ROUNDUP: Talking points aplenty from Mayo LGFA Junior Championship

The junior battle in Mayo can often be the most demanding across all grades, and this season looks set to be another tantalising instalment as eight sides go toe-to-toe in the hunt for silverware.

Here, we’ll walk you through all the happenings across the county, with no want of excitement and incredible football.

GROUP A

Saint Brigid’s 7-15 The Neale 5-8.

Where to start with a game that had almost as many total points as minutes?

The Saint Brigid’s crowd who made their way to Cong were treated to an utter thriller as an exhibition of scoring unfolded on Sunday morning.

Ava McDonnell and Alva Munnelly were key scorers in building up a 5-7 to 2-6 advantage before the changeover,  a huge advantage given the monster breeze they had been facing.

The ball was like a bar of soap on occasion, and Anna Heffernan had to have her wits about her to keep the O’Neills from breaching her net on a multitude of occasions.

Ultimately, the chasm between the teams remained at the full-time whistle, when Brigid’s took their first steps on the comeback trail with style.

Parke 3-12 Kilmeena 1-6

Parke got their hunt for Junior success off to a fantastic start when they produced a superb showing on Sunday.

The side managed by Harry Flynn were exceptional from start to finish in this one, and a defence marshalled by Rachael Kelly put the brakes on their Kilmeena counterparts.

The first half saw no shortage of goalmouth action, with each side hitting the crossbar an incredible three times each.

The hosts pushed on to finish the half with a flurry, ending the first innings with a nine-point gap.

The trend of the first half continued in the second, with the engine room spearheaded by Alannah Kelly in the middle and the home side ran out deserved winners.

GROUP B

Swinford-Killasser 3-13 Balla 3-5

The home side got life at junior level off to a fine start at Swinford Amenity Park, where they prevailed in horrendous playing conditions.

The hosts opted to play against the breeze from the start and made hay early on as they raced into a 2-9 to 2-1 lead.

Their first-half performance was backboned by the incredible veteran Regina Mullaney, who contributed four points.

Losing Ella Gallagher to a sin bin at the start of the second half was hardly an ideal situation, but the wily campaigners ploughed on, showing their class as they kept Sunday’s adversaries at arm's length.

By the time the full-time whistle shrilled, the destination of the points had been secured as the hosts aim to make their stay at this level a short one.

Breaffy 3-12 Westport ‘B’ 0-10

Westport’s ‘B’ side were unable to repeat the trick of their ‘A’ team when they fell to an excellent Breaffy on the road.

The Clew Bay women went in at the changeover with a slim one-point advantage.

However, that was as good as it got for Westport, as Keith Hopkins side upped the ante. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly an outrageous top-corner Amy Golden goal from all of 25 metres out.