It’s Friday evening already, with more Championship action taking place over the next few days. There’s no men’s football this weekend, though the fixture details for next weekend have already been confirmed (details here), and instead the focus over the next two days is on Championship matches in hurling and in women’s football.
In the LGFA Senior Championship, it’s semi-final weekend. Defending champions Burrishoole are already gone so, for the third year in a row, there’s going to be a different winner, a fourth different winner, in fact, if Carnacon don’t manage to reclaim a title they used to win for fun not that long ago.
The semi-final line-up for this year sees Carnacon travel to Westport, while Knockmore entertain Kilmovee Shamrocks. Two fascinating battles these are likely to be, involving recent champions on the one hand against rising competitors on the other. Both semi-finals throw in on Sunday at 11am.
There’s also Round 4 group stage action in the LGFA Junior B Championship on this weekend. These two games are in Group C, with Ballinrobe at home to Islandeady and Carnacon’s B team playing Kiltane at Clogher. 11am tomorrow (Saturday) is the the start time for both matches.
In the hurling, meanwhile, Round 3 of the Senior Championship takes place tomorrow evening. Castlebar Mitchels take on Tooreen at Ballyvary, while Ballyhaunis play St Ciarán’s at Josie Munnelly Park. Both matches throw in at 5pm tomorrow and match programmes are available here.
The best of luck to all the teams in Championship action this weekend.
Mens Junior A county final this weekend WJ, Knockmore v Westport. Sunday at 2pm in Parke.
Re-fixed after being abandoned two weeks ago due to the monsoon rains.
Knockmore going for 3 wins in 4 years or something to that effect, but Westport likely strong favourites with their booming population and having had a competitive game in past 3-4 weeks in semifinal. Knockmore on other hand last full competitive game looks like it was 12 or 13 weeks ago, after Bohola Moy Davitts conceded the semifinal.
You’d wonder how that sort of fixture schedule benefits player development.
The exclusive junior system needs to be looked at, when see how Castlebar B are doing, why other second teams
Are not allowed the same opportunity seems unfair, whoever wins Sunday stays where they are next season.
@Gizmobobs Agreed. In my opinion, the Junior Exclusive system has been a failure.
Shutting the door on B teams, for what reason exactly? It was heavily rumoured back in 2019 that the weaker Junior teams were championing this format as they were sick of getting beatings from the Knockmore Bs, Ballintubber Bs, Ballina Bs of the world. Well these teams are still getting routinely beaten by the Kilcommons, Shrule/Glencorribs and Swinfords of the division. So where do we go from here?
We punished senior and intermediate clubs who did an excellent job in making their extended playing panel into a competitive B team for no good reason. Lads numbered 27 to 40 in clubs dont get a kick of a ball once first team championship is in full swing. Is it good preparation for knockout for the stronger Junior teams to rack up cricket scores vs the weaker teams in the group stage? I doubt so, also, nobody wants to see teams losing by 20 points in the group stage year in year out.
Its time we reintroduce B teams into the fold. Scrap Junior Exclusive, return Junior A to 16 teams, starting by adding the 2 finalists (Knockmore B and Westport B) in with the 14 Junior clubs to make an even 4 groups of 4. Do 2 up 2 down from Junior B to Junior A, and Junior C to Junior B.
In fact, by my rough estimates, between A, B and C teams, we have 83/84 teams in Mayo playing football. That could be 3 championships of 16 (Senior, Intermediate, Junior A) and 3 championships of 12 (Junior B, Junior C, Junior D).
Thanks for that, Gizmobobs, including the excellent match preview to boot!
Not sure about excellent Willie Joe, Knockmore were actually very convincing winners 🙂
Final scoreline of 1-13 to 3-3, two goals in the last 8 minutes for the Covies made the scoreline a bit closer but Knockmore ran out deserving winners.
Good to see Ben Doyle back playing again, not many moons ago he was on Mayo senior panels.
Better news for Westport St. Patrick’s on the ladies front, they were dominant from start to finish in putting Carnacon to the sword on a score of Westport 4-14 Carnacon 0-04. Very impressive display from a very powerful and athletic team.
They’ll meet Knockmore in the final next Saturday, after they overcame Kilmovee shamrocks, 1-13 to 2-05.
@ On The Fence, I agree with you we should be encouraging bigger clubs to have 2 teams instead of putting obstacles in their way.
Great to see the Mayo Under 21 championship back.1st championship since 2019.Still think it should start straight after the Mayo Under 20s are finished Inter County championship and played in the Summer before the Senior Club championship starts.We really need to look after lads after Minor between the ages of 18 and 22 , the lads that arent getting game time with there Senior or even 2nd team especially in the big town clubs.The drop out rate is huge in this particular age category and before anyone says there is no room in the calendar ,Kerry have played there Under 21 County Final a full month ago.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41243842.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Another Corofin Alumni joining Rochford and co.