SENIOR PREDICTIONS: Teams must perform now or leave the stage
The eight quarter-finalists and the four relegation candidates will be decided over the weekend.
GROUP ONE
No time for slip-ups
Charlestown vClaremorris
Saturday at 4pm in Aghamore
CLAREMORRIS are arguably the team of the championship so far. For years, the men in blue have flattered to deceive, but this year they've shown grit and resilience to go with their undoutbed talent. Wins against Kilmeena and Westport leaves them within touching distance of a home quarter-final, but they won't underestimate the challenge awaiting them in Aghamore.
Charlestown are the great survivors. Championship football brings them alive and despite a hammering in the opening round in Westport theycould end up in the quarter-finals if results fall their way on Saturday. If Paul Towey is fully fit they'll have a fighting chance, but Niall Hurley and Claremorris have surely turned a corner and should make it three from three.
VERDICT: CLAREMORRIS
Kilmeena v Westport
Saturday at 4pm in Castlebar
IF Kilmeena win this one it will be the shock of the season. The men from St Brendan's Park still haven't won a senior championship match and it's unlikely they'll buck that trend on Saturday. Westport will be smarting after losing in Claremorris last time out and won't be happy that, even if they beat Kilmeena, they may lose out on a home quarter-final.
Westport have the quality to win the championship outright but took a slap in the face when Claremorris out-scored them two weeks ago. Can they reassert their authority on Saturday? Most definitely!
Kilmeena would like nothing more than to win this one and leave their nearest and dearest neighbours in deep trouble. However, that's extremely unlikely
VERDICT: WESTPORT
GROUP TWO
Battle for top spot
Castlebar Mitchels v Garrymore
Friday at 8pm in Flanagan Park,Ballinrobe
THIS promises to be an entertaining, ding-dong struggle before the winner of the group is settled. Both are riding the crest of a wave and now, they clash with the prize of a home quarter-final on offer. It promises to be a full-blooded encounter with little or nothing between them. Mitchels have a exceptionally talented defensive unit, Bob Tuohy in the middle and James Durcan leading the band in attack.
Garrymore had eight different scorers against Balla in the last round. Gary Golden and Enda Hession are a powerful midfield unit; Andy Glennon and Darren Quinn are impressive in attack and Eoin McGreal is arguably the player of the championship so far.
It could go either way, but Mitchels may just end up with their noses in front.
VERDICT: CASTLEBAR MITCHELS
Balla v Ballina Stephenites
Saturday at 6pm in Foxford
BOTH these sides expected to be going into this one challenging for a place in the quarter-finals – instead they're battling to avoid a relegation tussle. A tsunami of injuries left Ballina in trouble against Garrymore and Castlebar and now they face a Balla side extremely disappointed in their own displays.
The men from Nally Park have been poor up to now, but are aware that victory on Saturday will change all that. Expect the men in maroon to unleash fire and brimstone in Foxford in a bid to save their season. They have a real chance in this one, but the Stephenites may have just enough to get over the line and draw a line under the 2026 campaign.
VERDICT: BALLINA STEPHENITES
GROUP THREE
Tradition under pressure
Aghamore v Ballintubber
Sunday at 1pm in Claremorris
THIS is Aghamore's opportunity to make a real statement. They're unbeaten up to now and if they win here there will be no holding them.
Their opponents are arguably the most consistent club in senior football since the turn of the century. Ballintubber are looking to reach that knock-out stages for the 19th successive season and victory on Sunday will see them achieve that feat.
The Abbeysiders are improving with every game they play. Stephen O'Malley, Cillian O'Connor and Ciaran Gavin will take minding and if they hit form the former champions will win.
However, Aghamore have been one of the most impressive teams in the championship. Fergal Boland was brilliant in the opening round but was absent for the draw with Crossmolina. He's expected to be back for this one. Liam Lavin is one of the most gifted forwards in the county while Brendan Harrison, David Kenny, Derry Óg Cox, Tom O'Flaherty and their colleagues have the weaponry to win this.
However, it's hard to bet against tradition and Ballintubber will take an awful lot of beating in this one.
VERDICT: BALLINTUBBER
Crossmolina v Mayo Gaels
Sunday at 1pm in Charlestown
THE maths here are simple. Crossmolina are shooting for a place in the quarter-finals and Mayo Gaels are looking to avoid a relegation dogfight.
In truth, it's hard to see anything other than a Crossmolina win, but, as we know, there's nothing certain in football any more, and the Gaels will fancy their chances.
John Gallagher is one of the hottest forwards in Mayo right now and the Blue and Gold have fine players all over the field. The men from mid-Mayo fear nobody and will tear into this one.
However, Crossmolina have designs on the Moclair Cup and will be hard stopped, particularly now that Kobe McDonald is back in the squad after a period Down Under with his AFL club St Kilda.
Jordan Flynn missed the last game and is not expected to be fit for this one. Apart from that, Brian Benson has a lot of talent in his side. Conor Loftus is playing the football of his life and the young guns – James Maheady, Sean Óg McGuinness, Dylan Flynn, Josh Moyles, Oisin Deane and their friends are a formidable group.
VERDICT: CROSSMOLINA