Looking back at the road to the Mayo senior final

What began with 16 teams has been narrowed down to the final two, with this year’s Mayo Senior Championship delivering a wide-open and fiercely contested race for the Paddy Moclair Cup. The competition has served up plenty of entertaining football, drawing large crowds from across the county and beyond. Here, we look back at how each team made it to the final.

Castlebar Mitchels path to final

For Castlebar Mitchels, the road to the final began on a warm Friday evening in Balla on August 7, as the two West Mayo sides went head to head. While many expected the hosts to provide a stern test for the county town outfit, the contest proved anything but close. Goals from Cian Walsh and Anthony O’Boyle helped Kevin Filan’s men to an emphatic 2-16 to 0-10 victory. For Balla, a difficult start to the championship would only get worse, as their campaign ultimately ended in relegation to the intermediate grade.

Castlebar’s next assignment was a home meeting with reigning champions Ballina Stephenites. Following the North Mayo side’s shock home defeat to Garrymore, the stakes were high, with Mitchels knowing a victory would send the four in a row hopefuls crashing out. In front of the home crowd at Munnelly Park, a cagey encounter unfolded before the hosts eventually pulled clear. A late Neil Douglas goal sealed a deserved 1-17 to 1-10 win and confirmed Ballina’s exit. News of the champions’ downfall quickly spread throughout the county and beyond, with Castlebar beginning to attract attention.

Filan’s side were emerging as serious contenders, and their final group fixture offered another opportunity to make a statement. With top spot and a home quarter-final at stake, Castlebar faced Garrymore at the neutral venue of Hollymount. On that occasion, it was Garrymore who came out on top, recording a 0-19 to 0-14 victory and leaving Mitchels facing an away trip in the last eight. That trip took them to East Mayo for a quarter-final showdown with Aghamore.

After an underwhelming display against Garrymore, Castlebar responded in impressive fashion against Fergal Boland’s side. Bob Tuohy excelled at midfield, while Joe Forry and James Durcan made their mark in attack. Despite losing Neil Douglas to an early injury, Mitchels showed their resilience to weather the challenge and emerged with a convincing 0-19 to 1-10 win.

A place in the final was then on the line as Castlebar faced neighbours Breaffy in the semi-final. Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown provided the setting, with a large crowd gathering in East Mayo in anticipation of a tight contest. However, Mitchels proved too strong on the day, with Forry and Walsh again to the fore, while John MacMonagle and Donnacha McHugh did an excellent job of keeping Breaffy’s main threats in check. Sean Deane’s side mounted a late challenge, but Castlebar remained composed and saw out the game to secure a 1-16 to 0-14 victory. It was another impressive performance from Filan’s men, who had now booked their place in the county final.

For the 31-time champions, the opportunity to add another title to their remarkable history is now within reach. Their last triumph came in 2017, and after a campaign that has seen them overcome reigning champions, bounce back from defeat and overcome two tough knockout ties, Mitchels are just one win away from reclaiming the Paddy Moclair Cup.

Garrymore’s path to final

For Garrymore, the championship journey began in the lion’s den at James Stephen Park, where a daunting opening fixture against four-in-a-row chasing Ballina Stephenites awaited. However, the South Mayo men rose to the occasion, with county players Enda Hession and Eoin McGreal excelling before a late goal from the experienced Caolan Crowe sealed a famous victory in North Mayo. That result provided Garrymore with a major confidence boost, and they have not looked back since, winning every game on their march to the county final.

Next up was a home encounter with Balla, who made the journey to rural South Mayo. Garrymore made a flying start, with Eoin McGreal finding the net in the opening stages. However, Balla proved stubborn opposition and battled gamely throughout. The hosts eventually seized control after the interval, landing three two-pointers in quick succession to put daylight between the sides. Balla had opportunities to make a late comeback but failed to take them, allowing Garrymore to secure a 1-12 to 0-11 victory and leave the West Mayo outfit facing the exit.

With both Garrymore and Castlebar having secured their places in the knockout stages, their final group meeting at the neutral venue of Hollymount would determine who finished top and earned a home quarter-final. Played on a Friday evening, the clash attracted a large crowd to the superb venue affectionately known as the Saucer. Castlebar struggled to find their rhythm and looked sloppy at times, while Garrymore found another gear. Despite being without Andy Glennon, the South Mayo side delivered an impressive performance to claim a 0-19 to 0-14 victory which sealed top spot.

A home quarter-final against Crossmolina Deel Rovers was next on the agenda, with more than 4,000 spectators descending on South Mayo for what proved to be a memorable occasion. Five All-Ireland winners were on display, while many travelled from outside the county to catch a glimpse of one of the country's brightest young talents, Kobe McDonald. However, those hoping to see the Crossmolina youngster steal the show were left disappointed, as the evening belonged to the hosts.

McGreal and Hession were outstanding once again, while Darren Quinn and Mark Gibbons impressed in attack. It may not have been a classic in terms of quality, but the closing stages provided plenty of tension as both sides battled for victory. Crossmolina had opportunities late on, but Garrymore held their nerve when it mattered most, edging home by 0-14 to 0-12 to book their place in the semi-final.

Belmullet stood between Garrymore and a first county final appearance since 1982, with the sides meeting in Ballina for what turned into a classic encounter. A real memorable championship battle unfolded, with extra time required to separate the teams. Belmullet talisman Ryan O’Donoghue produced an excellent display, but it was Garrymore midfielder Gary Golden who earned the player of the match accolade after a tremendous, hard-working performance.

Garrymore trailed during normal time, only for a fine score from Trevor Nally to ensure the contest continued into extra time. When the game was in the melting pot, however, Garrymore found another gear. Showing tremendous resilience and determination, the South Mayo men edged a thrilling contest by 2-16 to 2-15 to book their place in the final and bring an end to a 42 year wait.

Now, Garrymore stand on the brink of history. Their last appearance in the county final came in 1982, when they faced the very same opponents awaiting them on Sunday. Six stars are currently on the Garrymore jersey, each representing a county title won by the club. The question now is whether they can add a seventh star and end their long wait for championship glory, or whether their opponents will once again deny them the ultimate prize.