Race for the roses begins in earnest: Mayo Intermediate Championship Preview

The business end of the the Sweeney Cup campaign has arrived and four tantalising quarter-finals, and two relegation play-offs will be decided this weekend. Ronan O’Donnell looks into his crystal ball and predicts the outcomes.

Clew Bay boys to drive on

KILMEENA V KILMAINE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT 3PM

THEY may have been relegated from the senior ranks last year but can a Kilmeena team under the fresh management team of Damien Egan bounce straight back up? The Clew Bay men were impressive in the group stages as they ran out comfortable winners against Burrishoole and Cill Chomáin while The Neale really tested them.

Oliver Walsh’s Kilmaine side have been solid so far, while remaining competitive in all three games. Their heavy win over Louisburgh caught the eye with main man Adam Barrett landing spectacular scores. The visitors have plenty of exciting players such as Luke Muniz, Kevin Mullin and the aforementioned Barrett and that’s not to mention this year’s Mayo U-20 Hugh O’Loughlin who could perhaps make an appearance from injury. The hosts are the favourites and with the returning Caolach Halligan and Jack Carney ever so crucial around the middle, Kilmeena could well shade this with the home advantage working in favour of the 2023 champions.

VERDICT: KILMEENA

Toughest call of all

ARDNAREE V PARKE

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT 5PM

This is potentially the toughest quarter-final to call, with so much uncertainty around Parke’s form. Conversely Ardnaree have been consistent throughout the campaign with Liam McHale adding an extra nugget of experience to Rory Clarke’s management team. The Moysiders are many people’s dark horse of the championship and they seem to be stepping up to the plate.

However, they now welcome a youthful Parke side to Sean Duffy Park and that will be an entirely different challenge. The West Mayo side needed a win in round two and they produced an outstanding performance to topple Davitts on the road. In the final group game with Islandeady, Parke underperformed but still managed to squeak through. The hosts will be difficult to beat but Parke seem to have a bigger spread of scorers while also having many talented  forwards at their disposal. Tom Walsh and Michael Keaveney’s charges could well send the home side packing but a tight game is expected between two well-seasoned Intermediate sides. 

VERDICT: PARKE

Moy boys expected to win

MOY DAVITTS V BALLINROBE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 4PM

Before a ball was kicked, these two teams were on the lips of many when asked to predict potential champions at the start of the season. Moy Davitts remain joint favourites for the title and Ballinrobe have been hit with injuries throughout the season so the home side are favoured here. That said, Eoin Hughes’ side still have excellent footballers with the likes of Evan O’Brien, Kevin Quinn, and the Duffy brothers amongst their ranks. Ballinrobe are a big physical side but last year’s finalists Moy Davitts appear to have more firepower up front. Cian McHale, Brian Heneghan, Ronan Clarke and Brian Reape are classy players and not to mention Conor Reid, Colm McHale and Jamie Clarke who have worn the green and red in recent times. Paul McGarry’s side will take serious stooping as they attempt to go one better than last year. 

VERDICT: MOY DAVITTS

Clash of the clans

KILTANE V CILL CHOMÁIN

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 4PM

The battle of Erris. This will be talked about for decades to come and local bragging rights are certainly on the line. The hosts are fancied to go and have a real say in this competition with bookmakers installing Shane Lindsay’s side as joint-favourites to lift the Sweeney Cup. This year’s Mayo U-20 Josh Carey has been one of the stars of the entire championship and has kicked 2-27 so far. Midfielder Liam Donoghue has been imperious for the Blue and Gold and will relish this neighbourly clash. 

Cill Chomain are coming to town, looking to make a big impression. They have fine players in their ranks with Liam Maloney among those catching the eye, and will fancy their chances. Nigel Reape and Sean McLoughlin will have them well prepared for this one. However the hosts appear to have enough firepower to win this one. Expect fireworks.

VERDICT : KILTANE

Survival is the prize

RELEGATION SEMI FINALS

ISLANDEADY V LOUISBURGH 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 12PM 

This meeting of two proud West Mayo clubs has the potential to light up Pairc Naomh Muire in Tourmakeady. Coming into the clash, it would appear Michael Walsh’s Islandeady have the best form on offer considering they drew with Davitts and most recently Parke. Eugene O’Toole’s Louisburgh men have struggled this season as they went through the group stage winless. Louisburgh have fine players such as Basil McLeod, Alfie Morrison and Dylan Prendergast who have all represented Mayo at underage. However Islandeady have proven to be a tough side to beat and if it turns into a dogfight, they can just edge it. 

VERDICT: ISLANDEADY

LAHARDANE V BURRISHOOLE

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 AT 12PM

Geographically they sit beside one another and when Sunday afternoon comes about, there won’t be much between the sides on the Munnelly Park surface in Castlebar. Burrishoole have struggled so far. However, Liam O’Malley’s side have been a mixed bag. Although they’ve been beaten in all three games, they produced positive spells in each of them. 

Their neighbours, Lahardane, have shown they have great spirit and no little skill as they came from behind in games against Ardnaree and Ballinrobe to rescue draws. Eddie Conroy’s men could edge this with Shane Finnerty to the fore.

VERDICT: LAHARDANE