Mayo club championship draw throws up several big fixtures and local derbies

MATCH-UPS between Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy, Crossmolina and Ballina Stephenites, Kilmeena and Burrishoole and Balla and Mayo Gaels are among the standout local derbies in this year’s Mayo club championships. 

The draws for the senior, intermediate, and junior football championships have produced several intriguing matchups and local derbies. 

The 2025 senior championship has some enticing matchups, with reigning champions Ballina Stephenites facing their newly-promoted Crossmolina neighbours in Group 1. Niall Heffernan’s men will also play Garrymore and Ballyhaunis as they seek to win their third county title in a row.

Local rivals Breaffy and Castlebar Mitchels will lock horns in Group 2 against Aghamore and Belmullet teams under new management for 2025.

In Group 3, Ballaghaderreen and Ballintubber will renew acquaintances after meeting in last year’s quarter-finals. They have been grouped with Claremorris and Charlestown.

Lastly, Group 4 will see fierce rivals Balla and Mayo Gaels meet for the third time in three seasons in a group containing Westport and Knockmore. 

The Intermediate championship has produced its fair share of local derbies. The highlights include Hollymount/Carramore and Kilmaine, who have been drawn with last year’s county finalists Moy Davitts and Lahardane in Group 4. 

Kilmeena, who were relegated last year after one season of senior football, will clash with Clew Bay neighbours Burrishoole in Group 2, which contains The Neale and newly-promoted Cill Chomáin. 

Group 1 sees the 2023 finalists Ballinrobe paired off with Ardnaree, Castlebar Mitchels B, and Lahardane while Davitts, Kiltane, Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin and Islandeady will joust in Group 3. 

In the junior championship, last year’s runners-up Bonniconlon find themselves in a five-team group with Ardagh, Killala, Ballycroy, Ballycastle.

Kiltimagh, who dropped to junior football last year, are in the four-team group with Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Northern Gaels and Kilmovee. 

The third and final four-team group is comprised of Swinford, Achill, Shrule-Glencorrib, and Eastern Gaels.

The first round of games in the intermediate and senior championships will take place on the weekend of August 9/10. The junior championship will commence the week before on the August Bank Holiday weekend. The competitions will be played under the new rules, which are due to be finalised by the GAA in the coming weeks. 

The groups for the 2025 Mayo Senior Football Championship are as follows: 

Group 1

Ballina Stephenites, Garrymore, Ballyhaunis, Crossmolina

Group 2

Breaffy, Castlebar Mitchels, Aghamore, Belmullet

Group 3

Ballaghaderreen, Ballintubber, Claremorris, Charlestown

Group 4

Knockmore, Westport, Balla, Mayo Gaels

The groups for the 2025 Mayo Intermediate Football Championship are as follows: 

Group 1

Ballinrobe, Ardnaree, Castlebar Mitchels B, Lahardane 

Group 2

Kilmeena, The Neale, Burrishoole, Cill Chomáin

Group 3

Davitts, Kiltane, Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin, Islandeady

Group 4

Moy Davitts, Hollymount/Carramore, Louisburgh, Kilmaine

The groups for the 2025 Mayo Junior Football Championship are as follows: 

Group 1

Bonniconlon, Ardagh, Killala, Ballycroy, Ballycastle

Group 2

Kiltimagh, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Northern Gaels, Kilmovee

Group 3

Swinford, Achill, Shrule-Glencorrib, Eastern Gaels