SCHOOLS PREVIEW: Pivotal week as Mayo sides bid for glory

The biggest week in post-primary schools' football is upon us as Mayo teams go in search of places in finals and semi-finals across all senior grades.

In the A Championship both St Muredach's and St Gerald's will contest semi-finals against Coláiste Bhaile Chlair and St Jarlath's Tuam respectively.

These much-anticipated encounters promise much and will bring big crowds to the Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan.

Muredach's are first of the top two Mayo sides into the fray when they take to the field at 12.30pm on Wednesday. The Ballina students were the most impressive team in the competition before Christmas, and it will be interesting to see if they can repeat that against Colaiste Bhaile Chlair.

The Moysiders, managed by Knockmore's David McHale, had a big win in the opening round against St Jarlath's in Ardnaree before blasting past Ballinrobe to top their group.

In the final round-robin game they were defeated in a top-class encounter by Summerhill, but had enough done to seal a semi-final place.

The boys in red have a fine team with Nathan Roddy, Patrick Carr and Sean Foody man a very impressive full-forward line. They make good use of possession when it comes their way, but it's their teamowrk and support play which is most admirable.

Cahair Tighe, Oisin McCann, Dylan Sweeney, Oisin Gavin, goalkeeper Conor Bohan and their colleagues have impressed all year and if they play to their potential in Bekan they will be hard beaten.

Bhaile Chlair are a fine team. They're powerful going forward with former Galway minor Sean O'Callaghan leading the attack. He scored 2-3 in last week's quarter-final against Roscommon CBS and will take some minding.

St Gerald's go up against the boys from Tuam at 7pm on Thursday evening and it promises to be a cracker.

St Jarlath's come into this after steamrolling Rice College in the quarter-final and with star forward Killian Joyce in great form in attack and excellent defender Ryan Connolly catching the eye every time he goes out, they'll take beating.

However, Gerald's are full of quality and have top-class players all over the pitch.

In attack they have Rhys Neary, Joe Forry and Ryan McNamara who will cause all sorts of trouble while Matthew Flannelly, Eoghan Dever and their defensive colleagues will look to keep the Tuam boys under cover.

The boys from Ballyhaunis Community School will be excited about their senior B semi-final on Friday in Claregalway versus St Joseph's College Galway at 11.30am.

The East Mayo boys have a highly-talented squad and will throw everything at this one.

Gortnor Abbey and Balla will hope to navigate their way through their respective C semi-finals on Wednesday. Gortnor Abbey will rock up to Kilmaine to take on Galway's Colaiste Einde at noon while Balla run out in Bekan 30 minutes later against Holy Rosary Mountbellew.

Meanwhile, in the Senior E quarter-final today, Tuesday, St Patrick's College, Lacken Cross take on Seamount Kinvara in the Senior E quarter-final and Davitt College travel to Bushfield to take on St Brigid's Loughrea in the same competition on Thursday.