It’s a big weekend on the club front, with the semi-finals set to be decided in both the Senior and Intermediate Championships, while the relegation deciders at both levels will also be contested.
MacHale Park is where the action is concentrated, with double-header ties on tomorrow and again on Sunday. On both days, the IFC game is the curtain-raiser followed by the Senior semi-final.
Tomorrow evening the action gets going in Castlebar at 6pm, with Louisburgh taking on The Neale in the IFC semi-final. That’s followed at 7.30pm by the intriguing meeting of champions Ballintubber and fast-improving challengers Ballina Stephenites in the first of the weekend’s SFC semi-finals.
On Sunday, hostilities get going soon after last Mass as Ballyhaunis break bread with Burrishoole in the IFC semi-final at 1.30pm. The main event that day is the 3pm SFC semi-final meeting of Ballaghaderreen and Castlebar Mitchels.
While all eight clubs that are in action at MacHale Park this weekend will all be eyeing silverware, four others taking the field on Sunday have more elemental concerns to contend with. That’s because it’s relegation play-off final time at both Senior and Intermediate levels.
Both of these nervy last-chance-saloon clashes throw in at midday on Sunday. Claremorris is the venue for the SFC relegation avoider in which Hollymount/Carramore face Bohola Moy Davitts while The Neale is where a grim South Mayo struggle to avoid the drop from Intermediate to Junior will be contested by Ballinrobe and Shrule/Glencorrib.
Mayo GAA TV will be streaming both double-headers from MacHale Park and, as usual, you can buy daily €5 passes to watch the action. The link for the Saturday double-header is here and the one for Sunday is here.
Finally, the ladies club Championship final also takes place this weekend. Perennial top-dogs Carnacon face Moy Davitts in the LGFA decider at Swinford’s Amenity Park tomorrow, where throw-in is 4.30pm.
Best of luck to all the club teams in action over the weekend.
Dont forget Willie Joe also that Moy Davitts are taking on Carnacon in the ladies senior county final tomorrow evening in Swinford ?
Thanks, Pullhard – I hadn’t realised that. I’ve now added in a mention to that decider in the post.
Two intruiging senior club semis: Feel that Ballina will really put it up to Ballintubber tomorrow evening. Anything less than an all-out blitzkrieg for the full 60+ mins will see Tubber pipped by this young plucky Ballina team. Expect Ballagh to cause a shock and overturn Mitchels on Sunday. Going for a Tubber V Ballagh final.
no be ballina v tuber final
Ballina v Ballaghadereen in the Cointy Final
Best of luck to all the players over the weekend (hopefully no injuries). For anyone that hasn’t seen the ’email’ o the clubs – its on the MayoGAA International Foundation facebook page. The county now awaits for County Board’s response.
Anyone want to listen to myself and Ah Refs ramblings on this weekends games. Link below
https://soundcloud.com/bcrfm/ah-ref-enda-mac-oct-5
Congrats to CL MacHale Rovers on their hardfought win in Connacht Club Junior SF in Ballinamore this afternoon,
2 = 13 to 2 = 9 if my memory is correct. Their opponents were a hardy experienced bunch from Aghawillan, more used to Senior fare than Junior and winners of this year’s Leitrim Intermediate championship.
Congrats to Cora on another County Championship win, what a player . Time to heal rifts now for good of County team.
Ballintubber 0-05 0-02 Ballina. A really really lacking in quality. The only bright spark is cillians shooting. Padraic O’Hora having a decent game for Ballina. Hopefully the second half improves.
That’s very low scoring from Ballina would have expected a bit better with county men Regan and Treacy in their ranks but things might improve In the
Second half
Regan didn’t start, neither did Alan Dillon. 1-10 to 0-6 points. Low on quality and lower on entertainment. Ballintubber won’t care but they play an awful brand of football. Playing keep ball the whole of the second half. Hard to watch.
Tubber back in County final
C Galvan the stand out player
As far as I know teams cAn play any way they want..whatever about the ….standard….of the game,the standard of umpiring and refereeing was absolutely deplorable.would love to know how a player can punch an opponent and only receive a yellow card..??
Brian Walsh and Ciaran Gavin and cillian excellent for Ballintubber
Struggled to watch through that game. Tubber could have won by lot more. Although Ballina missed few early goal chances. Disappointing fair. Well done to the Neale as well some good young players who did stand up when needed.
Well done today also to Castlebar and Knockmore reaching minor A final.
Castlebar beating Westport AET 1.13 to 1.12
And Knockmore beating Bellmullet 4.11 to 1.8
Amazing by Cora Staunton playing in a county final 5 months after a double leg break.
She is some lady
Both games low on quality last night although the excitement did gather in the intermediate game. Both teams were very wasteful but the Neale deserved it and must be favorites now.
The senior game was a boring game. As mentioned Cillians shooting aside. A good few neutrals left a half time.
Ciaran Treacy is a fabulous footballer. While he didn’t score from play last night – he kept Ballina in the game with some serious long range frees all from out of the hand. Mikey Murray worked his socks off last night in the engine room. Ciaran Gavin is a good prospect – only turned 19 but looks an established player already for Tubber. Really starting to lose respect for Cillian O’Connor – constantly niggling with opponents off the ball and has adopted an ‘Elbows Macauley’ style of trying to strike his markers when in posession. Would be better off focusing on being the fine footballer thst he is. Good crowd at last nights game.
Ah ref is entitled to ramble online just as much as any of the rest of us. Its refreshing to see his passion for the mayo club scene and in my opinion he is doing it great service.
To go in a different direction I am wondering if williejoe has any interest in an article on our current financial predicament?
I know you dont like to engage in rumour on this blog but it is a hot topic with potential to inflict serious damage on our prospects
I was disappointed with Treacys contribution from play. Got in a lot of ball but never threatened to do anything with it. Played the safe handpass all the time. With his pace I would like to have seen him run at the Tubber defence and create chances/overlaps etc
James Horan was interviewed on Mayo Gaa tv before the Senior Semi Final.He said there will be a number of challenge games taking place in the next few weeks, and that there was a few names added to the panel, he named Gary Boylan, Paul Towey, Ryan O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy and a few others might be involved.He also said David Drake had retired along with Andy Moran and Ger Cafferkey and that Caolan Crowe was no longer involved with the panel.
He said 2020 is a new year and there will be a number of changes in all the top teams ,and that in Dublin there might be a few retirements and kind of hinted that they could be got at.
Caolan Crowe must be disappointed he didn’t really get much of a chance had one fine game against Donegal and disappeared after that. We’re seriously low on full back cover but I’m sure Horan will be having a look at that over the next few months. [Deleted]. On another note I hope Jason Doherty’s rehab is going well he’s one of the most underrated of Mayo players hopefully we’ll see him back in the Green and Red next year
Gary Boylan, Ryan O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy and Paul Towey are all elite quick.
Agree on Crowe, think he should have got more of a chance. I know always get lads that hear deserve shout and a lot I wouldn’t agree with. But he was one I felt was worth more of a try given deficiency in that general area
Definitely Ciaran Gavin continues to improve. Glad to see him taking on the shot when best positioned, despite missing a couple. Excellent side step and has the makings of a very good centre half forward in the future. ‘Swannie’ was the Ballinea player who impressed me most. Never gave up, great engine, and was always willing to me more inventive than the lateral pass.
Exciting matches, disappointing aspect for me was that players were willing to move the ball on than take on the shot when it opened up for them.
First time using Mayo GAA TV. Brilliant service
Well done Ballyhaunis team on beating A gallant Burrishoole team in the Intermediate semi final today
As predicted – a Tubber v Ballagh final. Really looking forward to it.
That was some result from ballagh. Will be interested to hear the reports.
Should have won by 20-25 points. Super Ballagh performance. Hanley excellent. Mitchells woeful except for man of the match Rory Byrne.
Backdoorsam – you were breaking the rules, which I suspect you already knew. Hint – if the news has already been reported publicly somewhere else then it’s okay to mention it, if it hasn’t it isn’t. Excuse me now while I go and bang my head off a brick wall.
Is that you writing an article, GalwayExile, or are you asking if I will? If it’s the former, I’ve no problem, assuming that it’s fact-based, if it’s the latter, I’m afraid I haven’t either the time or the inclination right now to do so. It’s the closed season and I’m busy enough on other fronts.
Any reports/opinions from the cbar ballagh match today anyone? Who played well from a county potential perspective..
Shairoze very good. Seems to have bulked up a good bit – but still has the pace.
Thought Kuba Callaghan looked very promising too – strong, fast, two feet. Will be interesting to see how he gets on against Tubber defence. Ballagh cut through Castlebar defence at will.
Hanley, Akram and Andy all played very well. Hanley possibly their MOM because he influenced evenly for all of the 70 mins whereas the others were especially good in the first half and. The Ballagh no 9 played really well especially in 1st half and their no 8 did well in the 2nd. Kuba Callaghan raw but took some good scores as the game wore on. Great pace and strength. All the Ballagh backs good especially Drake (as would be expected, full back Cunniffe who looks strong enough to step up and their no 6 was very involved in mostly good things going forward but caught in possession a few times.
Ballaghadreen were very good today. Ryan Lynch best on show was part of the U21 winning panel in 2016. David Drake excellent, think he was hard done by this year. Cian Hanley laid down a marker, think he will be brought in. Kuba Callaghan could turn out to be a superstar, really raw now but he has potential. Hard to say any Ballagh lad didnt play well. Castlebar looked leggy all over the field and the only player who stood up was Rory Byrne.
Akram and Cunniffe excellent. Callaghan showed glimpses – great burst of speed. Hanley had a good game but still lacks a bit pace for senior inter-county but definitely improving.
No problem Willie Joe my apologies for that. Won’t happen again
The real talking point among both sets of fans and neutrals like myself was the losing goalkeeper’s performance. Ballaghdereen had about 8 or 9 goal chances. Some of the misses were lack of composure but as the game wore on it seemed as if this Goalie wouldn’t be beaten. Even Hanley who got in one on one near the end couldn’t figure how to beat him. They finally got a goal but disallowed for technical foul.
He has to be a serious contender for the Mayo panel.
Disagree that Hanley lacks pace as he has a side step that makes him awful hard to tackle. He’s probably not as fast as the 2 Durcan’s and Akram but in the next speed bunch after that. Similar pace to Boland who also has an elusive side step.
It’s more his size is an issue. The ideal role would be midfield because he runs all day long and his vision for an attacking pass is good.
Akram on the other hand was really excellent in 1st half marking Paddy Durcan (both of them in midfield) for some of the time and taking marks and getting free the other side of the pitch quite a bit. The other thing I liked about Akram was he kicks direct and fast into Andy despite having his own pace to burn.
All 3 Akram, Callaghan and Hanley possibly lack the composure needed to play intercounty forwards right now particularly going for goals. Callaghan is like an Eoghan O Gara style, fast and powerful (definitely bagged a few points) but not great balance and poise just yet. Ballagh’s MOM was probably no 9 who bagged about 4 points in the first half and catching good marks throughout. Unfortunately he doesn’t look quite tall enough for intercounty midfield (about 6 or 6’1″).
@williejoe I am not sure I have all the facts and was asking if you or any other contributor who may be more in the know than I, would be interested in sharing the facts for discussion. I understand that this blog is not your day job. Just looking for any information on this potentially impactful situation
I wouldn’t be in a position to do this, Galway Exile. I can’t claim to know the full facts on the issue and so I don’t think I’m all that well placed to say anything about it. Plus I really don’t have the time, given all the other commitments I have on right now.
No bother