Heads set to roll in second round slug-fest

The first round of the Mayo intermediate championship only disappointed the losing teams and their supporters. Everybody else was left utterly enthralled by 480-plus minutes of a competition that delivers time and time and time again.
All we needed was a sword-wielding Russell Crowe to emerge after each final whistle and bellow: “Are you not entertained?”
The fans are entertained, but the teams that could see their championship quarter-final hopes ended this weekend certainly won’t be. Let’s see whose heads are on the block, shall we?

GROUP 1
Popcorn in ‘God’s Pocket’

LOUISBURGH V LAHARDANE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2PM

It's all on the line back in God’s Pocket this weekend. As expected, both sides fell short against fancied opposition on opening day. Louisburgh, however, certainly didn’t shame themselves against a Moy Davitts team tipped to be the last men standing in ‘The Intermediate’ killing fields.
Three goals condemned John Kelly’s men to a five-point defeat by the Moy. This week, they are back home in Graineuaile’s kingdom to host a Lahardane team that were seven points short against Crossmolina. By all accounts, there’s a few extra gears in former Mayo U-20 Dylan Prendergast. If Louisburgh’s star forward can find them on Sunday, Lahardane won’t get pat them. 
VERDICT: LOUISBURGH

CROSSMOLINA DEEL ROVERS V MOY DAVITTS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 4.15PM

Grab the popcorn - this will be epic. If Crossmolina are to finally prove themselves as serious Sweeney Cup contenders, then a home win here is essential. 
Moy Davitts were solid in the opening round, even with their star man, Brian Reape, held to two points from play. 
There’ll be no shortage of sharpshooters on display here. Take your pick of Reape, Fionán Duffy, Patrick Leddy, James Maheady, Cian McHale and Ronan Clarke. 
Seán Kelly will have another few training sessions in the legs by the Moy after returning home from Dubai while Fionán Duffy’s scoring run shows no sign of abating for the men from the Deel. 
He might have another stormer, but Moy Davitts could well out-gun him in what promises to be the clash of the weekend. 
VERDICT: MOY DAVITTS

GROUP 2
Looking for two from two

HOLLYMOUNT CARRAMORE V CASTLEBAR MITCHELS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 12PM

Hollymount-Carramore will have their chests puffed after a one-point win over Kiltimagh that took the best of them.
Their main concern arising from that victory will be a possible season-threatening hamstring injury to star forward Darren Coen.
Mark Concannon must now look to Matthew Morris and Conor Heneghan for scores while Stephen Coen and Dylan Jennings will provide sturdiness at the back. 
Even with the experience of Ray O’Malley, Fergal Durkan, David Stenson and the indisputably talented forward Mark Cunningham, Castlebar Mitchels have a tough assignment ahead of them in The Saucer. 
Stephen Murphy’s men need the win to avoid a group stage exit, but Holly-Carra’ have the right amount of talent, youth and experience to get the job done. 
VERDICT: HOLLYMOUNT-CARRAMORE 

DAVITTS V KILTIMAGH
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 5.45PM

No tougher venue and fewer tougher opponents in Mayo football than Davitts in Ballindine. Kiltimagh were hugely disappointed last day out after letting a three-point lead slip to lose in their adopted home of Bekan. 
But the team that won just one game in 2023 should take great heart from a contest where the likes of Donovan Cosgrove, Conor Malee, Aidan Cosgrove and Cian Gallagher really stood up to the mark. 
Their hosts are no joke. Even with one boot in football’s retirement home, Colm Boyle, Ronan McNamara and Mikey Conroy can still frighten any intermediate opponent.
Forward Dylan Gallagher took Castlebar Mitchels for 1-5 earlier and will have piranhas like Liam Kearns and Niall Treacy helping him on Saturday evening. Kilti’ are no longer pushovers, but Davitts never were and never will be. 
VERDICT: DAVITTS 

GROUP 3
Parke life and Friday fun

KILTANE V PARKE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 4.15PM

Parke could not have sharpened their blades against a better surface in round one than against an established Division 1 side like Ballinrobe. Their trip to Erris will be tricky, but less daunting than facing last year’s championship runners up.
Kiltane will be hoping to have Mikie Sweeney back from injury, and Josh Carey, Charlie Ginnelly and John Ginty, Adam Carrabine and Ultan Corrigan can still hurt the best of Intermediate teams. 
With Dara Neary, Cathal Keaveney, Colm Lynch and Darragh Reilly blossoming into fine club footballers, Parke are no longer just the Ronan Carolan Show. They could should come out of this one against a Kiltane side ailed by injuries and a chronic lack of squad depth. 
VERDICT: PARKE 

BALLINROBE V KILMAINE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 8PM

Nothing like a town versus country South Mayo derby to set the mood for the weekend. As expected, the Mullins brothers (minus Oisín, at the moment), Adam Barrett, Brendan Sheridan and Tomás Fahey shone for Tom Flynn’s men in their win over Kiltane.
But their combined arms will be severely tested against a Ballinrobe side with quality and experience in every line of the field. 
The Burke and Duffy brothers alone take serious watching while Mayo panellist Kevin Quinn is due a return to form after a scoreless display against Parke. 
With a strong middle eight and a solid enough defence, Ballinrobe should be too good for Kilmaine. The Mayo News understands that Oisín Mullin won’t be making an appearance for this one. 
VERDICT: BALLINROBE

Group 4
Two thrillers in store

THE NEALE V BURRISHOOLE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 5.30PM

Lifeback in intermediate football hasn’t been kind to The Neale thus far. An opening day away defeat has left Donal Costello’s men in need of a home win to avert yet more relegation misery. 
Tommy ‘Goals’ Conroy was held to just two points by Ardnaree Sarsfields while his teenage apprentice, Tom Lydon, impressed with six white flags. How the two Toms and the legendary Seanie Cosgrave fare against a hard-working, bread-and-butter barony side will be interesting to see. 
Adam Rehill has well and truly stolen Jason Doherty’s thunder as Burrishoole’s scorer-in-chief, and the Clew Bay men travel south with a one-point win over Islandeady under their belt. This will be very tight, but Rehill and Conroy will likely determine which way the scale tilts. 
VERDICT: BURRISHOOLE

ISLANDEADY V ARDNAREE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1PM

Boy, try calling this one! Talent and experience flows through both teams, but who has more is almost impossible to determine. 
Islandeady beat their guests by a point in Ardnaree during the league - the only team in Division 2A to do so this year. 
Home advantage and the lingering hurt from their derby day defeat to Burrishoole will add fuel to an Islandeady fire stoked by the ever reliable Peter Collins, Levi Barrett, Seamie Lally and Darragh Joyce. 
However, the loss of Caillin Joyce and Zak Collins during the bruising in the barony will hamper a team facing a side starring Seaghan Duffy, John Timlin, the up-and-coming defender Adam Parsons and an ageless attacker Eoin McCormack in their holster. Having seen off The Neale at home, Ardnaree may have too much for Islandeady. But only just. 
VERDICT: ARDNAREE