Strong start could help carry Garry' through to knockouts
Enda Hession will be among the key men for Garrymore in the Mayo Senior Football Championship
Ballyhaunis beat the drop with victory over The Neale during their first year back in the big time but very easily could have avoided the dogfight if they could have turned a draw with neighbours Aghamore into a win in their opening game. They gave Castlebar Mitchels a good game but ultimately fell short and were totally second best to Knockmore who gave them the best reminder of how tough Senior can be.
They may not have similar such opportunities this year as they did against Aghamore and are the most likely of the teams in this group to end up in the relegation playoffs. However, they should have enough about themselves to stay afloat at senior this year should they stare down the barrel of relegation.
Jason and Jack Coyne will be key for the east Mayo side again this year in the forwards and backs respectively. So too will Cormac and Eamonn Phillips and then with players like Morgan Lyons and Joe Sutton, Ballyhaunis may have what it takes to challenge in this group.
Garrymore reached a semi-final in 2021 but have fallen a step behind in the following seasons; a quarter-final defeat to Westport in 2022 was followed by group stage elimination in 2023.
Darren Quinn was their top scorer last year with 1-7 and they will be hoping for more from the rest of their forwards this year. County star Enda Hession has taken massive strides as a footballer in recent years and will no doubt be a standout player for Garrymore again. The likes of Garry Golden and Trevor Nally are ever-reliables.
The south Mayo side will fancy their chances of getting through this group, perhaps second to Castlebar Mitchels and a strong opening will help their chances massively. A first Moclair Cup since 1982 is a ways off yet for Garrymore.
Verdict: Garrymore
