GAA: All you need to know about penultimate round of Mayo IFC

Ballinrobe and Moy Davitts are tipped for final

by Aiden Henry

IN what has been a marvellous Egan Jewellers Mayo Intermediate Football Championship so far this year, we are now down to the semi-final stage. And what a brilliant two semi-finals we now have in prospect.

With all four teams left in the championship – Bohola Moy Davitts, Kilmeena, Ballinrobe and Castlebar Mitchels B – having strong aspirations to go all the way, it sets the scene for two magnificent games this coming weekend with a strong case to be made for all four getting to the final.

Meanwhile, for Kiltimagh and Bonniconlon – who meet in Swinford on Saturday at 1.30 p.m. – the goal is survival. Both sides have had poor campaigns so far, and this could go either way. However, I will go with Kiltimagh to come out on top.

Castlebar Mitchels B v Ballinrobe

Sunday at 3.30 p.m. in Tourmakeady

The surprise package in this year’s championship, Castlebar Mitchels B, face their biggest test to date when they face up to Ballinrobe in Tourmakeady on Sunday.

At the beginning of the championship, few, if any, would have forecast these two sides meeting in the last four. But they are, and on merit too. As a result, we are in for one almighty battle, which should go right down to the wire.

After round one of the group stages of the championship, the prospects of these two teams doing well in the championship couldn’t have been any different. Ballinrobe sent out a clear message about their intentions this year by hammering Burrishoole.

Mitchels B, on the other hand, would have the bookies extending their odds to no end on not alone winning the title, but even getting out of their group after they received a fair beating by Moy Davitts.

After Ballinrobe’s big win over Burrishoole in Newport, where they found the net on no fewer than six occasions, their following outings didn’t in anyway diminish their early prospects. Indeed, such was the brilliant football they were playing, they were installed as one of the favourites to go all the way.

They followed up the Burrishoole victory with an equally impressive win over Kiltane before meeting their near neighbours, Hollymount/Carramore, in their final group game.

Although both sides had guaranteed their place in the last eight, their meeting would decide who topped the group. As a result, there was plenty at stake and again Ballinrobe came up with the goods before beating their south Mayo opponents in a highly entertaining and hard-fought encounter.

Next up for Ballinrobe was a quarterfinal meeting with Islandeady. This was going to be another big test for Peter Forde’s outfit. But they passed this test with flying colours and now find themselves just 60 minutes away from a county final place.

Castlebar Mitchels B, for their part, had to qualify for the quarterfinals the hard way after their big defeat by Moy Davitts.

But qualify they did, and in some style too. Their round two task was a trip to Kilmaine to take on the home side – not an easy task.

This time it was a different Mitchels B side that turned up, however, as they produced a magnificent performance before coming away with a huge win.

In round three it all boiled down to a straight shootout between Mitchels B and Crossmolina Deel Rovers to see who came out of the group with Moy Davitts. In what was a rip-roaring encounter, Mitchels B again produced the goods to carve out a wonderful victory and secure a place in the last eight.

Mitchels B's opponents in the quarterfinals were Louisburgh. They went toe-toe with Louisburgh before taking complete control in the second half.

Their big 0-13 to 0-6 victory in the end was fully deserved, and it also installed them as serious contenders for the title.

Now we have two teams clashing that are both on top of their game and full of confidence. This is a difficult game to predict as it could go either way. While Ballinrobe are the firm favourites to prevail, they will have to produce their best display of the year if they are to beat a Mitchels B team that has come on in leaps and bounds with every outing.

Verdict: Ballinrobe

Bohola Moy Davitts v Kilmeena

Sunday at 1 p.m. in Islandeady

Like the Ballinrobe v Castlebar Mitchels B semi-final, this second semi-final between Moy Davitts and Kilmeena has all the ingredients for a classic.

Predicting the outcome of this encounter is equally difficult as both Moy Davitts and Kilmeena have also hit top form at the right time.

Moy Davitts will be favourites to win this one. Indeed, they are the favourites to win the title outright. However, they have a huge test in front of them to overcome a Kilwmeena side that is improving with each outing.

Before the Mayo intermediate championship got under way, Moy Davitts were marked down as one of the teams on the shortlist for the title this year.

This came on the back of their great form in Division 2 of the Mayo League, qualifying for the final against Belmullet. They could consider themselves unlucky not to win the decider, and they brought their good form into the championship.

In their opening game they blew Castlebar Mitchels B away after a highly impressive display.

They followed this with good victories over Crossmolina Deel Rovers and Kilmaine to finish top of their group.

In the quarterfinal they faced up to Hollymount/Carramore. Here they were expected to be asked serious question. But again, they produced another eye-catching performance to advance to the last four.

Meanwhile, Moy Davitts' opponents in the semi-final, Kilmeena, have also been recording impressive victories.

In the group stage they dismissed Ardnaree in brilliant fashion before going to Louisburgh for the big derby clash with their west Mayo opponents. It was a massive game which Kilmeena just lost in the end.

However, in their final group game against Kiltimagh they got back to winning ways in great style to book their place in the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, Kilmeena faced their toughest test to date against a Parke side that came through their group stage in brilliant fashion. But Kilmeena produced another improved performance and fully deserved to come out on top.

It al boils down to another intriguing contest. I have no doubt it will be a very close affair. Moy Davitts will be the strong favourites to revenge last year’s defeat in the championship by the same opposition, but they will have to be at their level best to do so as Kilmeena are on an upward curve and will be going into this tie with plenty of confidence.

While it could go either way, Moy Davitts just get the nod.

Verdict: Moy Davitts