It’s been a helter-skelter weekend of club championship action within the county, with the final round of group games having taken place. With all these matches concluded, we now know who is headed for the knockout stages, who’s been eliminated and who are facing into the battle to avoid relegation.
A question uppermost in the minds of many right now is this one: when are the draws for the quarter-finals taking place? The answer to that one is 8pm tomorrow so keep an eye on Mayo GAA’s social media accounts for more details on that.
I was in the west myself this weekend and I took in three matches while I was there. The first of these was the meeting of Breaffy and my home club Aghamore in wet and windy Claremorris yesterday where I witnessed yet another Aidan O’Shea masterclass and also got to see at first hand how qualification for the quarters slipped agonisingly from Aghamore’s grasp in the dying seconds.
After that one I headed to Hollymount to catch what proved to be a lively contest between Castlebar Mitchels and Ballyhaunis. Two Paddy Heneghan goals enabled Mitchels to escape from the Saucer with the spoils but only after having their mettle well tested by a battling Ballyhaunis team.
Early this afternoon I was in Breaffy, where the warm, sunny conditions were in marked contrast to yesterday’s close encounter with November weather. Balla were far too hot for Mayo Gaels to handle in this one and had ten points to spare on their neighbours at the finish.
Here’s a quick round-up of all the weekend’s results and what they mean for the teams involved.
SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Group 1
- Breaffy 0-14 Aghamore 0-7
- Ballintubber 0-14 Kilmeena 1-9
- GROUP WINNERS: Breaffy
- RUNNERS-UP: Ballintubber
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Kilmeena
Group 2
- Ballina Stephenites 2-10 Westport 0-14
- Balla 3-12 Mayo Gaels 0-11
- GROUP WINNERS: Ballina Stephenites
- RUNNERS-UP: Westport
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Mayo Gaels
Group 3
- Knockmore 1-14 Béal an Mhuirthead 1-11
- Ballaghaderreen 4-8 Claremorris 2-14
- GROUP WINNERS: Ballaghaderreen
- RUNNERS-UP: Knockmore
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Béal an Mhuirthead
Group 4
- Castlebar Mitchels 2-9 Ballyhaunis 1-8
- Garrymore 2-8 Charlestown Sarsfields 0-11
- GROUP WINNERS: Garrymore
- RUNNERS-UP: Castlebar Mitchels
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Charlestown Sarsfields
INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Group 1
- Crossmolina Deel Rovers 2-10 Louisburgh 0-10
- Moy Davitts 1-14 Lahardane MacHales 2-11
- GROUP WINNERS: Moy Davitts
- RUNNERS-UP: Crossmolina Deel Rovers
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Lahardane MacHales
Group 2
- Davitts 1-8 Hollymount/Carramore 1-7
- Castlebar Mitchels B 3-9 Kiltimagh 1-11
- GROUP WINNERS: Davitts
- RUNNERS-UP: Hollymount/Carramore
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Kiltimagh
Group 3
- Kiltane 1-7 Ballinrobe 0-10
- Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin 1-9 Kilmaine 0-8
- GROUP WINNERS: Ballinrobe
- RUNNERS-UP: Kiltane
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Kilmaine
Group 4
- The Neale 1-15 Islandeady 0-7
- Burrishoole 1-14 Ardnaree Sarsfields 1-14
- GROUP WINNERS: The Neale
- RUNNERS-UP: Ardnaree Sarsfields
- RELEGATION PLAY-OFF: Islandeady
JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Group 1
- Swinford 1-17 Moygownagh 0-4
- Cill Chomáin 1-12 Bonniconlon 0-9
- GROUP WINNERS: Cill Chomáin
- QUALIFIED FOR QUARTER-FINALS: Swinford, Bonniconlon
Group 2
- Ballycroy 2-12 Shrule/Glencorrib 0-4
- Ardagh 3-8 Northern Gaels 1-7
- GROUP WINNERS: Ardagh
- QUALIFIED FOR QUARTER-FINALS: Northern Gaels, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
Group 3
- Killala 1-15 Ballycastle 0-6
- Eastern Gaels 1-13 Achill 1-6
- GROUP WINNERS: Eastern Gaels
- QUALIFIED FOR QUARTER-FINALS: Killala
It was a busy weekend for us on the Mayo Football Podcast, as we spread ourselves across several of the matches that were on. Our Saturday matches review show went up on Patreon last night and we recorded our Sunday one a short while ago. This one is a free show and will be up on all platforms a bit later on tonight.
We’ll have two more Mayo Football Podcast Team of the Week selections at Senior and Intermediate levels tomorrow and we’ll also have another show out on Patreon then, featuring the voices of players and managers from some of the matches we got to over the weekend. We’ll then have a full review show later on in the week. If you fancy joining our ever-expanding Patreon podcast club the details on doing so are here.
Cp says:
September 15, 2024 at 10:07 pm
I was in crossmolina today.first of all what a brilliant crowd that was there.great to see the 2 teams so well supported.belmullet we’re controlling the game until nallen made the mistake with the short kickout and knockmore do what they always do and find a way.excellent second half by them and none of the first seeds will want to see them coming even with all the injuries.standout player today I thought was young James lavelle for belmullet.first year at senior and he looked like a man that’s been playing senior last 10years
Willie Joe says:
September 15, 2024 at 11:57 pm
Sunday review pod up now. This is a free pod, available on all platforms.
Way Out West. says:
September 16, 2024 at 8:44 am
Overall, there seems to be a good standard of club football at all three grades in the county this year, which is a good thing to say given the rubbish that was served up last year. Hopefully the knock out stages give us more entertainment and games where teams go for it. Ballina and Westport look to be the strongest at Senior, Westport will be sickened to lose that game, still nothing won yet though. Don't rule out Castlebar yet either, they will be dangerous in the QFs.
Hopefully the Mayo management and selectors are casting their net far and wide across the county to search for new talent. As can be seen from some of the results, there are plenty of players well able to score across the lower grades. The Conways from Ballycroy are two players that should be looked at, well able to play football and score. Rory will be U20 next year and should be getting looked at for that squad. Overall, an enjoyable weekend of football.
My Ball says:
September 16, 2024 at 9:49 am
@wayoutwesr. Agree totally. A good standard of club games is massive for the county set up .
Last years club championship was very very poor and on the back of that very few if any fringe players put their hands up for selection and that had a ripple effect on our county panel.
Tommy132 says:
September 16, 2024 at 12:06 pm
Senior - I can only see the winner from Ballina, Westport or Breaffy. I think Ballina will win out again, Breaffy with O Shea playing well are always dangerous and Westport have so much talent but I dont want to say they are soft but they are missing that edge or something and I think in a knockout game Braffy and Ballina would be too powerful for them.
Intermediate - What a competition it is, anyone still fancies there chances, so hard to call it. Ill go with Ballinrobe as they have a good squad and went close last year and seem to have kept the momentum going from last year.
Junior - Cill Chomain should finally win it, but they are there own worst enemy,
Junior B - Looks to be between Achill and Ballycroy. Shrule/Glen are in it as well hate to see a club capitulate as much as they have this year, rumours of the management going before the B starts, and with there last win coming back in May maybe they should have gone sooner than this.