The Mayo SFC semi-finalists covered

And then there were four


We run the rule over the remaining Moclair Cup contenders

Feature
Mike Finnerty

Ballaghaderreen
Outright Odds: 9/4
Manager: Mark O’Dowd
Last Moclair Cup: 2008
Star Man: Barry Regan
Big Loss: Andy Moran
One To Watch: Andy Hanley
Did you know? It’s forty years (1972) since Ballagh’ won their first Mayo SFC.

Strengths
STRENGTH, conditioning and physical fitness have never been an issue for this group of Ballagh’ footballers and this season is no exception.
Their physique and power, especially up the middle, remains one of their biggest assets and it will take a serious midfield partnership to best Barry Kelly and James Kilcullen when the chips are down.
The likes of Andy Hanley and David Kilcullen are also adept at winning dirty ball.
Up front, Barry Regan is one of the very best ball-winning and scoring inside forwards in the county, and along with Ronan McGrath will take watching.

Weaknesses
INCONSISTENCY at this stage of the season has dogged Ballaghaderreen since their breakthrough Moclair Cup win four years ago.
Last year’s defeat to Knockmore in the quarter-final was a case in point as the East Mayo lads struggled to get going when the going got tough.
Like Mayo last Sunday, they will also badly miss their talisman, Andy Moran, when push comes to shove against Knockmore.
Without him, Ballagh’ need somebody to share the scoring burden with Moran’s usual partner-in-crime, Barry Regan.

Comment
NEW manager Mark O’Dowd has picked up from where Kieran Gallagher left off and the manner of their quarter-final win over Garrymore would suggest that Ballagh’ mean business, even without the injured Andy Moran.


Ballintubber
Outright Odds: 1/1
Manager: Peter Ford
Last Moclair Cup: 2011
Star Man: Alan Dillon
Big Loss: Cillian O’Connor
One To Watch: Damien McGing
Did you know? They are now sixteen games unbeaten in Mayo club championship football.

Strengths
IF there is one thing that the Boys From The Tubber have shown they can do over the last few years it’s win matches. League or championship, spring or summer, the county champions get the job done.
That ability to win games has become their calling card in recent seasons and underpins their confidence and trust in each other no matter what the situation.
Whether Ballintubber are five points up, or five points down, they stick to the game-plan and have enough talented footballers to deal with any crisis.

Weaknesses
AFTER being unbeaten in the Mayo senior championship since the 2009 quarter-final against Knockmore, it’s hard to single out any obvious or apparent weakness in Ballintubber’s armour. In fact, at first glance, they don’t seem to have any.
However, although it’s easier said than done, curbing Alan Dillon’s influence does significantly blunt their attacking blade.
Dillon, who has been their outstanding forward for the best part of the last decade, continues to make ‘Tubber tick.

Comment
ON all known form this Moclair Cup remains Ballintubber’s to lose and they are rightly favourites to complete an historic hat-trick of senior championships.
But Cillian O’Connor’s shoulder injury is a big blow to Peter Ford’s plans.


Crossmolina
Outright Odds: 3/1
Manager: Michael Moyles
Last Moclair Cup: 2006
Star Man: Gabriel Walsh
Big Loss: Joe Keane
One To Watch: Cathal Carolan
Did you know? Crossmolina were the first Mayo club to win the All-Ireland championship title (2001).

Strengths
IN a word? Experience.
So many of these Crossmolina players have been down this road before and their experience of county semi-finals, finals, big games, and big occasions is invaluable when coming up against the likes of Ballintubber.
They also possess a handful of players who could hold their own in any company; Ronan Rochford, Peadar Gardiner, Gabriel Walsh, Ciaran McDonald and Brian Benson provide leadership in each line outfield.
They are also blessed in the pace department with speed merchants like Cathal Carolan, Gardiner and Benson all capable of breaking the line,

Weaknesses
AN awful lot has changed since Ballinrobe went to Crossmolina in the first round back in May and left with a victory that was as easy as it was impressive.
However, one aspect of that match remains relevant ahead of next weekend’s date with Ballintubber and that was how Crossmolina struggle to get going up front when Ciaran McDonald is tied down.
The 37 years-old remains their playmaker and when he is in possession, and gets time to get his head up, he makes things happen. But he can be shut down.

Comment
THE Deel Rovers timed their run just right to emerge from a very competitive group and made short work of Westport in the quarter-finals. It would seem that they are building momentum but this is their biggest test in twelve months.


Knockmore
Outright Odds: 9/2
Manager: Ray Dempsey
Last Moclair Cup: 1997
Star Man: Kevin McLoughlin
Big Loss: Trevor Howley
One To Watch: Stephen Sweeney
Did you know? They have scored two goals in four championship games this season.

Strengths
IT’S hard to believe that Knockmore haven’t won the Mayo SFC in fifteen years.
And yet, it’s their ability to keep reaching the knock-out stages, year in, year out, that marks them out as such dangerous and formidable opponents.
They are championship specialists, and in the likes of Shane McHale, Declan Sweeney, Kevin McLoughlin and Aidan Kilcoyne they possess a plethora of serious operators.
They can play championship matches either way, hard and fast, or tactical and slow, as they showed for a long time against Claremorris last time out.
And they don’t break easy.

Weaknesses
FOR some reason Knockmore have been unable to convert all those quarter-final appearances into anything more substantial over the last ten to fifteen years.
They have played in three County Finals in the last ten seasons but their 2009 defeat to Charlestown seems to have been a big blow to their egos and ambitions.
The loss of Kevin O’Neill (retired) and Trevor Howley and Damien Munnelly (both emigrated) this season also robs them of two class acts and makes it even harder for them to match-up to the likes of Ballaghaderreen.

Comment
NO Knockmore team ever lacks for effort in championship football but Ray Dempsey’s team are going to have to produce inspiration to match their perspiration if Ballagh’ are going to be turned over.

HAVE YOUR SAY email mikefinnerty@mayonews.ie with your comments