It was another weekend of club Championship action within the county, at the conclusion of which things are beginning to shake out in the race for honours at Senior, Intermediate and Junior level. Here’s a quick round-up of what happened in each over the weekend.
Starting with the Senior Championship where the group stages were concluded, leaving eight clubs in the hunt for the Moclair Cup. The eight in question are Ballaghaderreen, Ballina Stephenites, Ballintubber, Belmullet, Breaffy, Castlebar Mitchels, Davitts and Knockmore. The draws for the quarter-finals in both the Senior and Intermediate Championships will take place at MacHale Park next Tuesday at 8pm.
Here are the weekend’s results in the SFC:
These results mean that the four groups finished as follows:
We’ve already run through the list of clubs who’ve made it into the knockout stages. As the above table confirms, the four clubs who must now go forward to the relegation play-offs are Bohola Moy Davitts, Westport, Hollymount/Carramore and Claremorris.
All of that quartet – bar Hollymount/Carramore – made the knockout stages twelve months ago so they’ve all gone backwards a bit since then. It’s too early to be panicking, though – last year Davitts had to contest the relegation play-off decider, beating Crossmolina thanks to a late Mickey Conroy point, and a year on they’re in the final eight and looking forward to the knockout stages.
Onto the Intermediate Championship where the results from the weekend’s matches were as follows:
And here are the IFC group tables:
So, as the tables above confirm, the eight clubs who qualify for the IFC quarter-finals are Ardnaree, Crossmolina, Burrishoole, Parke, The Neale, Ballyhaunis, Louisburgh and Kiltimagh. The four clubs left battling to avoid relegation to the Junior ranks are Swinford, Islandeady, Ballinrobe and Shrule/Glencorrib.
Speaking of Junior, three of the four quarter-finals were played earlier today – the fourth one has been held up due to the objection lodged by Achill (full story on that is here) – and here are the JFC results:
The double header in castlebar was devoid of any excitement, both games were effectively over by ht. Westport started brilliantly but fell away quickly and tamely. Ballina worked harder and were very efficient in front of goals, but a year or 2 before they’d be real contenders I’d say. However in saying that, if they repeat that work ethic and get some more out of their star players they will cause problems and could well cause an upser in the quarters.
The second game was very poor quality and riddled with mistakes. Kiltane handed davitts several scores but the davitts defence weren’t so obliging and effectively shut them out for most of the game. Poor game and whoever draws davitts will surely make the semi.
Charlestowns win over claremorris was easier than the scoreline suggests. Very poor season for a claremorris team that on paper should be so much better. Surely they can’t be relegated could they. It’ll be a dogfight for those 4 teams in games that usually throw up some massively exciting games. Cross v davitts last year.
Speaking of Cross, they pulled it off too at the weekend and maybe now they can kick start their season, it’s been woeful up to now. Rest of intermediate gone as expected.
Looking forward to the draws for both. Hopefully we get better fayre than we got over the weekend.
Thanks for the report WJ
I was at the double header in castlebar , great win for Ballina, Clarke , Sean Regan and Padraig O Hora , really stood out
The second game was very poor with Kiltane making lots of errors
I think Davitts are being majorly underrated. I thought they looked well drilled and took their scores well. If it was a team like Tubber we would be talking about “Did enough to keep Kiltane at bay”.
Davitts score taking was quite good apart from a foot off the gas 10 min blip in the second half where I think they only had a point or no score. Cathal Hennelly had some nice scores, Josh Ronayne was moving well.
It made me think if Davitts have a gym in their new facility as they all looked physically stronger compared to last year. Possibly that might explain their average league form if they were doing gym work.
Some of the Top scorers in Senior Championship at the weekend
Gary Boylan Belmullet 0-8 5 frees
Darren Coen Hollymount 1-6 1 free
Cathal Hennelly Davitts 1-6 3 frees
Neil Douglas Castlebar 0-6 4 frees
Jack Reilly Charlestown 0-5 1 free
James Shaughnessy Claremorris 0-6 5 frees
Peter Naughton Knockmore 1-3 2 frees
Aidan Orme Knockmore 0-5 2 frees
Fergal Boland Aghamore 0-5 4 frees
Ciaran Gavin Ballintubber 1-3 1 free
Shane Nally Garrymore 1-2
Sean Regan Ballina 1-2
Liam Irwin Breaffy 0-4 2 free
Colm Flynn Breaffy 0-4
Darren McHale Knockmore 0-3
James McCormack Claremorris 0-3
I thought Gary Boylan was very impressive as a minor. Also very good free taker. Seems to have taken to the gaelic very quickly again after the soccer. He should be in fairly good physical condition – was he a full time athlete when playing the soccer.
https://youtu.be/N9PQbrliNP0
Boylan featured at right half forward scoring 4 points against Kerry in the All Ireland Semi Final where 6 of that starting 15 for Kerry are involved in the replay this Saturday.
I see ger caff has announced his retirement on Twitter. Fitting of the man no fuss.He won’t get the plaudits that andy got but in my opinion he was a brilliant servant for mayo and an exceptional full back and I’m sure alot of the top forwards hated coming across him. A big bugbear of mine is the criticism he received from some of our great fans the best in the country supposedly .
Ger Caff joining Andy in retirement.. Owes Mayo nothing.. Well done and thanks for everything Ger .
Ger Cafferkey has called it a day
Yeah, Caff was a fantastic Full Back for Mayo for over a decade…All Star and All Ireland U21 winner…We Supporter’s will certainly miss him, but we all will wish him well!
Ahh sad for Ger Caff. A great servant. Totally agree Blondie…it used drive me around the twist the shite he had to put up with from so called fans.
Good luck Ger Cafferkey. A great full back.
Ger Caff in his prime was a top full back, probably still hasn’t been replaced, Best of luck to him in his club football with Ballina.
Well done Ger. Honest full back who always gave 100%. Not involved hugely in last few years but a really great servant to Mayo for a long long time. Some of those who criticised him could only dream of having the career he had. Well done Ger and thanks for the memories and the great service you gave your county.
Best of luck Ger in your retirement. A tireless servant for Mayo over many years.
Congrats Ger on a great career, great servant to the County. You had more ability in your big toe than 99% of your constant detractors. A top top player in his prime, gave it your all.
I remember some bullshit rumour during GAA silly season in November 2012, the rumour was Ger was emigrating to Australia, I remember the watsapp group going into meltdown, such was the high regard he was held. One of the greatest tacklers ive ever seen for Mayo.
Open to correction but Gers last game for Mayo was the league one v Dublin this spring. His last McHale park match was in the league this year v Cavan and his last championship game was 2018 v Kildare.
Happy retirement he gave his best and all to his county.
Sorry to Ger Caff calling it a day with Mayo. Not surprising really, I suppose, considering the little game time he got in recent times. He was one of the greats who put Mayo on the map and will not be forgotten for that. The criticism he got was from the ignoramuses of whom we have, unfortunately a number among us. Good luck Ger and enjoy your football with Ballina.
A certain well known Veteran GAA Pundit, is being replaced for the All Ireland Final Replay live broadcast next Saturday by RTE … The line up now is Pat Spillane, Ciaran Wheelan and a guy very well known, and admired to the blogger’s on this platform, a certain Stephen Rochford,. who apparently is very much in demand to the North and South of the Plains of the Yew… I think that weather forecast is very good as well, all the better for the Match, hopefully a bit of an Indian Summer…at long last, if you are out and about no need for the Brolly…. Sunshine all the way!
Another gentleman retires his Green and Red jersey, and as some have said above it’s probably not a surprise. Get Cafferkey has had more than his share of injury problems but a loyal servant to the county he has been. It’s fitting that he was Man of the Match in his last home game against Cavan this year, he put in a great shift that evening. Unfortunately we never saw him on the field again after going off injured against Dublin.
I wish him all the best, another legend lost from the squad.
Good luck to Caff. He never got a right run of fitness the last few years.
Best wishes to Ger Caff on his retirement. In his
Prime he was probably our best full back since Kevin Cahill it’s sad to see Ger and Andy retiring without the Celtic Cross they did so much for the cause. Ger can retire knowing he gave us all and he battled back from injury and steadied the ship on many occasion at the back.
Stephen Rochford to replace Brolly on rte panel for All Ireland final . Hopefully that’s the last we will see of Brolly !!!!
Best of luck to Ger Caff in retirement.
In his prime he was the best full back in the county. An absolute gent as well. Best of luck to ger and I’m sure he’ll be lining out for Ballina for many a year to come. Time waits for no man though and it’s good that Horan has brought some promising players into the Mayo set up. I always thought a cunnife was a very similar player to Caff and am surprised he hasn’t pushed on.
Ah Ref Junior Power Rankings
1. Kilmeena
2. Kilmaine
3. Castlebar B
4. Ardagh
Ah Ref Intermediate Power Rankings
1. Louisburgh
2. Ardnaree
3. Kiltimagh
4. Crossmolina
Ah Ref Senior Power Rankings
1. Castlebar
2. Ballintubber
3. Breaffy
4. Ballina
Ah Refs player of the weekend Sean Regan Ballina
Joe Brolly…….. “had the ability to be a pundit but not the charector”
Close the door behind ya on the way out Joe .. Will have some other platform to spout your bitterness towards Mayo.
Great to see the appreciative comments for Ger Caff posted here .. Super full back in his prime.. Did the simple things very well.. A great man to get the “paw” in at a vital time .
Hopefully we’ll see him involved with the county set up at some age group.
Best of luck to Ger in his retirement. A real shame that the hamstring injuries took a toll on him. An outstanding full back. Full of insight too and a great mind for the game. I echo the above comment that hopefully eventually he’ll be involved in a county set up at some age, had the pleasure of chatting to him about football and his insight was outstanding.
I see from the RTE website that Mayo have two players on the Electric Ireland U17 Team of the Year, Oisin Tunney and Ethan Henry. Galway, Connacht and All Ireland runners, up have four McGrath, McLoughlin, Cox and Culhane.
Congrats to all.
Ah ref I favour Kilmaine in the junior. I think they’ve got that extra bit of quality with Oisin Mullin, Jarlath Mullin, Adam Barrett and several others. I really like the football intelligence of Adam Barrett. He does things on the ball instinctively and you have to think after “Jese, he meant that, I didn’t even think that was something to do in that same situation”. A bit under the radar Barrett but he is a tremendous shooter if he could just add a stone to his frame. Easily possible, he’s six foot handy enough maybe a bit more.
Best wishes to Ger in his retirement from inter county football and for the future. A great servant of Mayo GAA over the past decade. Will never forget his heroic performance against Dublin in the ’12 semi-final.
After tonights quarter and semi final draw it’s looking like a repeat of last year’s senior final.
Ballintubber and Breaffy will meet in the semi-final if they win their next game so it won’t be a repeat final.
Some great draws for the QFs. Mitchels v Knockmore the obvious pick of the draw. Mitchels have somewhat stuttered through their group without hitting full gear. Knockmore have improved this year and have the personnel to trouble Mitchels. Ballina won’t fear Breaffy at all. We’ve seen Breaffy struggle against teams that they should be beating by 5 or 6. They were caught by Claremorris a few years ago, Westport and Ballagh had chances to beat them last year too. Davitts will be delighted to get Ballagh. Mullet will find it hard with their midfield, it’s weak and will probably be against Gibbons and DOC.
Intermediate threw up some interesting ties too. Parke will very much be capable of causing a shock against Louisburgh. The other three ties could all be tight games. Intermediate incredibly competitive this year.
JP whilst Kilmaine have some serious talent they are still too reliant on older players. They have some great underage talent but they appear to be slow in bringing these through. Good club who play attractive football. Jarlath Mullin will be a big loss – he suffered a double jaw break in a recent match. Whilst not as well built as his brother Oisin he has more aggression and reads the game very well.