East v West clash likely to go right to the wire
Aghamore's dual star Liam Lavin is one of several attacking threats that a star-studded Castlebar Mitchels defence will have to deal with.
Entering the final round of group matches, Aghamore weren’t even some people’s fancy to qualify for the quarter-finals, let alone top their group. Their reward of a home quarter-final against a club of Castlebar Mitchels’ tradition makes this game utterly intriguing: one side arriving on the back of a breakthrough campaign that has finally delivered on years of promise, the other carrying the weight of expectation that always follows one of the county’s most decorated clubs.
For Aghamore, this championship has been defined by growth, belief and an increasingly impressive capacity to handle adversity. Paul and John Hickey’s side opened with a commanding 2-20 to 0-17 victory over Mayo Gaels before rescuing a draw against their visitors from Crossmolina, albeit it was Crossmolina who had done most of the chasing throughout the course of the 60 minutes up until the hosts called upon their goalkeeper Adam Byrne to kick a dramatic late equaliser.
Aghamore’s crowning moment came in round three when they ended Ballintubber’s remarkable run of quarter-final appearances with a deserved 2-13 to 1-12 victory.
Their progress to the last eight has been built on qualities that could trouble Mitchels. Aghamore possess a powerful spine through the middle of the field. Seán Óg Tigue dominated the midfield battle against Ballintubber, Conor Hunt continues to excel as the defensive organiser at centre-back, while former All-Star Brendan Harrison’s leadership and versatility have been immense throughout the campaign.
Further forward, Liam Lavin has continued to enhance his reputation as one of top corner-forwards in the club championship. The Mayo hurler has contributed heavily on the scoreboard in every outing and combines well with the industrious Fergal Boland, whose scoring return and work-rate have been central to Aghamore’s progress. Add in the finishing ability of Jack O’Connor, the pace of Cillian Mooney and the threat posed by Tom O’Flaherty and Derry Óg Cox, and Aghamore have options capable of troubling any defence.
Castlebar Mitchels, however, will arrive convinced that Aghamore have yet to face a challenge quite like them.
Kevin Filan’s charges emphatically announced themselves with a dozen points dismantling of Balla before following it up with one of the defining results of the group stages, eliminating three-in-a-row champions Ballina Stephenites with a 1-17 to 1-10 victory. While they lost their final group game to Garrymore, qualification had already been secured and Mitchels might view that performance as an opportunity missed rather than a warning sign.
The county town side have a blend of youth and experience that few clubs can match. The younger generation has flourished, with Cian Walsh, Calum Filan and of course, the influential Bob Tuohy all producing excellent campaigns so far. Around them are proven performers such as Tuohy’s fellow All-Ireland winners Paddy Durcan, Donnacha McHugh, John MacMonagle and Sean Morahan, defensive players whose championship pedigree is beyond question.
Mitchels also possess serious scoring power and even if that wasn’t so evident against Garrymore, they have still accumulated 5-47 across their three group games, with their ability to strike from distance a significant weapon. James Durcan, Bob Tuohy and the evergreen Neil Douglas have all contributed two-pointers, likewise goalkeeper Rory Byrne, meaning Aghamore’s defence will have to remain switched on well beyond the conventional scoring zone.
One fascinating subplot will be the midfield battle. Tigue’s aerial dominance against Ballintubber was decisive, but he now faces the formidable presence of Tuohy, whose influence grew enormously in the win over Ballina. Whichever side gains control around the middle third is likely to dictate the game's tempo.
Home advantage undoubtedly favours Aghamore and the confidence generated by eliminating Ballintubber cannot be overstated. Yet a Mitchels team at full tilt would be a formidable challenge for any of the championship’s seven other remaining contenders. They also carry a level of championship experience that Aghamore are still building.
It promises to be one of the quarter-finals of the weekend: Aghamore’s momentum and hunger against Castlebar Mitchels’ tradition and quality. Aghamore’s Round 2 draw against one of the championship’s live contenders might have come when Crossmolina were minus Kobe McDonald and Jordan Flynn, but Aghamore themselves fielded without their own county man, the recently married Fergal Boland. They are not to be underestimated and if there is to a so-called shock result next weekend, perhaps it could be here.
