GAA preview: Mayo football's Royal Rumble

Trying to call a winner in the Royal Rumble of Mayo football is nothing but a fool’s game. The only thing that can be guaranteed is that nothing is guaranteed, where the teams are so evenly matched that the words of the great Páidí Ó Sé linger over every single fixture: “A grain of rice is going to tip the scale.”

Group 1: Paper favourites and local rivals

Moy Davitts v Louisburgh

SUNDAY, AUGUST, 18, 3PM 

Moy Davitts are the favourites here - on paper at least. The were beaten by Kilmeena team in last year’s semi-final but are still as strong as ever. While he saw little game time under Kevin McStay, Conor Reid will have thrived as part of the Mayo setup. 

Former Mayo forward Brian Reape is in flying form in a team bursting with young talent in the likes of Cian McHale, Fionnán Cruise and the ageless sharpshooter Brian Heneghan. 

Louisburgh, who recently lost a Division 2 promotion playoff, will lean on ex-Mayo Minor Dylan Prendergast for scores but will miss the injured Mikey Dawson.

They face a tough task in Foxford. But then again, the Louisburgh were the only team to beat Kilmeena in last year’s championship when they took their scalp in a group game back in God’s Pocket.

Moy Davitts to win on paper, but anything could happen on grass. 

VERDICT: Moy Davitts

Lahardane McHales v Crossmolina Deel Rovers

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 7PM

Expect blood and thunder at The Battle of Nephin. After being beaten in last year’s quarter-finals Division 2 champions Crossmolina have assembled a team well-balanced with speedsters and big bruisers - Cavan native Patrick Leddy has been a massive addition at full-forward.

Even with home advantage, Lahardane will find this tough. Their manager, Eddie Conroy would like nothing better than to beat the townies from over the road but it will be easier said than done. 

But with John Maughan in the management team and Jordan Flynn and Conor Loftus back from holidays, it’s hard to see Crossmolina being beaten here. 

VERDICT: CROSSMOLINA 

Group 2: Warhorses and rejuvenation

Castlebar Mitchels B v Davitts

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1PM

The difference a year makes in the life of a ‘B’ team. From the heights of a county semi-final, a depleted Mitchels ‘B’ have failed to win a single league game this year, finishing rock bottom of Division 2B with a scoring difference of -123. 

Stephen Murphy’s men face a Davitts side that enjoyed a respectable Division 1A campaign but failed to get out of their championship group last season. 

Old warhorses like Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara, Michael Conroy and Liam Kearns have featured this year for the border men, whose best young talents include Fenton Kelly, Niall Treacy, Jack Melvin, Dylan Gallagher and Stephen Nyland.

With players of the calibre of John MacMonagle and Ciaran Mylett graduated to senior football and Padraic Waldron and Callum Kyne understood to be missing, it’s hard to see Mitchels making anything like the impression they made at this grade last year. 

VERDICT: Davitts

Kiltimagh v Hollymount Carramore

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1PM

“We meet again Mr Bond.” On Sunday, these sides will lock horns in one of the most intermediate of clashes for the third time in five seasons

Kiltimagh only secured their intermediate status on the final day last season, while Hollymount Carramore, under the stewardship of new manager Mark Concannon, lost just one league game en route to promotion to Division 1. 

Kilti’ will enjoy home advantage and the addition of several fresh faced Minors this weekend. However, an opposition starring Darren Coen, Stephen Coen and Nathan Moran, spurred by talented tyros like Jack Keane and Tiernan Egan and seasoned campaigners like Barry Sheridan, Kevin Feerick and Enda Maloney, should have too much for them. 

VERDICT: Hollymount/Carramore 

Group 3: Rhyming names and big games

Kilmaine v Kiltane

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 3PM

Has anyone seen Oisín Mullin lately? This weekend, his old club have a very good chance of beating a visiting side that are limping into this fixture - literally and metaphorically. 

Kiltane’s evergreen sharpshooter Mikie Sweeney had to be carried off the field with a serious-looking injury during their relegation playoff defeat to Charlestown. On that day, their over dependence on Ultan Corrigan for scores was badly exposed. 

Without the injured Adam Carrabine and Cathal Carey, a talented but very inexperienced Kiltane team look set to struggle in the deep south. With scoring forwards like Michael Hession and Adam Barrett and livewires like Tomás Fahy and Jarlath Mullin, Kilmaine should see them off - even without the tanned buck with the ponytail.

VERDICT: Kilmaine

Parke v Ballinrobe

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 7PM

The pick of the entire first round - and that’s saying something! While Kevin Quinn, James Murphy, Aaron McDonnell and Diarmuid Duffy saw little game time with Mayo this year, them even being in Kevin McStay’s plans tells you Ballinrobe are a force to be reckoned with. 

However, the recent loss of attacker Darren McDonnell to a leg injury will come as a major blow to the team that finished third in Division 1A this year. Fintan McHale’s Parke will welcome back talented midfielder Darragh Reilly but Cian Donohoe will miss the opening round through injury.

Ballinrobe lost 1-4 to 2-8 when they met in the league in May, so nothing less than their best will contain a Parke attack featuring the ever-dangerous Ronan Carolan and ex-Mayo Minors Dara Neary and Cathal Keaveney. 

VERDICT: Parke

Group 4: Local clash and Moyside bash 

Burrishoole v Islandeady

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 3PM

Both these neighbours are just off the back of blade-sharpening promotion play-offs. While Jason Doherty has been quiet of late, new forward Adam Reihill has made a big impression since joining the Clew Bay side earlier this year. 

Originally from Cavan and teaching in Louisburgh, Reihill has taken some of the scoring burden off Doherty and Fintan McManamon and is a key player. Islandeady have a new kid on the block in ex-Mayo Minor Zak Collins, as well as the ever-reliable Darragh Joyce, Seamie Lally and Peter Collins. 

Though they got exactly 14 points from their respective Division 2A campaigns, Burrishoole’s scoring difference of +47 eclipses Islandeady’s +1. Burrishoole beat them 0-16 to 0-4 in the league, so history need only rhyme, rather than repeat, for the barony men to get the job done on Sunday.

VERDICT: Burrishoole

Ardnaree Sarsfields v The Neale

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 3PM

This one will be very interesting. Ardnaree were no bad shakes in the Division 2 final against Crossmolina, with John Timlin, Seaghan Duffy and Aaron Parsons all shining on a filthy wet day. 

They host a side that crashed and burned down from the senior ranks and had a hit-and-miss league campaign without Tommy Conroy for many games.  

This season, The Neale have found an apprentice to ‘Tommy Goals’ in Mayo U-20 panelist Tom Lydon, who has torn defences asunder at underage for years but remains untested at this level. 

If Sarsfields can tie down the two Tommys and not leave John Timlin to do all the scoring, The Neale will head south with their tails between their legs. 

VERDICT: Ardnaree

Find this weekend's fixtures right here!