Tough-to-call Championship will enthrall the county

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The 2024 Mayo Club Championship had its first throw-in over the weekend when Tourmakeady played Ardagh in the Junior Championship curtain raiser.

There were three more games played in the Junior Championship over the weekend to whet the appetite and with Senior and Intermediate beginning this weekend, as well as another round of Junior taking place, things are really kicking into gear.

Between coverage in the local papers and on the radio, the growth of Mayo GAA TV, podcasts and social media, there have never been more eyes and ears on our Club Championships. It comes and goes in a flash every year but is a perennial conversation topic year-round.

First, let us cast an eye over this year’s Senior and Intermediate Championship to take an overall look at the favourites, those mired in the middle of things and those likely to struggle.

SENIOR

Ballina Stephenites laid claim to the Senior title last year; the Moclair Cup had its first stay at James Stephens’ Park since 2007 following a poor final contested with Breaffy. The game, which ended 0-6 to 0-4, was a poor advertisement for football within the county but that mattered very little to Ballina, who remain the county’s most crowned senior club with 37 senior county titles under their belt. They are among the favourites and a successful defence of the Moclair Cup is a strong possibility.

Westport, champions in 2022, fell at the quarter-final hurdle to Breaffy last year after a roaring start in the group stage. It was thought that once they won their first senior title two years ago, a second would not be long coming. They are the favourites of many coming into this year’s Championship.

Castlebar Mitchels have been so close, yet so far in the last few years. A fine crop of young players, foremost of whom is Mayo inter-county panelist Bob Tuohy, have been slowly but surely coming of age and this could be the year they drive on and win a first senior title since 2017.

Knockmore won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021 and they haven’t gone away. They fell narrowly short in the semi-final last year and are well fancied as contenders this year.

It was a case of ‘always the bridesmaid – never the bride’ for Breaffy once again, who still await their first Moclair Cup after that defeat to Ballina last year. They are often overlooked as contenders, perhaps that record of 5 defeats in 10 finals speaks to that, but the sheer amount of big games they grind out and win ensures they are still worth keeping an eye on.

Ballintubber are in the mix as well but have probably fallen slightly behind the likes of Ballina and Westport in the last year or two. They should get out of their group and from there, who knows where they could end up. Garrymore are in a similar sort of situation but are very much rank outsiders.

There is a sort of mid-table at Senior consisting of the likes of Belmullet, Claremorris, Aghamore, Ballaghaderreen and Charlestown who are unlikely to drop to Intermediate but are equally as unlikely to challenge at the business end of the Championship.

It will be hard to judge new boys Kilmeena until a ball is kicked in this competition but if it goes awry, they may end up in a scrap for relegation with Ballyhaunis and Mayo Gaels or Balla. Gaels and Balla are in the same Group and their game in round 3 is one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures in this stage of the competition with the Paradise of survival the likely outcome for the winner and the Purgatory of a relegation scrap the likely outcome for the loser.

INTERMEDIATE

To call it what it truly is, Intermediate football in Mayo is a total crapshoot. It is possible to sit around and name favourites all day but the exact opposite situation could play out year on year. This pundit has managed to narrow it down to seven main contenders.

Foremost is the hotshots who got shot down by eventual winners Kilmeena in the semis last year, Moy Davitts. They were on fire, scoring goals for fun and not so much knocking on the door but threatening to break it down with a firm kick. Then they got taken down in an epic game that went to extra-time. If they can refocus this year and banish the ghosts of 2023, Moy Davitts could be heading back to senior.

If it is to be their year, then this has been a long time coming for Ballinrobe; they were cruelly defeated by a last minute goal by 2020 winners Balla in the semi-finals that year, avoided a relegation scare in 2021, lost the quarter final in 2022 to Kilmeena and were beaten in the final last year by the same team.

It was a big shock that Crossmolina Deel Rovers went out in the groups last year but they are stacked with talent. Expect them to go far this year.

Parke KC are also loaded with some excellent players, particularly in the forward lines where younger players have been leading the way. The same could be said of Davitts who could challenge if they can make it through their group; their first game is against Mitchels B and though the Castlebar side surprised everyone with a run to the semis last year, it is hard to know what shape they are in before a ball is kicked in Championship.

The Neale and Hollymount-Carramore would also not be too far off challenging and if either one of these south Mayo sides went on a deep run into the competition, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.

One would suspect that Kilmaine, Kiltane, Burrishoole, Louisburgh, Ardnaree or Islandeady should not be in trouble of dropping to Junior. If last year’s form follows them into 2024, Kiltimagh could be in bother and so too could Lahardane, who have been drawn into an extremely challenging group with Crossmolina, Moy Davitts and Louisburgh. The question marks also hang over Mitchels B, as mentioned.

It will make for an entertaining few weeks, of that there is no doubt.

Be sure to pick up next week’s Western People for full coverage of all Senior, Intermediate and Junior Club Championship games taking place across the county.