Analysis: Mayo senior clubs face an intriguing championship

The Paddy Moclair Cup for winning the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship is the most prized in all of Mayo sport. The big silver trophy currently rests by the Moy following Ballina Stephenites' senior championship victory last season. This week, the journey to claim the cup in 2024 becomes a little clearer after the draw was made for the group stages of the upcoming championship. Michael Gallagher, Head of Sport of The Mayo News, takes a look at the runners and riders.

GROUP 1

Big hitters and the new boys:
Breaffy, Ballintubber, Aghamore, Kilmeena

An intriguing gathering of clubs populate Group 1. Last year's finalists, Breaffy are joined by regular winners Ballintubber, solid senior side Aghamore and new boys Kilmeena. All four will harbour hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals, some with more credibility than others.

The smart money will be on Ballintubber and Breaffy to fill the top two spots, but nothing is guaranteed. Ballintubber with Tom Mulderrig in charge will fancy their chances of progression particularly if they leave Aghamore on opening day with victory in their cargo. James Fallon and his Breaffy side will host Kilmeena on the same day and will be confident of victory against the Clew Bay men who are playing in the senior championship for the first time in more than a century.

The match between Aghamore and Kilmeena is critical as the winners will almost certainly avoid relegation with the added bonus that victory over one of the top two seeds will send them into the last eight.

GROUP 2

Champions collide and neighbours go to war:
Ballina Stephenites, Westport, Mayo Gaels, Balla

A local derby like no other and a meeting between the last two senior champions will surely bring big crowds out to watch the action in this group before the quarter-finalists are known. Mayo Gaels and Balla met in Mayo Abbey last season with the home side coming out on top in front of a passionate and vocal crowd. Balla will be delighted to have been handed the chance for immediate revenge, but the Gaels will be looking to do another number on their nearest, dearest enighbours and double their treasured advantage.

The Stephenites and Westport will have nothing but Paddy Moclair on their minds. The last two title-winners will be hot favourites to make it out of the group and it would be hard to bet against them. Ballina will want to go back-to-back and then have a right cut at Connacht while Westport will desperately want to put last year's limp exit at the hands of Breaffy behind them.

Ballina go to Mayo Abbey and Westport travel to Balla on the opening day. If the action follows anticipated form-lines, the top two seeds should advance while the winner of the mid-Mayo El Classico will guarantee their senior status without any need for survival shoot-outs.

GROUP 3

Any two from four could make it:
Knockmore, Belmullet, Ballaghaderreen, Claremorris

All four of these teams will fancy their chances and have the potential to advance. Top seeds, Knockmore and Belmullet were finalists in 2021 with the men from Lough Conn winning their tenth title on that occasion in Ballina.

Ballaghadereen have fine players all over the pitch, but have been plagued by injury in the last few championship campaigns. Claremorris have flattered to decieve for a generation but by the law of averages their underage potential will surely come to the fore at some stage. Is this the year?

Knockmore and Belmullet are the top seeds and will be fancied to advance because they have teh pedigree and the proven talent. At this juncture, Claremorris cannot be trusted until they actually produce a serious championship run, therefore the only debate to be had is whether Ballagh' will have a clean bill of health when the business end of the year arrives. If they get everyone on the pitch they will certainly have a say in who advances to the last eight.

Belmullet make the long journey to Claremorris on opening day and Knockmore travel to Ballaghaderreen. The picture will be a lot clearer when the two games conclude.

GROUP 4

Big chance to make a mark:
Castlebar Mitchels, Charlestown Sarsfields, Garrymore, Ballyhaunis

More questions than answers here. Castlebar Mitchels will be strongly fancied to advance to the knock-out stages from this group, but opinions vary about who might accompany them. That said, Mitchels were disappointing on many fronts last season and never caught fire. Similar displays this time out may not suffice against determined and talented opposition.

Charlestown impressed many last year with their run to the quarter-finals and if their progression continues into this campaign they could make a major impact. Garrymore are consistently talked about as last-eight and last-four contenders, but whether that reoccurs this season is the big question. Meanwhile, Pete Warren, John Prenty and their colleagues will be hoping to inspire Ballyhuanis to great things too and the men in red and black certainly have the potential to make their mark when championship comes around.

On the opening day Castlebar will be expected to beat Charlestown in the county town while Garrymore will be fancied to win in Ballyhaunis. Any deviation from these results will throw the whole group wide open.