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Most of us bar those from the 'Parish of the Backs' were expecting a repeat of last year's county final tomorrow evening in MacHale Park. But Knockmore showed no regard for preconceptions as they tore into Breaffy from the get go and were deserved two point winners to book their place in the senior final for the first time in seven years.

Castlebar Mitchels moved a step closer to defending their Mayo senior championship on Sunday, seeing off Ballintubber by 1-11 to 1-5 in MacHale Park. Declan O’Reilly’s men were the better side throughout the contest, but it wasn’t until late in the day they managed to shake off the challenge of their arch rivals from not to far away.

Reigning champions Castlebar Mitchels qualified for a mouthwatering semifinal clash against neighbours Ballintubber, having had to pull out all the stops against a stubborn and well drilled Ballaghadeereen side in the quarter final of the Mayo Senior Football Championship last weekend. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game with some excellent scores from both teams despite the unfavourable heavy underfoot conditions.

They didn’t quite hit the net as many times as they did against Knockmore in the semi-final two years ago, but Ballintubber laid down a serious marker of intent in MacHale Park on Sunday afternoon, hammering Garrymore by 6-14 to 1-8 to set up a mouthwatering semi-final showdown against Castlebar Mitchels next weekend.

It was back to the grindstone for our county players last weekend as most of them had to put the hurt of the previous week's All-Ireland replay loss behind them to help their clubs in their bid to make the play offs, maintain status, and for others to help their team try to avoid being in a relegation dogfight.

The last eight of the Mayo GAA Senior Football Championship are now known after this evenings final round of group games. The draw for the quarter finals will take place tomorrow in MacHale Park with four seeded sides, Breaffy, Castlebar Mitchels, Ballintubber and Knockmore and the other quartet of qualifiers, Ballaghaderreen, Aghamore, Garrymore and Crossmolina Deel Rovers.

For the second time in three years, Castlebar Mitchels dream of bringing the Andy Merrigan Cup home with them was stopped at the final stage by opposition from Dublin. Unlike this time two years ago when the Mitchels adventure came on the back of their first county title in 20 years, this was a Mitchels side who had came back again this year and saw off last year’s champions Corofin, before seeing off Crossmaglen in an epic semi-final. However, they met a Ballyboden St Enda’s side who had a game plan that worked to a tee, with runners from deep causing Castlebar all sorts of problems and the static nature of the Mitchels attack playing straight into their hands. Castlebar will be disappointed with how they performed on the day and will know they could have done much better than they did.

Castlebar Mitchels are through to their second All-Ireland club final in three years after a heroic semifinal win over club kingpins Crossmaglen Rangers in Breffni Park last weekend. It really was a battle royal with both sets of players getting stuck into each other from the get go. I don’t imagine either team came up against such intensity in their run to the semifinal.

If anyone had any doubts about how much Castlebar Mitchels want to be bringing the Andy Merrgian Cup to Castlebar in March, they got their answer in Breffni Park on Saturday night. Mitchels are a team packed full of talented footballers from one end of the field to the other, but on Saturday night heart, guts, fight and determination were as much responsible for their one point win over Crossmaglen Rangers as any amount of talent.

When St Patrick's day rolls around Castlebar Mitchels will be hoping they are preparing for a perfect ten out of ten record in championship games in the All Ireland final. The Mayo and Connacht champions have played in and won eight championship games since they opened their account on a rainy Saturday evening in Josie Munnelly Park against Ballaghaderreen early last summer.