Big guns to meet

Big guns to meet

Club championship draw pairs champs with dark horses

Mike Finnerty

REIGNING Mayo senior football champions Crossmolina will face a stern examination of their credentials in the quarter-finals of this year’s competition after being drawn against high-flying Charlestown.
The draw – which took place in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre, Castlebar on Monday night – pits Tommy Jordan’s team against the 2001 county champions in what is unquestionably the glamour tie of the last eight.
Incredibly, due to the ‘open draw’ nature of Monday night’s draw, four group winners have been paired up in the quarter-finals with Section A winners Ballaghaderreen meeting Section D winners Kiltane, and Section B king-pins Crossmolina squaring up to the best team in Section C, Charlestown.
This means that at least two of the ‘big guns’ will be out of contention by the semi-final stage while four of the group runners-up will be fairly pleased with their quarter-final pairings. Liam Higgins’ Ballina Stephenites will take on Johnny Monaghan’s Garrymore while Aidan McHale’s Knockmore are up against Martin Connolly’s Burrishoole.
McHale Park, Castlebar will play host to three of the senior championship quarter-finals on the weekend of August 26 with Kiltane and Ballagh’ facing off at James Stephens, Ballina on the same weekend.
The semi-final draws have already been made and mean that the last year’s county finalists, Crossmolina and Ballagh’, cannot meet until the county final. However, the mouth-watering prospect of a last four date between Ballina and Ballaghaderreen is on the cards.
Elsewhere, in the senior championship relegation play-offs, Moy Davitts have been drawn against Westport and Tourmakeady take on Claremorris. The matches will be played on the weekend of September 10 with both losers being relegated to the Intermediate Championship next season.
Meanwhile, the clash of Kiltimagh and Davitts in the Intermediate Championship quarter-finals looks to be the stand-out game of the round.
The east Mayo derby between Swinford and Aghamore also catches the eye while Ballintubber will be expected to see off Ballyhaunis and Belmullet should come through against Crossmolina B in the other Intermediate quarter-finals. These games will be played on the weekend of August 26 but no venues have yet been announced.
In the Intermediate relegation play-offs, Ballina B will take on Mayo Gaels and Bonninconlon have been paired with Cill Chomáin. The losers of these games will meet in a relegation final with one team dropping down to the Junior Championship for next year