High stakes in race for the Moclair
Stephen O’Malley (centre) fires the ball to the net to help give Ballintubber the edge over Mayo Gaels during their Mayo SFC Group 3 encounter in Round 2. Picture: Tom Quinn
Saturday, September 5
Charlestown Sarsfields v Claremorris
4pm in Aghamore
REF: Vincent Neary
What you would give for the thoughts of Charlestown Sarsfields after the surprise win for Claremorris over Westport in the last round.
The East Mayo men were on cloud nine after their late win over Kilmeena and were expecting a winner-takes-all contest with the South Mayo outfit. But the Claremorris win means that Charlestown, in tandem with Westport beating Kilmeena, could defeat Claremorris and still miss out on the quarter-finals due to scoring difference as a result of their heavy defeat to the Coveys on the opening day.
Paul Towey kicked 1-5 against Kilmeena but one feels he will need much support from his teammates against a side who have racked up 4-39 in their opening two matches.
The win for Claremorris away to Kilmeena was impressive enough, but the victory over Westport suggests that Claremorris are finally ready for the next step.
That they have achieved those two victories without Rio Mortimer, Darragh Joyce and Mayo’s teenage senior star Darragh Beirne makes it all the more eye-catching.
As much damage as Towey could cause, the likes of Niall Hurley, Cathal Joyce and Mark Maloney will be too much for Charlestown to handle you’d think, and that Claremorris will secure a home quarter-final as a result of a win that would guarantee them top spot in Group 1.
Saturday, September 5
Kilmeena v Westport
4pm in Páirc Josie Munnelly, Castlebar
REF: Jerome Henry
Not many club teams, if any, can claim to have scored six goals in a championship game and still ended up losing the game. Westport have that unfortunate tag, however.
If the manner of their victory over Charlestown Sarsfields was one of the big talking points of Round 1, then it was for very different reasons that people were talking when the Coveys were on the receiving end of a big shock at the hands of Claremorris next time out.
A reaction is likely and in Ben and Joey Holmes, Finbar McLaughlin and Killian Kilkelly, one would fear for a leaky Kilmeena backline.
But it is at the other end where the real issues lie for Kilmeena, who need a minor miracle if they are to avoid another relegation playoff. They have yet to win a game in either of their two seasons spent in the senior championship, and when you consider that their shooting efficiency was only at 40 per cent in their defeat to Charlestown Sarsfields in Round 2, it would be a major shock if Kilmeena defied the odds and beat Westport.
Just over four miles separate the two clubs, but the result will likely demonstrate a bigger gulf between the two.
Friday, September 4
Castlebar Mitchels v Garrymore
8pm in Hollymount
REF: Liam Devenney
A home quarter-final is up for grabs in the sole Friday night game as Castlebar Mitchels and Garrymore prepare for an intriguing contest.
Mitchels, who failed to get out of the group stage last year, have made no mistake on this occasion with impressive wins over Balla and Ballina Stephenites. With a mix of veterans like Neil Douglas, rising stars Shane Cunningham and Cian Walsh, and All-Ireland winners Paddy Durcan, John MacMonagle, Bob Tuohy, Sean Morahan and Donnacha McHugh, belief will be high that Castlebar Mitchels can add a 32nd Mayo SFC title to the collection.
Garrymore were the story of Round 1 following a shock win away at Ballina Stephenites and they did enough to see off Balla two weeks later to confirm their quarter-final place with a round to spare. County defenders Eoin McGreal and Enda Hession are getting the headlines for their displays – and rightly so – but Gary Golden, Liam Óg Horkan and Darren Quinn have been in incredible form for the South Mayo side also.
It may be a closer game than many expect, but the firepower of Mitchels may be too much for Garry’ on this occasion.
Saturday, September 5
Ballina Stephenites v Balla
4.30pm in Foxford
REF: Frank Flynn
Not many would have predicted this game would be to decide who maintains their senior status, but this has not been a normal championship to date so far.
Expectations that Balla were going to kick on have not materialised and are nervously looking over their shoulder. They were well beaten by Castlebar Mitchels and despite a much-improved display against Garrymore, their defeat there only adds to the expectation that they will be very big underdogs against Ballina Stephenites.
Following defeats to Garrymore and Mitchels, Ballina have not only seen their hopes of a fourth consecutive Moclair Cup end but they will also not make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2018.
An injury to veteran forward Evan Regan has not helped their cause while the likes of Luke Doherty and Jack Irwin from last year’s sides are in Australia and it’s likely Ballina just want to see their championship end this weekend.
A win or draw will do for Ballina, while Balla need a win to secure safety at Ballina’s expense. The latter seems unlikely.
Sunday, September 6
Aghamore v Ballintubber
1pm in Canon Gibbons Park, Claremorris
REF: Kevin Connelly
Both Aghamore and Ballintubber are in contention for a place in the quarter-finals and this could be the game of the weekend.
Aghamore were very impressive in their win over Mayo Gaels and while they will feel they let Crossmolina off the hook a fortnight later, despite they being the team to kick a late equaliser, that draw may prove to be a big result.
They did not have Fergal Boland available due to the All-Ireland winner getting married, and it is unknown if he will be back for this one. But in Liam Lavin, Derry Óg Cox and former All-Star Brendan Harrison, who was deployed more as a forward against Cross’, Aghamore know they have the firepower to trouble the best even without their talisman.
But Ballintubber have not gone away. Even in defeat against Crossmolina in the opening round, they were excellent for long periods while the threat of Stephen O’Malley and Cillian O’Connor and the return of Jason Gibbons from injury was instrumental in their win over Mayo Gaels.
Ballintubber know that a win will send them into the last eight (likely at Aghamore’s expense), while Aghamore simply have to avoid defeat to progress – and could even top the group if they better Crossmolina’s result against Mayo Gaels.
Indeed, Aghamore won’t need reminding that they exited the group stage two years ago after a late concession of points against Breaffy, which saw Ballintubber go through on points difference.
Who’s to say there won’t be more late drama again?
Sunday, September 6
Crossmolina Deel Rovers v Mayo Gaels
1pm in Charlestown
REF: Paul Lydon
Hard to see anything other than a Crossmolina win here.
The only team in Group 3 who knows their path after this game is Mayo Gaels, who are destined for the relegation playoff regardless of the result here.
Despite scoring more two-pointers than Aghamore in their opening game, the Gaels never looked like winning and while there was a much-improved display against Ballintubber, the latter’s experience at this level was too much.
Many are tipping Crossmolina to go far again this year, an opinion concreted by the news that Kobe McDonald is available for the remainder of the club’s county championship campaign.
Couple his ability with that of Jordan and Dylan Flynn, Oisin Deane and James Maheady to name only a few, means that combined it is almost certain to prove too much for Gaels, with Crossmolina odds on to book their place in the quarter-finals and perhaps even top the group.
Sunday, September 6
Belmullet v Ballaghaderreen
3.30pm in James Stephens Park, Ballina
REF: Shane Corcoran
Ballaghaderreen’s championship so far has been a nightmare. Well beaten by Breaffy and Knockmore, they also will not have the services of Kuba Callaghan this weekend following his red card against Knockmore last time out.
Given that he has scored eight of their 24 points in their two games so far, his teammates will certainly need to step up their own tallies if they are to pull off a result here, and even that is highly unlikely to be enough to prevent them falling into a relegation playoff.
Led by the inspirational Ryan O’Donoghue, Belmullet pulled off a brilliant win away to Knockmore but he was well shackled by Breaffy’s Conor Beirne as they fell to a home defeat to Breaffy in Round 2.
With Belmullet on two points alongside Knockmore, albeit with an inferior score difference (minus one to Knockmore’s plus 12), the Erris men know they need to win and maybe by a big margin should Knockmore defeat Breaffy.
If O’Donoghue has a game like he did in Knockmore, they just might reach the last eight.
Sunday, September 6
Breaffy v Knockmore
3.30pm in Gilmartin Park, Kiltimagh
REF: James Regan
Breaffy and Knockmore have been more used to meeting each other in semi-finals and finals over the past six years, but one of these sides possibly won’t make it out of the group this year.
Breaffy were beaten by Knockmore in the 2020 final and 2024 semi-final after extra-time and would only love to send the Saffron and Blue packing out of the championship. Sean Deane’s men have all the physical tools and the scoring power to boot, going two-point crazy in their win over Ballaghaderreen before having a strong second-half to see off Belmullet.
Knockmore looked in trouble after losing at home to Belmullet, but Ray Dempsey’s men have experienced group stage challenges before. They responded well with a big win over Ballagh’ and a victory here – unless Belmullet’s winning margin is over 14 points more than Knockmore’s – should be enough to progress.
Breaffy’s path to the quarter-final is much more simple: avoid defeat, with a draw enough to top the group. While Breaffy have shown a propensity for the sublime (beating reigning champions Westport in 2023) and the ridiculous (losing to the same opponent last year after being nine points up with 20 minutes to go), Breaffy should do enough to progress.
But don’t rule out the drama either.
