Mayo Intermediate Championship previews and predictions

THIS weekend promises to be unforgettable.

Eight teams shall fall, eight shall stand and four will enjoy a home quarter-final when the dust settles on an unmissable round of club action.

The margins of victory in Round 2 were tighter than many had predicted, so have the calculators at the ready on Sunday evening.

What’s not to love about this competition?

GROUP 1

Louisburgh v Crossmolina

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 5.45PM, WESTPORT

THE winner takes all in this one.

With Moy Davitts highly likely to dispatch fourth-place Lahardane, nothing less than a win will secure second place in this battle of north and west.

Despite their bizarre, almost inexplicable collapse in Round 2, Crossmolina are still a force to be reckoned with.

Fionán Duffy, James Maheady and Patrick Leddy can pulverise any intermediate team while Conor Loftus and Jordan Flynn are also potential game changers.

However, Louisburgh have few better men to attack any Deel Rovers’ doubt than Dylan Prendergast, who shot 0-6 and set up both goals in their win over Lahardane.

It will be tight - very tight.

VERDICT: CROSSMOLINA

Lahardane V Moy Davitts

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 5.45PM, BALLINA

THERE’S little else for Lahardane to play for except pride here.

Battle-scarred from their epic win over Crossmolina, Moy Davitts should have an easier time of it here as a draw would guarantee top spot and a much-coveted home quarter-final.

Former Mayo senior Brian Reape should be fully-fit for the only Round 3 game where it’s hard to make a case for the underdogs.

With 8-21 scored in two games, James Mulderrig’s side are almost unbackable favourites against a twice-beaten Lahardane.

VERDICT: MOY DAVITTS

GROUP 2

Kiltimagh V Castlebar Mitchels B

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 12PM, AGHAMORE

They’ve under-promised and over-delivered in their first two games, but Kiltimagh and Castlebar Mitchels B are exactly where everyone expected them to be.

Both ran Hollymount-Carramore very close, but all thats at stake here is a chance to avoid the dreaded relegation play-offs.

Both sides are young, talented and have enough attacking flair to deliver a high-scoring and enthralling undercard to the main event in Group 2.

VERDICT: CASTLEBAR MITCHELS

Davitts V Hollymount/Carramore

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 8PM, GARRYMORE

AN absolute must-see.

A good South Mayo derby would leave the gladiators in the ha’penny place. But this is all the more appetising when you recall the last intermediate game to be played under lights in Garrymore, when Ballinrobe and Hollymount-Carramore - both already in the quarter-finals - delivered the game of the year last season.

A home quarter-final for the table-toppers is a fair reward. But it is an utterly miniscule dot compared to the right to brag and slag the noisy neighbours for the next twelve months.

With it being Friday the 13th, anything is possible..

VERDICT: DRAW

GROUP 3

Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin v Kilmaine

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 3.45PM, MAYO ABBEY

PARKE are now a very dangerous animal.

Fintan McHale’s men got the mother of all wake-up calls from Kiltane, but can redeem against a Kilmaine side seeking to reach the quarter-finals while also avoiding the relegation play-offs for a third year in a row.

Kilmaine were shown to be almost entirely dependent on Adam Barrett frees for scores against Ballinrobe.

Parke, on the other hand, have proven score-getters in Ronan Carolan, Dara Neary, Darragh Reilly and Cathal Keaveney.

The black and amber should secure second place with three points if they are successful on Saturday.

VERDICT: PARKE

Ballinrobe V Kiltane

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 3.45PM, KNOCKMORE

WRITE Kiltane off at your peril.

Replicating the Bangor Ambush will be a huge task, particularly against Ballinrobe, who haven’t regressed since contesting last year’s county final.

Even without the injured Mikie Sweeney, who may be back for this one, Kiltane have proven that they are still bursting at the seams with talent.

But they are no more talented than Peter Ford’s team, who’ll have too much for the men of Erris.

VERDICT: BALLINROBE

GROUP 4

The Neale V Islandeady

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 3.15PM, TOURMAKEADY

BRING calculators to Tourmakeady on Sunday.

With all four teams in Group 4 on two points each, only a win will guarantee progression from the killing fields.

The Neale hold a +2 scoring difference which will see them leap-frog Islandeady in the not-unlikely event of a draw.

The southerners have two of the most formidable poachers in the intermediate championship in Tom Lydon and Tommy Conroy.

Islandeady are a match for them everywhere else and do not fold under pressure.

It doesn’t get more high-pressure than this, but The Neale can get the job done.

VERDICT: THE NEALE

Ardnaree v Burrishoole

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 3.15PM, FOXFORD

MORE of the same here.

Ardnaree are arguably a better all-round team, but Burrishoole have the better forwards.

Adam Rehill is up there with the best attackers in the intermediate championship, with 2-10 to his name in two games.

Jason Doherty and Fintan McManamon will also take minding, but so too will Ardnaree’s Seaghan Duffy and John Timlin, who’ve shot 1-12 between them.

We could well see a draw between two sides with sharp swords and soft-ish defensive armour, but Burrishoole should squeeze it.

VERDICT: BURRISHOOLE