Mayo champions march on to semi-finals but victory comes at a cost

Ballina Stephenites remain on course to win back-to-back Mayo senior football titles following their narrow victory over Castlebar Mitchels in James Stephens Park this afternoon.

A tense, low-scoring affair resulted in victory for the hosts by 0-8 to 0-7, but it came at a cost as the champions lost both Padraig O'Hora and Mike Murray to injury, with the semi-finals coming up next weekend.

Breaffy, last year's beaten finalists, knocked out 2022 champions Westport at the quarterfinal stage for the second year running, with Aidan O'Shea again putting in a huge performance for the central Mayo team.

Next Sunday's semi-finals see Ballina face this year's surprise package, Ballaghaderreen, while Breaffy take on Knockmore, champions in 2020 and 2021.

Just one intermediate quarterfinal was played today, with Moy Davitts just getting the better of Hollymount/Carramore in Foxford, while the two relegation playoffs were won by Lahardane MacHales and Kilmaine, leaving Islandeady and Kiltimagh in the battle to avoid the drop.

The intermediate semi-final pairings, meanwhile, are as follows: Moy Davitts v Davitts and Crossmolina v Ballinrobe.

Finally, Bonniconlon, Swinford and Cill Chomáin won their respective junior quarterfinals against Ardagh, Killala and Tourmakeady, joining Eastern Gaels in the final four. Next weekend's semi-finals see Cill Chomáin play Swinford and Eastern Gaels face Bonniconlon.