time for the game. The link for that GoFundMe campaign is here.
Congrats, by the way, to Niall, who, as well as guiding the Stephenites’ fortunes, this week became a grandfather for the first time. There’s multitasking for you.
Finally, Tooreen’s hurlers take on St Gabriel’s of London at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, on Sunday. This Connacht IHC semi-final tie throws in at 1pm and it’s also being streamed live by Connacht GAA – details here. If you fancy heading to the game, the ticket link for it is here.
The very best of luck to all three Mayo clubs in Connacht Championship action this weekend.
Martin Walsh says:
November 8, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Ballina's trip to England this weekend should benefit for Mayo vs London in the 2026 Connacht Football Championship on the 2nd resume of the rotation fixture. McGovern Park, Ruislip hosts the match Ballina & North London Shamrocks of course when the same venue hosts the Mayo vs London Connacht football championship fixture in 2026 Knock Airports will have flights to all 4 London Airports.
Clare says:
November 9, 2024 at 2:55 pm
Well done to Ballina padraig O Hora is some player when he's at his best.
Hard luck North London who put up a good fight!
Sean Burke says:
November 10, 2024 at 12:09 pm
CT have ran with a story lately of this 40 acres in bohola been gifted to Mayo GAA for a centre
Of excellence. Is there any truth in this or what’s the sceal ?
Plunkett says:
November 10, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Fair play to pearse’s, they’ll be hard to be beat in connacht. Hopefully stephenites can do it
Clare says:
November 10, 2024 at 3:10 pm
@Plunkett yeah they will be hard to beat for sure faue play to them.
Well done to Tooreen also what a great club they are!
Gizmobobs says:
November 10, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Sean Burke apparently so. A very generous gesture. Whether we have the were withall to gather the funds to build on it is another thing.
It's also very close to Bekan which we could rent as required rather than saddling ourselves with even more debt. So be interesting see what transpires.
Supermac says:
November 10, 2024 at 3:35 pm
That's some win for Pearses.
Tbf there are 3 of 4 outstanding sfc teams in that roscommon championship every year.
The whole competition blown wide open now. Everyone will feel they have a chance.
The bookies had a top 4 of kilmacud, Glen, St brigids, corofin all gone already. The next most likely imo Kilcoo were blessed to get past the cavan champions last night
The whole thing is wide open. Ballina should be aiming high and thinking why not?
Ontheditch says:
November 10, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Pearses a solid outfit for sure. Corofin were there own worst enemies, way too slow in their build up. Gave Pearses time to set out their stall only once in the whole game did they threaten the Pearses goal. Paul Carey scores a goal for Pearses and then had time to get back and defend, with a spectacular clearance of the line, when it looked a certain goal for Corofin. Even in the last quarter, there was no urgency in Corofin's play. To their credit, the crept back into it, but Pearses had run their subs bench by this time.
Ballina will have to bring their A game for sure..... should both reach the final.
Clare says:
November 10, 2024 at 11:01 pm
@OntheDitch totally agree there was some win for Pearses.
Ballina will definetly need to bring their A game if they get to meet them.
Though Bailina are just thinking of Sligo champs for now which will be no walk over.. Also fair play to everyone in Ballina who donated to reach the teams target for their fundraiser to London!
Sean Burke says:
November 11, 2024 at 10:46 am
So what’s the format , where do Ballina play their next one and when ? If they did happen to make a Connacht final to play Pearses, where would that game be held ?
Be fantastic if there was a simple site to use for GAA fixtures with simplistic tabs for each competition. Easy to use format .
Every bloody thing like fixtures, venues to formats is complicated and open to stupid rumours because they can’t nail it down . Is there any organisation like it .
How many times have you heard whispers of venues or how the format works . Excuse my rant , just had to get that off my chest . Maybe even bring out a booklet every January
Ontheditch says:
November 11, 2024 at 2:51 pm
Sat 16th Nov 24
St Michael's(---)v(---)Crossmolina Deel Rovers
Connacht GAA Club Intermediate Football Championship 2024 Semi-Final 1
Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar 1:30 PM
Referee: TBC
Naomh Bearrai(---)v(---)Ballymote Round Towers
Connacht GAA Club Junior Football Championship 2024 Semi-Final 1
Markievicz Park 1:30 PM
Referee: TBC
Elphin(---)v(---)Eastern Harps
Connacht GAA Club Intermediate Football Championship 2024 Semi-Final 2
Dr Hyde Park 1:30 PM
Referee: TBC
Cill Chomáin(---)v(---)An Cheathrú Rua
Connacht GAA Club Junior Football Championship 2024 Semi-Final 2
Tuam Stadium 1:30 PM
Referee: TBC
Ontheditch says:
November 11, 2024 at 3:06 pm
@SeanBurke. I agree. The amateurishness of the GAA comes to the fore when it comes to fixtures. Supporters need to plan ahead and the drip feeding of fixtures is pathetic.
Looks like finals are in neutral venue.
Ontheditch says:
November 11, 2024 at 3:13 pm
Sunday November 17 2024:
Connacht Senior Football Championship semi final:
Ballina Stephenites v Coolera Strandhill, Markievicz Park 1:30pm.
Padraig Pearses v Mohill, Ballinamore 1:30pm.
Sean Burke says:
November 11, 2024 at 4:27 pm
Thanks ontheditch.
What are strandhill like , many county men on the team , who is their manager ?
Ontheditch says:
November 11, 2024 at 5:25 pm
Niall Murphy, Sligo captain, and Keelan Cawley, 2 of the four players on county panel, are key players. Bookies probably have Ballina as favs.
Likely to set up defensively, could be a dour game.
Ballina have two many strings to their bow but Murphy will have to be curbed (Callinan?? or O Hora may be a better choice). Easily beaten by St Brigid's 2023.
Southmayo Exile says:
November 11, 2024 at 6:10 pm
On a separate note I see former Galway great Noel Tierney sadly passed away in the last day or so. A Milltown man he was full back on the great Galway three in a row team of the 60's. Sympathy to his family and all the Galway contributers on the site here. May he rest in peace.
catcol says:
November 11, 2024 at 6:13 pm
Noel Tierney was part of the soundtrack of my youth, when Galway swept all before them from '64 to '66. RIP
Ontheditch says:
November 11, 2024 at 10:29 pm
I remember the great Noel Tierney/ Mick Ruane tussles, especially in McHale Park, both RIP. Noel never failed to deliver on the big day. Admired by Galway and Mayo fans alike. Legend.
MO2023 says:
November 12, 2024 at 4:46 am
If its a Padraig Pearses v Ballina Connacht Final it will be played in Hyde Park as the last Roscommon v Mayo senior club game was played in Ballina which was the Connacht final a few years ago between Knockmore and Padraig Pearses
Ontheditch says:
November 12, 2024 at 11:04 am
How do they decide, home and away, on a rotation basis. In any case Hyde is an excellent venue, no hiding places in the Hyde.
MO2023 says:
November 12, 2024 at 7:51 pm
@ontheditch. It's done on rotation alright.
Ontheditch says:
November 14, 2024 at 11:17 pm
Good to know, thanks MO2023.