PREDICTIONS: Mayo Intermediate finale set to bring plenty of drama

Claremorris v MacHale Rovers

Saturday, October 4, in MacHale Park at 12.15 pm

It’s the Mayo Intermediate Champions of 2023 against the Mayo Junior Champions of 2023, but when the clock hits twenty past two on Saturday, one of these two talented sides will be jumping and celebrating in joyful scenes as memories are created that will last a lifetime.

The women from the North are the slight favourites for this clash, with one of the very best in the game on display for them. Any team that has the presence of Sinead Walsh on their fifteen is a lucky team ,and on this occasion, the Claremorris team will have to produce one hell of a performance if they are to quieten Walsh and co.

That being said, this Claremorris team are no slouches. Full of youth, talent, and flair. With Bree Hession to the fore in attack, it’s clear that this youthful Claremorris team can cause damage to the team that were relegated from Senior ranks last year.

With Annie Gough, the anchor in this MacHale Rovers team, she may be the one who will pick up Hession. The South Mayo side have no doubt made fantastic and inspiring progress in recent times as they claimed County and Provincial glory in recent years before falling at the final hurdle in the Junior All-Ireland Final.

It’s clear that there is Trojan work being done at underage in the club as the success of Mount St Michael’s springs to mind. There is no denying they are a club on the up, but can they get the better of an experienced MacHale Rovers side?

Relegated from Senior ball last year, one would think playing the elite sides would stand to them as they attempt to bounce straight back up to the top flight. Sinead Walsh and Annie Gough have starred for the county in recent times, as the rise of Kayla Doherty in the underage ranks hasn’t gone unnoticed either.

On this occasion, the women from Ardagh, Crossmolina, and Lahardane could just have enough to topple the youthful ‘Morris. With plenty of exciting forwards on show, this could well be a high-scoring encounter, but with Sinead Walsh and Kayla Doherty leading the way in the scoring department, silverware could well be on the way North. 

VERDICT: MACHALE ROVERS