PREDICTIONS: Festival of Mayo GAA Club League finals this weekend
Five deciders are due to take place in MacHale Park, with one scheduled for Breaffy
LEAGUE finals will take place across all six divisions over the weekend where excitement will be in air when teams battle it out for silverware.
DIVISION ONE
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 1.30 PM
A repeat of last season's epic senior championship finals, it’s safe to say these two heavyweights know each other well as they get set to face each other for league glory on Sunday.
Both sides suffered just two defeats in the league and when the sides met in the earlier stages of this competition, it was Pat Holmes’ Westport who claimed the points back in mid-May.
The Stephenites have been hugely impressive around the middle as county panelists Dylan Thornton and Frank Irwin have continued to impress. Westport have added further youth to their squad in recent months as Elcmar O’Toole, Jack O’Malley and Ben Holmes have all tasted a glimmer of senior football and all three have adapted well.
The 2022 county champions have experience in abundance with Lee Keegan, Brian McDermott and Eoghan McLaughlin operating in the Westport rearguard while up top, Killian Kilkelly and the Moran brothers, Mark and Colm have a deadly eye for goal.
Ballina manager Niall Heffernan will be pleased to have his marksman Evan Regan back after he returned to the fray in recent weeks after a shoulder operation.
The North Mayo men have been kicking a lot of two-pointers this campaign and on Sunday, a close competitive clash is expected.
VERDICT – WESTPORT
DIVISION TWO
BALLA V MAYO GAELS
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 7.30 PM
A clash between neighbours. This battle will be one full of flair between sides who have got to know each other extremely well in recent seasons and now they’re ready to battle it out with league honours on the line.
Remarkably, Balla have gone through the league unbeaten and alongside Ardnaree were the only two clubs to achieve this impressive feat.
Mayo Gaels on the other hand have been ticking along nicely while kicking some massive scores. In defence, Balla will be aware of their opposition scoring threat as the men in maroon have conceded the least in the division while Ger Flanagan has been leading the defensive unit for Declan Sweeney’s men.
Oisin Jordan is a prominent physical player while Conor Walsh and Ryan Fadden are dangerous in attack. The addition of Liam Glynn who completed his leaving cert in recent weeks has been positive and the talented forward has brought another dimension to the Balla attack.
However Mayo Gaels are a big side who have the Gallagher brothers Peter, Adam and John and the trio have been excellent all season. Ethan Henry and the Quinn brothers, Andrew and David; are prominent figures around the middle while Jack Fallon is a target man up front.
Expect a tough, physical battle between these rivals where spice will be in abundance.
VERDICT – BALLA
DIVISION THREE
ARDNAREE V KILMEENA
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 7.30 PM
MACHALE PARK, CASTLEBAR
IT’S fair to say that Liam McHale has brought an edge to Ardnaree since joining the management team last year. The Moysiders have been on an upward trajectory in recent years and will be looking to add silverware when they face last season's intermediate champions.
When the sides met in the league phase last month, Ardnaree ran out 25 point winners but Kilmeena were without many of their regulars.
Luke Durkan and John McGlynn have impressed for Damien Egan’s Kilmeena men while the important duo of Liam Moore and Jack Mulchrone have been recovering from injuries. John Timlin and Ethan Convey have impressed in attack for Ardnaree while teenage defender Kenzie McKee is one to watch.
Amazingly, the men from Sean Duffy Park have scored a whopping 25 goals in their nine league games compared to Kilmeena’s seven. This could be a high-scoring affair between two young talented teams.
VERDICT – ARDNAREE
DIVISION FOUR
LAHARDANE V WESTPORT B
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 5.45 PM
MACHALE PARK, CASTLEBAR
THE men from the shadow of Nephin lost their unbeaten run in the last game of the league phase when Ardagh overcame them, however it has been an overall pleasing campaign for Cormac Reape’s men.
The Lahardane manager was a coach under the previous management team led by Eddie Conroy but in 2026, the former top referee has got a tune out of the North Mayo men. In attack, Shane Finnerty is the dangerman while Kyran Jordan is an important player around the middle.
For Westport, it’s a real mix of youth and experience.
The West Mayo men have a handful of players who played minor for Mayo while up top former Wicklow player Conor McGraynor is one to watch.
When the sides last met, Lahardane came out narrow victors and on Saturday another close game is expected.
VERDICT – WESTPORT B
DIVISION FIVE
ISLANDEADY V THUAR MHIC ÉADAÍGH
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 4 PM
MACHALE PARK, CASTLEBAR
THESE sides met in the final round of the league and a cagey draw was played out between the two proud footballing sides. Shane Moran has brought new energy to the men from the Gaeltacht and their youth are thriving, but they have a back-bone of experience.
Former Kiltimagh attacker Ronan Malee is a key player while Darragh McConnell and Luke Lydon are important players. Islandeady under the new management team led by Fearghal Hoban and Kieran Gibbons have impressed throughout the league as the only intermediate side in the division gained promotion while suffering just one loss.
Around the middle, Peter Collins brings a lot of experience while Darragh Joyce and Brendan Gibbons have been important players up front for the West Mayo men. In goal is former Mayo U-20 player Bryan O’Flaherty who is deadly from placed balls.
Tourmakeady achieved promotion for the first time many seasons and now they look forward to a final where another tight clash is expected.
VERDICT – THUAR MHIC ÉADAÍGH
DIVISION SIX
WESTPORT C V HOLLMOUNT CARRAMORE B
SUNDAY, JULY 18, 11.30 AM
MACHALE PARK, CASTLEBAR
THIS final will see Westport in their third league decider across the weekend which is a remarkable achievement for the club. In this clash, it’s a mix of youth and experience on both sides as the West Mayo men get set for a clash with the men from South Mayo.
The Division six league phase was broken up into West, South, North and East and the top sides progressed into semi-finals. Westport overcame Crossmolina while Hollymount Carramore toppled Moy Davitts. In a battle of the blues, one would have to favour the youth of Westport but Hollymount Carramore will make it a real test.
VERDICT – WESTPORT C