Whopper weekend

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It’s great to be back talking about the club scene in Mayo and to be doing it when the fields are still dry and the possibility of the second cut of silage is still on.

The clubs, for the first time in years, have had a chance to plan their preparations for the second round of the championship. Big teams laden with county players like Breaffy have had these players and have been able to work at training with them. Their encounter against Ballintubber will be one where a lot of eyes will be watching closely to see how its goes. If Breaffy have any serious intentions of doing anything in this championship they will have to be beating Ballintubber.

 

 

18:00 Aghamore  vs Castlebar Mitchels in  Aghamore. Ref: Kevin Connelly

The first game I polled was the Castlebar against Aghamore encounter. Some bookies giving odds of 1/16 on for this game. Looking through Paddy Power last night the Castlebar men were the only team that were away from home and were favourites in the country not just the county.  This should be a comfortable win for the Mitchels as from what I have heard from a few in Ah Ref towers is that Aghamore were actually training with Tourlestrane as of lately. Maybe it was because of numbers or maybe it’s just a novel way of freshening things up. Such is the advantage of being close to the border you can do it. Either way the Mitchels wagon should roll on here without any major fuss. Unbeaten this year and have some of best scoring and defensive averages in the county along with a host of big names ready to do damage.

  • League & Championship Stats 
  • Played 10 Won 4 Lost 6
  • Scored – 9-111
  • Conceded – 11-104
  • 32 players used
  • Top Scorers
  • 4-25
  • 2-20
  • No scoring data on Castlebar game

 

  • League & Championship Stats
  • Played 10 Won 7 Drew 3
  • Scored – 14-145
  • Conceded – 6-102
  • 35 players used
  • 2 players started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers 4-43
  • No scoring data available for Aghamore game

 

 

16:00 Garrymore vs Charlestown Sarsfields in Garrymore GAA Pitch. Ref: Jerome Henry

 

Garrymore are heavy favourites on the polls and heavy favourites with the bookies but not here in Ah Ref HQ. This won’t be as easy as people think it will be in my opinion. Here’s a spicy one for you. Garrymore have played Charlestown 12 times in championship football.  Garrymore have won 4 times and Charlestown have won 4. Four draws a piece so who is going to be lucky 13?. Aidan Higgins played in 95, prob the only ever-present player, Kevin Daignan also played in 95 but will unlikely play at the weekend. Some going from Higgins. A win for Garrymore will guarantee them senior football for their 50th year in a row next year (that’s fair clipping). I’ve seen both teams play this year and Charlestown impressed me. They are very comfortable on the ball and won’t shy away from the physical side of the game.  Bookies are offering odds of 3/1 on this game and it wouldn’t be a bad outside bet.

 

 

  • League & Championship Stats
  • Played 10 Won 3 Lost 7
  • Scored – 12-88 Conceded – 19-118
  • 33 players used 3 players started all 9 games
  • Top Scorers
  • Jack Reilly 2-33
  • Colm Maye 2-15

 

 

16:00 Knockmore vs Bohola Moy Davitts in St. Joseph’s Park. Ref: Ronan Gurren

 

Both teams need to win this, simple as that. Knockmore priced at a juicy 1/4 and are way ahead in Ah Refs polls.  Everyone says Knockmore. Home advantage another plus. Playing in Division 1 and comfortable in it. Moy Davitts division below and have had some poor performances as of late. Everything points towards a win for the men the North side of the bridge. Moy have the blonde bombshell Reape back from the “shtates” in time for the game and I can see them playing him at 11. Captain and GK Mcglynn may have a busy evening ahead. Knockmore will rely on the usuals; Langan , Diarmuid Walsh full back. Local Derby should suit players like Justin Rice who will thrive off the buzz.Trevor Howley is back training with Knockmore also but wont be involved I don’t think.  Knockmore for me.

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 5 Lost 3 Drew 2
  • Scored – 10-126
  • Conceded – 13-99
  • 33 players used 3 players started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers
  • Peter Naughton. 3-42
  • Darren McHale. 4-14

 

 

16:00 Westport GAA vs Hollymount-Carramore in Westport GAA Club. Ref :Vincent Neary

 

Holly/Carra are a well seasoned team now compared to Westport. Having seen Westport play at the weekend vs Islandeady, one thing that really impressed me was Westport’s use of the short kickout. They used the Mayo vs Kerry semi final replay style of bunching up down the middle and hitting the runner from the pack. Very organised and gave them a great platform to attack. If that wasn’t on they still had the option of going long down the wings to players like McLoughlin. This worked a treat as with players with that pace, they were able to beat any form of blanket and carry the ball up to the scoring zone. With a half back line with Brian McDermott ,Kevin Keane at six and Lee Keegan they have a serious platform if they turn the ball over.One reservation I will have about seeing them is the loss of Shane Scott at midfield along with what seems to be the need for Westport forwards to be over thinking shots and worrying about shot selection. As Spillane said “paralysis by analysis”.  Its in Westport and its a tight pitch which might suit Holly/Carra. Westport is a young team so you never know. The bookies and the polls all point to a Westport win but I don’t see there being much in it. Westport for me all the same.

 

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 2 Lost 8
  • Scored – 12-100
  • Conceded – 20-121
  • 34 players used 0 player started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers
  • 0-51
  • 4-15

 

18:00 Claremorris vs Crossmolina Deel Rovers in Claremorris. Ref: Paul Lydon

 

Claremorris clear favourites against a team who are looking for a win badly. Bad year for Crossmolina and are away from home. Claremorris came out of the traps this year at a great pace but they seem to have slowed down a bit since I saw them last. Ideal game to get going again and a win here will guarantee that they go through to the quarters. Not much to say really about this one. Claremorris should win and should win comfortably. Polls and bookies are well in favour of Claremorris and all here at Ah ref HQ.

Claremorris for me.

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Lost 10
  • Scored – 4-80
  • Conceded – 22-136
  • 36 players used 5 players started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers 0-50

 

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 6 Lost 4
  • Scored – 14-108
  • Conceded – 8-127
  • 39 players used 4 players started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers 2-44

 

 

16:00 Kiltane vs Davitts in Bangor Erris. Ref: John Glavey

This is another one-sided poll for a couple of more obvious reasons in Mayo football. First of all the trip for the away team. One of the longest in mayo football and the destination doesn’t help either. Away to Kiltane is still one of the most talked about away days in football. Add to the fact that Davitts’ form has been abysmal this year and are propping up Division 2 it doesn’t look good for the away team. Colm Boyle made a return to the team last weekend and will be badly needed in Bangor. Haven’t seen Davitts this year but i have seen Kiltane. They are scoring goals for fun in the county and have the second most scored this year in Mayo football. Ultan Corrigan and Mikey Sweeney will be crucial and if they are on song its hard see anything other than a Kiltane win to be honest.

 

 

18:00 Ballintubber vs Breaffy in Ray Prendergast Memorial Park. Ref: Liam Devenney

 

I mentioned at the beginning of the preview that this game was probably the biggest of the weekend. The two West Mayo power houses go toe to toe again. This will attract the biggest crowd over the weekend more than likely. It’s always good when you have to park across the road in Clogher in the field. It means a large crowd in a small venue means a good atmosphere usually. Remembering back to the group game vs the Mitchel’s it was a great day out so I’ll be hoping for more of that. Cillian O’Connor sat out last weekends game but from what I have heard should be fit for the game. Plunkett and younger brother Diarmuid back, will mean Tubber will be back to full strength. SOS missing for Breaffy is a big loss around the middle but they have plenty to replace him. Interesting match ups all over the park and a local rivalry to enjoy. Spicy. I’ll go for Breaffy just because they have had a few weeks to get things together and have no excuse now. Breaffy also topping the polls heavily in this one but both teams are evens in the bookies.

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 4 Lost 5 Drew 1
  • Scored – 10-119
  • Conceded – 11-111
  • 35 players used 2 players started all 10 games
  • Top Scorers
  • Stephen O Malley 0-28
  • 1-22

 

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 7 Lost 2 Drew 1
  • Scored – 18-125
  • Conceded – 10-96
  • 31 players used
  • Top Scorers
  • Gareth Dunne 5-12
  • Conor O Shea 1-23
  • Gary Walsh. 1-19
  • No scoring data available for Kiltimagh game

 

 

14:00 Ballina Stephenites vs  Ballaghaderreen in  James Stephens Park. Ref: Garryowen Mc Mahon

 

The deaf dog of the weekend because it’s so hard to call. Evens in the bookies and 46% each in the Ah ref polls. Couldn’t be closer to be honest and a game I am planning on attending. Ballagh have scored 42 goals this year in competitive football they have been flying. Having seen them play against Garrymore in a Walsh league semi, they impressed me and looked a well oiled machine. They have talent throughout the team and look well-balanced. Andy at 11 is nice to watch, looks like a different player. I noticed David Drake playing in the full back line in a few games so the plan must be to take up possibly Evan Regan. Hanley, Akram another two that should offer enough bite to get the most out of them. Consider Regan on the frees they don’t look a bad little set up even though Conway is a big loss. They are going well in Division 2 so they have every chance against the Nites. Ballina playing in Division 1 and are looking safe it seems. A win here and their season looks a lot different. Home advantage should count and should prove to be a cracking game. Ballina have some dangerous forwards so it should be a shootout on paper. A quick glance at the averages will show that Ballina are actually conceding very little on average throughout the year. Probably the toughest games of the weekend to call and I for one am looking forward to it.

 

League & Championship Stats

  • Played 10 Won 4 Lost 6
  • Scored – 10-110
  • Conceded – 12-115
  • 31 players used 4 players started all 9 games
  • Top Scorers Kevin Newell 3-17
  • Ciaran Treacy 1-33
  • 1-20

 

 

 

Enjoy the games will hopefully have time for intermediate games the next round….

 

 

Up    Mayo

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