The kids are, at last, back at school, the nights are beginning to draw in with alarming rapidity and the leaves are starting to carpet the ground. Summer’s at an end and the lowering temperatures are evidence of that. On the club Championship front, however, we’re set for sizzling conditions over the weekend, with semi-final action taking place at Senior, Intermediate and Junior levels.
The race for the Moclair Cup is wide open this year. Breaffy may be the bookies’ favourites but, as you can see for yourselves, they’re the outsiders in the poll that’s been running here on the site. You could, to be honest, make a plausible case for any of the remaining four teams still standing as we head into the semi-finals.
All those who were asked for their pre-match predictions on the preview edition of the Mayo News football podcast were cautious in the extreme in expressing their views about how the games might pan out.
If you haven’t yet got to to it, by the way, the podcast is well worth a listen. Regular contributors Mike Finnerty, Edwin McGreal and Ger Flanagan – who is himself a protagonist in this weekend’s action, as he’s co-captain of Balla – are once again in flying form, while guest stars John Maughan and Martin Carney positively salivate about what’s in prospect in the two Senior semi-final ties, with Martin’s description of the two Moran lads from Westport a moment of podcast gold. You can catch the podcast on SoundCloud here or on the panel on the right here on the blog.
Colm Gannon has excellent preview pieces on all the weekend’s Championship semi-finals in the Mayo Advertiser. Here they are – Senior, Intermediate, Junior.
As has happened in previous years, the Senior and Intermediate semi-finals will be played off as MacHale Park double-headers, with an IFC match paired each of the two days with an SFC one.
The fun gets going tomorrow evening, with the Intermediate semi-final between Hollymount/Carramore and Kiltimagh throwing in at 5.30pm. That’s followed at 7.15pm by the Senior semi-final between Breaffy and Westport.
On Sunday afternoon, the curtain-raiser is the IFC semi-final between Ballinrobe and Balla, which throws in at 2pm. Then, at 3.45pm, it’s Ballina Stephenites against Knockmore in the second SFC semi-final.
Both double-headers will be streamed live by Mayo GAA TV. The Cáirde Mhaigheo deal is still in operation (more details on that here), otherwise a weekend pass covering all four games costs €15 (passes for individual games cost €5 each) – details on that here.
As the matches are all being transmitted from MacHale Park, hopefully there won’t be any issues with the streaming this weekend. On that, it’s worth noting, of course, that it’s not just the connection and equipment at the transmitting end that count in terms of user experience, as the same is also true at the receiving end, in terms of the domestic broadband connection, WiFi, device used and all that.
Away from the weekend’s glamour ties, there are other important matches on this weekend and some of these are being streamed as well.
In the JFC semi-finals, Cill Chomain take on Kilmaine tomorrow at James Stephens Park, Ballina (throw-in 4pm). That game is being streamed by Cill Chomain on their Facebook page – details here.
On Sunday the second JFC semi-final will take place at Islandeady, where Kilmeena face Shrule/Glencorrib (throw-in 1pm). That one is being streamed via Facebook by Shrule/Glencorrib (details here), with audio commentary streamed by Kilmeena (details here).
The Senior relegation final between Claremorris and Moy Davitts is also being streamed (by Claremorris – I’ve no further details, I’m afraid, on that). This match takes place on Sunday at Gilmartin Park, Kiltimagh where throw-in is 1pm.
Finally, the Intermediate relegation final between Islandeady and Swinford takes place tomorrow at Parke (throw-in 4pm). Both clubs will provide score updates via their respective Twitter accounts.
UPDATE: Mayo GAA have now published the match programmes for this weekend’s games. Here they are (in pdf form):
- Claremorris v Bohola Moy Davitts
- Breaffy v Westport
- Ballina Stephenites v Knockmore
- Swinford v Islandeady
- Hollymount/Carramore v Kiltimagh
- Balla v Ballinrobe
- Cill Chomain v Kilmaine
- Kilmeena v Shrule/Glencorrib
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gygGVRqupUpexGdMCJinM?si=IXNHTGSQS9yZax5tSrXrZQ
Myself and redcol also done 2 podcasts this week in relation to the club football willie joe. Also I will be commentating on the Cill Chomain and Kilmaine Junior Semi final Tommorow
Great weekend of games ahead and great value too . Hopefully coverage will hold up
Fair play to Mayo Gaa tv .. Fair play @ah for yours also , Kilmaine will hammer their way to victory
Great stuff and great information.. playing a blinder as always Willie Joe. Really looking forward to the action this weekend
I’ve just updated the post with links to all the match programmes for the weekend that Mayo GAA put online a bit earlier.
Great service WJ
Had been looking forward to the games tonight. Stream is stop-start. Anyone else having problems?? I have good wifi here.
Mike Finnerty said they knew there was an issue with it in the first half, Goagain, and were planning on resetting the link. It was very jerky alright but appears to be working fine since half-time. Kiltimagh going great guns in this one – major shock on the cards?
Great stuff. Kilti were IMO easy winners. Not the same as going to the game but still not bad. 45′ screen, tea and cake and maybe later a can or two of Bulmers.
Serious win for Kiltimagh and fully deserved too – they were on top for most of the game and finished really strongly.
Westport half back and half forward lines will win this although they’re behind at half time. Couple of long range ones from Robbie. Leroy has Aidan in his pocket. Breaffy could do with Seamie around the middle. I still feel the Moclair winners could come from tomorrow’s game
has anyone else’s stream frozen?
Frozen since half time. Worked perfect up to that.
Offline here as well since half-time.
poor form. frustrating.
Money back ?
It’s a shame, going by Twitter it’s a close second half as well.
Same happened me lads but listening on Midwest Radio, sounds like it’s going to be close, maybe extra tine?
Offline for second half.. worked well up to that..pity
To purchase for tomorrow or not to purchase? That is the question. MWR will have it anyway.
We missed the best half by the sounds of it! Tight and tense in the second half but Breaffy just did enough. Westport will rue all those errors and missed chances.
The joke last week was that Mayo were getting Messi,but I think we should try to get Colm Flynn. 7 points today from 7 shots? I think. Experience brought Breaffy through.
How can this keep happening?? Crazy stuff. One couldn’t make it up at this stage. It’s just not good enough. Missed the entire second half..grrrr. Thank God for Mid West Radio.
Mayo Gaa TV should give automatic refund. Seems most were frozen out from half time.
Very frustrating
It was very disappointing alright, Goagain, especially as it was being streamed from MacHale Park. Hard to understand why the entire second half couldn’t be shown. MidWest were a good backup alright.
This worked fine last year! Did they change the company who is providing the streaming? Its a pity really as we all enjoyed it last year.
Is streaming different? Mile buiochas to Mid West for an excellent commentary and analysis
Frozen out for all second half and have tomorrow also paid for and I am sorry because of the service, thank God for midwest radio, Westport kicked the game away but I don’t begrudge Breaffy the win as they are knocking on the door for a long time, very disappointed with the streaming service.
Gave up on trying to see it.
Ended up watching the Tyrone club games on rte2 instead.
Any reports on the second half? Westport were kicking themselves out of it when I was watching
Westport will be sickened after that. What can one say regarding that fiasco, surely with all the money taken in, proper equipment could be brought. Very annoying. Fed up. And is it going to be any better for tomorrows games?
Shocking that the online stream went at half time. Issues last week also. Big boost for Breaffy if seamie returns for final. Thought Aido in forward role was well marshalled by Keegan and co in first half. Cant comment on second half unfortunately for reason above.
I tuned in to bits on radio….seemed to be lots of wayward shooting both ends. How many wides did westport rack up??
Some clubs seem to be able to stream games on their facebook pages without any problems. Hard to understand how Mayo GAA tv with a thier more advanced technology run into such trouble. As well as missing the second half of the senior game, the frst half of intermediate game was also very poor
Disappointing to lose coverage of the game but credit to Mayo GAA TV for the effort to provide this service…
I personally think it’s nuts not to allow some spectators..
Breaffy into their 4th final in 8 years… they have showed character in abundance this year!!
It could be Breaffy’s year!! They have got there within themselves and big players stepping up in various games
Disappointing coverage from mayogaatv. No second half either
To make matters worse Midwest commentary was poor. It was more for someone viewing than a listener. Very amateurish. Commentators need to work harder at describing action for a listener.
God be with the days of Michael Ó Hehir….
Midwest commentators are very poor…like two guys talking at a match,basic stuff like the score and where the play is an tactical plan’s totally ignored
Lads Donovan Cosgrove had a cracking game for Kiltimagh at fullback, what age is he?
Donovan Cosgrove is 22 this year.
@Crete Boom, Donovan Cosgrave was the main reason Kiltimagh won. Holly are scoring heavy all year, Kiltimagh needed to get that Hollymount scoring return way down. I thought Donovan could reduce Darren Coens impact.
Can anyone say with a straight face there’s 10 defenders better than Donovan Cosgrave for our senior panel given his age, consistency and age profile of our current defensive panel members.
He’s going better formwise than all of Brendan Harrison, Keith Higgins, Donal Vaughan and Chris Barrett.
If Darren Coen merits a senior spot how can the 22 year old who contained him who hasn’t even had the benefit of Intercounty preparation and fitness work not also merit a panel place?
John, anyone who saw donovan interviewed after the match will note that he has all the physical conditioning work already done. He is a former mayo minor full back and captain and has had more than his fair share of injuries. Great display of defending by him last night.
@Rober, Yes Donovan looks in strong shape. Just think he’d go up another few % performance and fitness wise in a senior panel.