Intermediate race set to be another close call
Action between Ardnaree Sarsfields and Ballinrobe during last year's Mayo IFC. Both club will have ambitions of winning the Sweeney Cup this year. Picture: David Farrell Photography
The intermediate championship will throw-in on Saturday afternoon with a trilogy meeting in the group stages of Parke Keelogues Crimlin and Kiltane.
The last two meetings have seen Kiltane win both home and away and Parke will hope third time is the charm. Colm Lynch and Darragh Reilly will be key for the west Mayo men as they look to progress out of the groups and beyond a quarter-final this year.
Kiltane lit up the championship last year with some wonderful attacking football, and it took eventual winners Kilmeena to stop their charge in the semi-final. Tommy ‘Goals’ Conroy, Mikie Sweeney, goalkeeper Darragh Carey and Owen Doherty all carry two-point and goal threats and if Parke do not get a grip on them, it could be another painful afternoon for the black and amber.
The other Group 1 meeting is a battle of north and south on Sunday as Cill Chomáin make the trip to take on Hollymount-Carramore.
Cill Chomáin reached the quarter-finals last year but are in a tough group this year. However, with Justin Healy and former Mayo U20 man Liam Maloney, the boys from Glenamoy could cause a stir in ‘The Saucer’.
Hollymount-Carramore went out of the championship last year in controversial circumstances after a single inside the arc was awarded as a two-pointer in their draw against Kilmaine, where a win would have seen them through at Kilmaine’s expense.
The south Mayo side had a rotten league campaign, being relegated to Division 3, but will not be short of motivation for championship. Stephen Coen missed Mayo’s All-Ireland final win with a knee injury and his availability is unknown, but in Darren Coen, Jack Keane, Tiernan Egan and Nathan Moran, they can be a big threat on their day.
Sunday lunchtime since all four teams in Group 2 in action at the same time.
Trying to predict who the Castlebar Mitchels intermediate team have in their opening game each year can prove a difficult task and may depend a lot on how the seniors get on against Balla. Expect a mix of up-and-coming talent and experienced guys, with the likes of Mark Cunningham, Peter Basquille and Steve Keane possible starters.
It has been a struggle for The Neale in intermediate since their relegation two years ago. However, the return to form of All-Ireland hero Tommy Conroy will be a massive boost to the side, along with the continuous rise of club and county teammate Tom Lydon. If they both fire, Mitchels will have trouble containing the two.
The other game is a very tight call as Ballinrobe welcome Ballyhaunis to Flanagan Park. The Robesiders were injury-hit last year but in Diarmuid, Ewan and Sequoyah Duffy and former Mayo panelist Kevin Quinn, they have a strong spine and will trouble the east Mayo men.
All-Ireland winning captain Jack Coyne has had a week to remember and Ballyhaunis will hope he is fresh and ready to go. Former Mayo goalkeeper Adrian Phillips is a key player at both ends of the field with his free-taking abilities while fellow dual stars and brothers Diarmuid and Cormac Phillips will hope to fire Ballyhaunis to victory.
The first of the Group 3 games on Saturday afternoon sees last year’s intermediate runners-up Moy Davitts against the winners of the relegation final Louisburgh.
It is the second year in a row these two meet in the group stage. While both sides knew their fate when they met in the final group game last year, a lot more is at stake in this opener.
Moy Davitts have lost back-to-back intermediate finals and will know the window of opportunity to go back to senior is tightening. Cian McHale has shown ability to handle high pressure situations for club and county and the Moysiders have a forward line likes few others in this grade with former Mayo panelist Brian Reape and Brian Heneghan.
Dylan Prendergast’s nerveless two-point free with the last kick ensured Louisburgh defeated Burrishoole in the relegation final. Home form in ‘God’s Pocket’ and the west Mayo men will need Basil McLeod, Mark and Kevin Gibbons and Prendergast in top form.
The Saturday evening game pits Division 4 League winners Lahardane MacHales against a Davitts side, semi-finalists in 2024, look to bounce back from a disappointing group stage exit.
Davitts lost their home game last year against a red-hot Parke Keelogues Crimlin and Mayo All-Ireland winner Fenton Kelly will hope to play a key part in ensuring they do not fall to another damaging defeat in Ballindine.
Lahardane will be the underdogs in this one but are coming in off the back of an excellent league final win over Westport’s junior side a fortnight ago. Shane Finnerty hit 1-11 in the final and alongside young guns Matthew Reilly, Eoghan McManamon and Mickey Murphy, Cormac Reape’s men will be confident they can pull off a big win on the road.
Two recent Mayo junior ‘A’ champions Kiltimagh and Islandeady will begin the action in Group 4 on Saturday afternoon.
Last year’s champions Kiltimagh were outstanding in their final win over Eastern Gaels and they followed it up with a Connacht club title and two of those heroes Eoghan Lavin and Oisin Mulderrig will hope to ensure their return to intermediate is not a brief one.
Islandeady will hope to avoid another relegation playoff this year and will be confident of a big result on the road. Peter Gordon, Darragh Joyce, Levi Barrett and Seamie Lally will be key men.
Ardnaree Sarsfields will be dark horses among many pundits to go all the way in this year’s championship.
Surprise semi-finalists last year, Liam McHale and Cathal Judge’s side have continued to grow with a Division 3 league final win over Kilmeena.
Nathan Roddy, Ethan Convey and John Timlin can trouble the best and at home they are a considerable threat, especially with two-pointers.
Their opponents on Sunday afternoon, Kilmaine, will provide a stern test of their credentials. Hugh O’Loughlin has made a breakthrough with the Mayo senior team and Adam Barrett is as good a forward as any in intermediate.
Oisin Mullin also set tongues wagging after revealing an approach by Mayo ahead of the All-Ireland final and while it did not materialise, a return in the green and red of Kilmaine cannot be ruled out if Kilmaine go deep in the championship.
Parke-KC v Kiltane, ref. John Brennan.
Louisburgh v Moy Davitts, ref. Mark Tuffy, Davitts v Lahardane, ref. Paul Lydon (6.45pm).
Kiltimagh v Islandeady, ref. John Walker.
Hollymount-Carramore v Cill Chomáin, ref. Jon Finn.
Castlebar Mitchels ‘B’ v The Neale, ref. Garryowen McMahon, Ballinrobe v Ballyhaunis, ref. Kieran Barnicle.
Ardnaree v Kilmaine, ref. Barry McDonnell.
