It’s been an intriguing Mayo Senior football Championship this year and, with four of the big beasts in club football within the county in recent years all falling by the wayside at the quarter-final stage, it’s more interesting it’s getting as the remaining competitors prepare to head down the final stretch.
Two clubs who have never lifted the Moclair Cup bookend the final four betting, with Westport now the favourites to land the title while Belmullet – who have so far in this campaign beaten both of last year’s finalists – are the outsiders. One of them will contest the final, as they’re drawn against each other in the semis.
Champions Knockmore, meanwhile, must be fancying their chances of sealing back-to-back county titles. If they’re to do this, however, they’ll first have to get by impressive dark horses Garrymore, who come into the penultimate round with a real sense of momentum.
Many are, no doubt, licking their chomps at the prospect of a Knockmore/Westport final. But, who knows, it might instead turn out to be a Belmullet/Garrymore decider. Or maybe a Belmullet/Knockmore one, or, indeed, a Garrymore/Westport one.
Those are the four possible pairings in light of the semi-final draw. What do you reckon: which two clubs will qualify for this year’s Moclair Cup decider?
Who'll make the final?
- Westport and Knockmore (55%, 541 Votes)
- Belmullet and Knockmore (18%, 182 Votes)
- Westport and Garrymore (17%, 164 Votes)
- Belmullet and Garrymore (10%, 101 Votes)
Total Voters: 988
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WJ – Belmullet having beaten both of last year’s finalists?? Knockmore?
I fancy Belmullet and Knockmore to advance to the final. I think Westport can be got at especially this time of year with rain sodden pitches and poor conditions. As an aside I think it’s an insult to club players to have to play their championship this time of year heading into the Depths of winter. I think the GAA should look hard and try to accommodate them in late spring/early Summer cos without club there’s no County
Think Belmullet will win, so far they have managed to “find a way to win” in every match and are used to being underdogs. They have an excellent manager who gets the best out of his charges and always seems to have a good tactical plan for the opposition.
That’s right, Catcol – Belmullet beat Knockmore in the group stages and then Breaffy in the quarters.
I think Belmullet have a great chance but westport will be hard beaten they might have their bogey game over them
Knockmore, Westport final
Wille Joe I know this is off topic.
As a proud mayo supporter living in a neighbouring county could I ask people flying the flag outside the county,to take the mayo flag in and put away after mayo games.its disrespectful to the mayo flag getting ripped and faded in the bad weather,its what we play and fight under.its also annoying for the people and area where we live and work.
Rant over.
Rain and soggier pitches mightn’t overly harm Westport, it might hinder their running game, but bad pitches mean lower scoring games and this means every score is crucial and Westport have plenty who can score from distance
Its been a superb year for Belmullet but their element of surprise is gone. Westport have a more all rounded team than Breaffy (who should have been beaten by Garrymore also) and i think Knockmore probably took the eye off the ball in the group game – played in awful conditions
If Belmullet were to beat all 3 to make a final it’d definitely be relatively one of the greatest achievements i can recall in the Mayo champ for many a year, given the base they started from
A lot stranger has happened though – but I just feel this is Westport’s year
An awful lot depends on the injury situation with all these teams. men were dropping like flies in bekan last week.
With Keane limping out for Westport and McHale/Reape going off for knockmore, those absentees could have huge bearing on things, if they are all good to go then i make knockmore slight favourites over wesport to win it.
Garrymore are motoring nicely though, they are definitely a dark horse
Kilmaine in the inter i reckon
Kevin Keane’s injury might turn out to be a gamechanger
Apologies WJ. Why would I think Homer nodded!
This particular Homer nods very frequently, Catcol!
New podcast episode is up, reviewing all the weekend’s quarter-final action.
The real discussion is the relegation dog fights in senior and intermediate. Can the legendary Mikey Sweeney keep Kiltane in the senior Championship? Will the glorious and mesmerising town of Swinford sink into the swamp of junior football? Will the club’s talisman Aidan Campbell and the magnificent stalwart David Heaney come back into the trenches in order to save Swinford from the murky murky waters of junior football were no townie is safe!!
Whichever two teams make it to the final, it will have been hard earned and by the slimmest of margins. Two fascinating contests….can’t wait.
Is someone taking the mick with the fixtures for these semi finals? Im a neutral fan here, but surely to god Breaffy is not a 50/50 venue! Lets have a quick look at google maps Westport to Breaffy 21km, 20 minute drive, Belmullet to Breaffy 81km, 1 hour and 14mins…
Surely to god Ballina is the neutral venue for this game. Its also a much better place to field a county semi final. Belmullet to Ballina 62km, 51mins. Westport to Ballina 55km, 47mins…
There are just hard facts.
Folks I thought Kilmovee got shafted, but this is taking things to a whole new level!
Belmullet have already played 2/4 championship games in Ballina so I can understand not playing it there. Crossmolina would be ideal.
The Ballina pitch looked very heavy and in poor condition last Sunday. With two more weeks of wet weather it would be even worse for a semi final. I presume the surface in Breaffy is better.