Battle lines drawn as Mayo club championship draw throws up enticing clashes

THE draw for the Mayo football club championships has thrown up some intriguing encounters, including a rematch of Mayo Gaels and Balla and a meeting of senior championship favourite Westport and Ballina Stephenites.

Newly promoted senior side Kilmeena will face Aghamore, Ballintubber and Breaffy in their group while Eddie Conroy's Lahardane will re-commence life in the intermediate ranks with meetings against Crossmolina, Louisburgh and Moy Davitts. 

The Mayo Senior and Intermediate championships will commence on the weekend of August 16/17 with the Exclusive Junior Championship taking place the week beforehand on August 9/10/11.

Speaking at the draw at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Con Moynihan, Chairman of the Mayo CCC and Vice-Chairman of Mayo GAA, said that teams that top their group would enjoy home advantage in the quarter-final. 

Moynihan also said that Friday night games would be scheduled again this year while a number of games will be streamed on Mayo GAA TV. 

Under the new junior format, two groups will comprise five teams, with three qualifying from each group to meet two teams from the third group in the quarter finals. 

The groups for the 2024 Mayo Senior Football Championship are as follows: 

Group 1

Breaffy

Ballintubber

Aghamore

Kilmeena

Group 2

Ballina Stephenites

Westport

Mayo Gaels

Balla

Group 3

Knockmore

Béal An Mhuirthead

Ballaghaderreen

Claremorris

Group 4

Castlebar Mitchels

Charlestown Sarsfields

Garrymore

Ballyhaunis

Round 1 fixtures to be played on August 16/17

Group 1

Aghamore v Ballintubber

Breaffy v Kilmeena

Group 2

Balla v Westport

Mayo Gaels v Ballina Stephenites

Group 3

Ballaghaderreen v Knockmore

Claremorris v Béal An Mhuirthead

Group 4

Ballyhaunis v Garrymore

Castlebar Mitchels v Charlestown Sarsfields

The groups for the Mayo Intermediate Championship are as follows: 

Group 1

Moy Davitts

Louisburgh

Crossmolina

Lahardane MacHales

Group 2

Castlebar Mitchels B

Hollymount/Carramore

Davitts

Kiltimagh

Group 3

Ballinrobe

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin

Kiltane

Kilmaine

Group 4

The Neale

Islandeady

Ardnaree Sarsfields

Burrishoole

Round 1 fixtures to be played on August 17/18

Group A

Moy Davitts v Louisburgh

Lahardane McHales v Crossmolina

Group B

Castlebar Mitchels B V Davitts

Kiltimagh v Hollymount/Carramore

Group C

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin v Ballinrobe

Kilmaine v Kiltane

Group D

Burrishoole v Islandeady

Ardnaree Sarsfields V The Neale

The new junior championship will see two groups of five and one group of four instead of the four groups which had been seen in previous years.

The groups for the Mayo Exclusive Junior Championship are as follows: 

Group A

Cill Comáin

Bunniconlon

Swinford

Moygownagh

Kilmovee Shamrocks

Group B

Shrule Glencorrib

Northern Gaels

Ardagh

Tuar Mhic Éadaigh

Ballycroy 

Group C

Eastern Gaels

Killala

Achill

Ballycastle

Round 1 fixtures to be played on August 9/10

Group A

Swinford v Bunniconlon

Kilmovee Shamrocks v Moygownagh

Cill Comáin - Bye

Group B

Shrule Glencorrib v Northern Gaels

Ardagh v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh

Ballycroy - Bye

Group C

Killala v Achill

Ballycastle v Eastern Gaels