Let the games begin: Preview of the Mayo Senior Football Championship Round 1

The race to claim the Moclair Cup gets underway on Friday night. It promises to be the most entertaining campaign in years. Michael Gallagher throws his eye over the opening round and tries to figure out who will emerge victorious.

GROUP 1

BALLINA V BALLYHAUNIS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 3PM

ANYTHING other than a win for the defending champions would be the biggest shock of the season. The Stephenites are gunning for their third Moclair Cup in succession and to their credit have made no secret of that fact. They have the power and the squad depth to go all the way again. David Clarke is still minding the house at the back and Evan Regan is shooting the lights out up front.

The Moysiders should come through this one but Pete Warren, John Prenty and the rest of the management team will have Ballyhaunis well-primed for battle. Enda Coyne will look to help his side pull off a shock, but it may be beyond them.

VERDICT – BALLINA STEPHENITES

GARRYMORE V CROSSMOLINA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 3PM

THIS promises to be a classic. Garrymore, one of the most consistent teams in the competition over the years coming up against Brian Benson's hugely exciting young tyros from the Deel.

Many expect Crossmolina to win this one and they might be right. The guests will bring pace, power and passion to this one. They have young men ready for war alongside seasoned warriors such as Jordan Flynn, Conor Loftus and Milie Loftus.

However, they've yet to face a challenge like the one awaiting them on Sunday. Garrymore are hugely consistent and will have Darren Quinn, Gary Golden, Shane Nally and a battalion of men chomping at the bit for this one.

It could be the game of the weekend.

VERDICT - GARRYMORE

VOTE: Who will win the Mayo Senior Football Championship?

GROUP 2

AGHAMORE V BREAFFY

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 7PM

THE opening game in the race for the Moclair Cup is a tough one to call. Breaffy are seen as one of the favourites to win the competition outright, but they'll do well to get out of Aghamore with a win.

The home side would love nothing more than to send the 'Deane Team' down the road with nothing but meomories in their cargo and they're well capable of doing so. Aghamore were within a whisker of winning the Division 2 league final a few weeks ago and have a team packed with talent. Fergal Boland is one of the best forwards in the county and will take a lot of minding. However, if Aidan O'Shea, Matthew Ruane, Davitt Neary and their colleagues hit form they should sneak it.

VERDICT – BREAFFY

CASTLEBAR MITCHELS V BELMULLET

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 7PM

WRITE Belmullet off at your peril. When the same two teams met in the league, the Erris men were blown off the pitch, kicking just a single point from play when backed by the wind in the second half. However, Kevin Filan and the Castlebar men won't be fooled by that because Belmullet are a very talented outfit apcked with good footballers.

The home side go into this one as hot favourities. They have the strongest squad in the county, but that depth will be tested this week because of a very lengthy injury list. However, if they get Paddy Durcan and some of their big hitters on the field they should come through.

VERDICT – CASTLEBAR MITCHELS

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GROUP 3

BALLINTUBBER V CHARLESTOWN

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 7PM

Ballintubber have been bubbling along nicely in the league and are now ready to launch themselves into the championship. The Abbeysiders have Cillian O'Connor, Stephen O'Malley and Diarmuid O'Connor ready to cut loose on defences the length and breadth of the county. If they can mind the house at the back, they will take a lot of beating.

However, there's no team more dangerous on their day than Charlestown. Ginger Tiernan's men will arrive in Ray Prendergast Park as outsiders but if the ball hops their way and Paul Towey finds the range with regularity they will put it up to the hosts.

VERDICT – BALLINTUBBER

BALLAGHADERREEN V CLAREMORRIS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 7PM

THIS is a big game. Both sides are capable of going deep into the competition and victory on Saturday night will get them off and running. Ballagh won Division 2 of the league with Kuba Callaghan leading their attack and went within a kick of a ball of beating Ballina in last year's championship semi-final.

Claremorris have sent out hugely talented squads in recent years, but rarely play to their potential in the white heat of championship. However, Kevin Beirne has now built a solid, hard-working team ready to make an impact.

Both sides have impressive attacking options, so the game will be decided by the best performing defence.

This is a hard one to call, but home advantage may sway the result towards Patrick Sharkey's boys from the borderline.

VERDICT - BALLAGHADERREEN

POLL: Who will win the Mayo GAA Intermediate Club Championship?

GROUP 4

WESTPORT V MAYO GAELS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 5PM

MANY are fancying the guests to win this one. They survived a relegation play-off last season but are now primed to have a real cut at the big dogs. Ruairi Keane, Jack Fallon, the Gallagher brothers and John Finn are just some of the talent in their ranks.

Westport have had a mixed league campaign but that's of little importance if they're ready to rock when the ball is thrown in on Saturday evening. Pat Holmes is a manager with buckets of experience and will relish the cut and thrust of championship.

The Gaels will throw everything at the Clew Bay men, but if Lee Keegan, Conal Dawson, Finbar McLaughlin and their colleagues find their mojo they have the firepower to win it.

VERDICT – WESTPORT

BALLA V KNOCKMORE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 3PM

THIS battle will answer two big questions. Are Knockmore going to launch another assault on the title or are Balla going to finally knock over one of the big boys?

Knockmore have used the league campaign smartly to blood a number of young players and keep their powder dry for the big race about to get underway. Now, Raymond Dempsey can unleash Darren McHale, Aiden Orme, David McHale and their talented colleagues.

However, they'll get nothing easy in Nally Park. Their former star midfielder is now on the sideline for Balla and will have the home boys ready for whatever will be thrown at them.

Balla will have Ger Flanagan directing matters from the back and his cousin, Mayo U-20 Oisin Cronin popping up at the other end. Between them an army of Balla men will look to pull off a spectacular victory. It may be beyond them.

VERDICT - BALLA

READ MORE: The toughest race of them all: Preview of Mayo Intermediate Football Championship Round 1