All to play for as club championship reaches round two

GAA: Mayo SFC Round 2 Preview

Group One

Davitts v Knockmore

Saturday, June 20 at 6.30pm

In their last outing in the championship, Davitts nearly pulled off the shock of the round when they pushed Breaffy all the way in Ballindine, Martin Connolly's men will have home advantage again in round two and it could prove to be decisive in this encounter. Knockmore come with two points in the bag thanks to their win over Ballyhaunis on day one, a win here will see them more or less confirm their place in the last eight. But that's the only win they have picked up so far this year in league and championship. Visiting teams can find games in Ballindine a bit of a bear pit and expect nothing different this weekend, it should be a cracker with very little between the sides at the end.

Verdict: Davitts

Breaffy v Ballyhaunis

Sunday, June 21 at 1pm

The home side were given a serious fright last time out against Davitts, but with home advantage in their favour this time Breaffy should have too much for last years intermediate champions. The sight of Aidan O'Shea going down with an injury near the end of the action in Salthill last weeks, will have had Breaffy supporters' hearts in mouths. Even if O'Shea doesn't feature on Sunday, there's plenty of football in the rest of the side to seal the win on Sunday. Ballyhaunis haven't picked up a win in the league or championship this season and this could be another tough welcome to the senior championship ranks for the east Mayo men.

Verdict: Breaffy

Group Two

Castlebar Mitchels v Ballina Stephenites

Saturday, June 20 at 6.30pm

Both sides head into this encounter with a win each in their pockets after round one. Castlebar Mitchels had to work hard to unpick a very defensive Ballaghaderreen team during their first round game. Mitchels struggled at times to find the answers to the questions that the east Mayo men were posing that day, but they have quality in abundance in their side and that swung the game in their favour. Ballina Stephenites have been struggling to hang in there with the big boys in recent years, but with a win under their belts already in the competition even if they can't halt Mitchels drive they will still head into the last round of games with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs. If Ballina can get a good preformance on Saturday night it'll have them in good shape for more winable battles to come.

Verdict: Castlebar Mitchels

Ballaghaderreen v Claremorris

Sunday, June 21 at 2pm

They weren't pretty to watch in round one, but Ballaghaderreen went to Castlebar with a game plan and it almost worked. This weekend we'll expect a much different approach from the east Mayo men in a game they have enough quality to win, playing a more open brand of football. A win on Sunday should set Ballagh' up for an almighty clash with Ballina Stephenites on the last day of the group stages with a place in the quarter-final to play for (providing Ballina don't pull off a huge shock in the other game in the group ). Claremorris haven't been able to make a dent in the senior championship in recent years and this year it doesn't look like things will be any different for them. They were well beaten by Ballina Stephenites in round one and it looks like a place in the relegation play-offs will be will be waiting for them at the end of the group stages.

Verdict: Ballaghaderreen

Group Three

Crossmolina Deel Rovers v Ballinrobe

Saturday, June 20 at 6.30pm

In this north-south battle it looks like the points will only be heading one way on Saturday evening. While they've had a few fallow years in recent times, Crossmolina look to be making progress back to the top end of the championship table. They left it late in round one with when Peader Gardiner swung over an injury time winner against Aghamore, but there's a nice blend of youth and experience between in a side that look to be progressing well. Their visitors on Sunday, were ran through like a hot-knife through butter by defending champions Ballintubber in round one and they'll need a serious upping in their game if they are going to win on Saturday evening. Last time out they were beaten by 15 points with ease and even if they come up short this time around again, Ballinrobe will want to put in a preformance to have themselves in fighting spirit ahead of their final game in the next round which would probably decide the relegation play-off places

Verdict: Crossmolina

Aghamore v Ballintubber

Sunday, June 21 at 4pm

If they could have held on for a point or even grabbed the win in round one, the home side would be entering this game in a much more positive mood. But thanks to Crossmolina's injury time win in round one, avoiding the relegation play-offs, rather than fighting for a quater-final spot looks to be Aghamore's lot for the rest of the championship. The east Mayo men are a fine side, with lots of quality players throughout, but Ballintubber are a step if not two above their hosts and the 1-23 they scored in round one against Ballinrobe, where Cillian O'Connor only played a minimal part in shows the reserves of talent on Abbey side. You'd do well to find many people in the county bar the loyal home support saying this will be anything but a Ballintubber win, but one thing for sure Aghamore will make them work for it.

Verdict: Ballintubber

Group Four

Kiltane v Garrymore

Saturday, June 20 at 6.30pm

The home side showed plenty of fighting spirit to see off Shrule-Glencorrib in round one at the death and will welcome another south Mayo side to their northern fortress this weekend. Both sides have already met in the league this year with the game ending in a draw, but this is weekends game is a completely different animal. Garrymore looked impressive in their round one win over Charlestown at home and they'll be heading north full of confidence on Saturday evening. This a game that should have plenty of spice in it and with a place in the last eight more or less secured for winners. It's a bit of a cliche to say nothing ever comes easy in Bangor for visiting teams, but Garrymore should have just enough to head home with the points.

Verdict: Garrymore

Shrule-Glencorrib v Charlestown

Sunday, June 21 at 2pm

Both sides badly need the win in this one, Shurle-Glencorrib will be cursing their luck to have headed home from Bangor with nothing to show for a monumental effort in round one against Kiltane. Charlestown were outclassed in their opener against Garrymore in south Mayo and will badly need to up their game this weekend if they are to leave the borderline with a chance of a quarter-final spot still up for grabs, rather than staring down a relegation battle in round three. Both sides will be looking for their Mayo men to step up to the plate and deliver for their sides. There should be very little in this game and plenty of fire works on the field.

Verdict: Charlestown

 

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