Hollymount-Carramore will be a tough ask for Kiltimagh
Kiltimagh's Aiden Cosgrove and Hollymount-Carramore's Padraig Feerick during the Intermediate semi-final in 2020
A repeat of the 2020 semi-final sees Hollymount-Carramore make the trip east to take on Kiltimagh.
On that day, Kiltimagh proved they still had the fight after two previous final losses as they defeated the South Mayo side before they were beaten by Balla in the final.
They haven’t reached the heights since and, 2023 was a year to forget for Kiltimagh. They won only one game all year but it was the one the mattered more than the rest as they beat Bonniconlon in the relegation final to secure safety.
Things are a bit better this time around, although they won only three of the nine games in Division 2A this year. Being in a group that contains Hollymount-Carramore and Davitts means they are likely in a battle with Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’ to see who avoids the relegation playoffs and they will hope the likes of Tomas Keegan, Brian Gallagher and Conor Mallee can ensure that will be the case.
Hollymount-Carramore, who last won the intermediate title in 2015, have been stuck in the middle tier since their relegation back in 2019. Their run to the semi-final a year later, as well as reaching the last four in 2022, has been as close as they got since and were well beaten by Moy Davitts in the quarter-finals last year.
They certainly don’t lack firepower; former Mayo panelist Darren Coen is among the top forward at this level and is ably assisted by Nathan Moran and Matthew Morris, the latter scoring 1-7 in their promotion playoff against Islandeady two weeks ago to secure them Division 1 football for 2025.
They are defensively sound with Mayo vice-captain Stephen Coen among their ranks as well as Stephen Conroy and Dylan Jennings.
With the all-round strength, anything less than a Holly-Carra win would come as a surprise.
