As a county we’re extremely late to this particular party – with the action in both Dublin and Kerry already underway – but this coming weekend the first round of Mayo club Championship matches will be played, with a full set of fixtures at Senior, Intermediate and Junior levels.
Here’s a quick run-down of what’s on as well as handy links for tickets and all that.
Starting with the Senior Championship, the Group 1 meeting between Breaffy and Ballina Stephenities, which throws in at 2.15pm on Sunday at Breaffy, will be televised live by TG4. The other tie in that group, a tasty local derby between Mayo Gaels and Balla, gets underway at Mayo Abbey that afternoon at 4.30pm.
In Group 2 the action takes place on Saturday evening with both fixtures throwing in at 6.30pm. Westport begin their defence of the Moclair Cup that evening with a home match against Charlestown, while Claremorris host Ballaghaderreen in the other match.
It’s Sunday afternoon for the opening round matches in Group 3. Cong is the venue for The Neale’s game against Ballintubber (throw-in 1pm) while Belmullet host Garrymore at Tallagh at 3.30pm.
In Group 4 there’s a real heavyweight clash on Saturday evening – that’s the meeting of Knockmore and Castlebar Mitchels. This one gets underway at 6.30pm on Saturday in St Joseph’s Park. Then on Sunday it’s the East Mayo derby meeting of Aghamore and newly-promoted Ballyhaunis, a match that throws in at Aghamore at 4pm that afternoon. Both of these matches are being streamed live by Mayo GAA TV.
The first round fixtures in the Intermediate Championship are as follows:
- GROUP 1: Davitts v Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin (Saturday 5pm at Davitts); Islandeady v Bonniconlon (Saturday 5pm at Islandeady).
- GROUP 2: Kiltimagh v Louisburgh (Friday 8pm at Connacht CoE – LIVE on MAYO GAA TV); Kilmeena v Ardnaree (Saturday 5pm at Kilmeena).
- GROUP 3: Kiltane v Hollymount/Carramore (Saturday 5pm at Bangor Erris); Burrishoole v Ballinrobe (Saturday 6.30pm at Newport).
- GROUP 4: Crossmolina Deel Rovers v Kilmaine (Saturday 6.30pm at St Tiernan’s Park); Castlebar Mitchels B v Bohols Moy Davitts (Sunday 2pm at Josie Munnelly Park).
In the Junior Championship the Round 1 ties are as follows:
- GROUP 1: Northern Gaels v Ballycastle (at Kilfian) and Tourmakeady v Shrule Glencorrib (at Tourmakeady), both matches on Sunday 1pm.
- GROUP 2: Achill (bye) and Cill Chomain v Ardagh (Saturday 6.30pm at Cill Chomain).
- GROUP 3: Killala (bye) and Eastern Gaels v Kilmovee (Sunday 2pm at Brickens).
- GROUP 4: Moygownagh v Lahardane MacHales (at Moygownagh) and Ballycroy v Swinford (at Ballycroy), both matches on Saturday 6.30pm.
If you’re planning on going to one (or more) of these matches, you’ll need to buy your tickets in advance. Mayo GAA have provided a handy sets of links for ticketing relating to all the weekend’s matches and you’ll find that here.
The club season pass, costing €100 and providing unlimited access to all Championship matches at all grades up to and including county finals, is still available but today (Monday) is the closing date for this offer so, if you’re planning on getting the season pass, you’ll need to do it now. The link for that is here.
If instead you’re planning on following the action from the couch then Mayo GAA TV is clearly the place to go. Their season pass is on offer for €90 with weekend passes (€20) and match passes (€10) also available. The link for that is here.
Finally, we’re cranking up for the club Championships today on the Mayo Football podcast. We’ll have a bumper Championship preview pod up today featuring Westport’s Lee Keegan, Balla’s Ger Flanagan and Aghamore’s Paddy Finnegan. That’ll be up on Patreon a bit later on. Details on how to listen to the show are here.
Hard to call winners outright this championship, Senior quite but hard look past bookies favorites of:
1. Westport, 2. Castlebar and 3. Ballina.
Ballina like Westport have huge number of panelists with intercounty experience at the different grades so should really be pushing on.
Intermediate, BMD have won several minor A and U21 county titles, and in division 1 next year (depending on league format chosen!!) so should be one of the favourites.
Justin Healy will be a loss for Kilcommon but they have a strong panel, Ardagh as well with Carrs x 2, Rochford and Traynor be hard beaten.
I see a young Kerry u20 prospect is heading to Australia alongside a fella from Longford to play AFL.
I wonder are there any mayo lads on the radar
Is there any rule or law for matches that arent been shown on Mayo Gaa TV that they can be streamed live on Facebook or online? Surely home clubs could provide a stream of championship games for people who cannot attend or away working overseas.I know Charlestown and Belmullet have provided a great service on games over the years.Charlestown commentary can be great entertainment too.
With the help of God no, Tommyjoe10! Let’s hope the scouts that engineered Oisín’s departure turn their gaze elsewhere on this occasion …
Our bumper club Championship preview pod is up on Patreon now and it’s a real humdinger. We’ve got Lee Keegan, Ger Flanagan and Paddy Finnegan on it. Great wide-ranging chat, not just about the respective prospects for Westport, Balla and Aghamore this year but also a general discussion about the club game, a pointer on players to look out for and Moclair Cup predictions. Online now!
Just listened to it WJ. Seems like there’s agreement between the lads that McStay made a mistake by dropping Fergal Boland. I would totally agree. The very man we need, when playing against the blanket defence.
Just wodering Willie Joe are all the rounds of senior fixtures decided on yet or is it just round 1
@Nephin never understood why fergal boland was dropped..a runner and a man that can score I don’t get mcstay dropping him and horan not giving hin much game time, ? There must he a reason why 2 managers did this but I still think feragal boland should be given another chance….
You’re not going to get an Aghamore man disagreeing with you on that one, Nephin! As the year progressed, the error of that particular decision became more and more apparent.
Parkoncroakie – I assume you mean dates and times for the Round 2 and 3 ties? If so, I don’t believe they’ve been set as yet.
Actually forgot that ye are Townies WJ and I’m afraid that Paul Towey will fall victim to the same thinking.
Maybe we don’t like scorers in Mayo.
You could be right Nephin- when Jason Doherty came on the scene first he was a goal scoring corner forward. Someone decided we didn’t need one of these on the team and Jason was converted into a hardworking half forward doing the grafting etc. We couldn’t have proven goal scores on the team playing close to goal.
Southmayo.
I remember well when he started and being excited about the future. Thankfully we had a great HB line or he would have ended up there. Sure didn’t he come on in there in a few games this year.
Anyone pick up a copy of the Mayo News this morning? Is there an update about the trip to New York?
Would be shocked if Darren Quinn of Garrymore and Brian O’Malley and Oisin McLaughlin of Westport arent called in and looked at by McStay after been recommended by Leeroy on the Pod.Hes the best judge of anyone to know what it takes to be a top Inter County footballer.Both O’Malley and McLaughlin played for Mayo in the All Ireland Under 20 Final in 2018.Quinn a left footer has been shooting the lights out for Garry in recent seasons.
Great info as always WJ. I think it’s a counter tactic that needed against blanket defence, especially in McHale park.
What is the best app for keeping track of club championship games??
Hopefully posters will give unbiased reports of games and standout players.
Darren Quinn, I watched recently v Westport in league. I was a bit disappointed in how he got involved in game. Looked threatening on the ball and I’m sure more to come from him. Brian O Malley great club footballer but that’s it imo. McLaughlin could still be anything.
Great weekend of club action. Let’s hope we see plenty of ‘foot’ ball in these games
It’s going ahead, On the road again, but the date for the game hasn’t yet been confirmed.
It was very enjoyable listening to the lads discussing the upcoming championship. I hadn’t heard Paddy Finnegan before. As Mike mentioned, Aghamore won the county title in 1977 when they were amalgamated with Kilmovee and played under the name Shamrocks. That was in the middle of a glorious era for the rural clubs in Mayo, especially the three mores, Garrymore, Knockmore and Aghamore In the twelve years between 1973 and 1984, Aghamore played in three finals and won one. Knockmore played in six and won four and Garrymore played in eight and won six. It is great to see them and indeed all the rural clubs still surviving. Best of luck to all teams in the upcoming championships.
The 1978 semi final between the Shamrocks and the Mitchell’s was one of the best club games I have seen
Does anyone know if I need to purchase tickets for children to attend the club games? Ticket site gives options for adults and students.
Doc: U16 are free entry for club championship games.