1997 Senior Club Championship Focus Special



Connaught Telegraph GAA News 29 January 1997


KNOCKMORE STILL THE TEAM THEY ALL HAVE TO BEAT

Sports Editor John Melvin runs the rule over the clubs, in alphabetical order, that will be bidding for this year's senior football championship title and rates their prospects of winning the Moclair Cup out of ten. Next week he will look at the Intermediate teams bidding for the title.

Balla

Beaten in the first round last year by Kiltane, it would be fair to say Balla have not being posing a serious championship threat in recent years, although they showed very good league form last year and came close to winning the title.

This years prospects do look a little brighter as they will be expecting to get over Swinford in the opening round. However, their championship is likely to end in the quarter final as they are most likely going to meet Knockmore, and a win there is not very realistic, despite what Toby might tell you.

Still, Pat Fallon is arguably playing some of his best football at the moment, Maurice Sheridan and Ronan Golding can deliver the goods up front, and they do have a number of other experienced players who helped them to reach that final in 1994 when they went down to Hollymount. So it would be unfair to dismiss them as title contenders but the best they an expect is a good run.

Opening match: at home to Swinford





Ballaghadereen

An opening round clash against Knockmore is hardly the ideal first round the championship tie Ballaghadereen would have liked.

Having said that, Ballaghadereen can still produce the championship punch when needed and Burrishoole discovered last year to their cost when they went out to the east Mayo men in the opening round. They went down to Ballina in a quarter final.

Ballaghadereen also have a handful of good minors coming through and despite losing last years minor final to a very strong Claremorris side, they went away with a lot of positive thoughts from a good game.

The old guard is still very much to the fore and in the likes of James Mitchell, Maurice O'Gara, Brian McKenzie, and, of course, Kevin Cahill, they have some real quality players.





Ballina

The Stephenites have to be rated as one of the top four contenders. The club went through a bad patch for a few years but have found a new spring in their step with the success of the under 21 team and an excellent run last year to the final.

They have a handful of very good players and the fact that David Brady and Liam McHale have formed such a successful county midfielder partnership has rubbed off on the club. Brian Heffernan had a marvellous county final last year and is currently turning it in at county level.

Denis Coen was another forward to catch the eye and they have a sprinkling of good young players like Keith Lynn, David Leyden. There is, of course, the colossus himself in goal, Barry Murphy.

If they beat Crossmolina they will be there or there abouts when the destination of the title is being decided,





BURRISHOOLE

The west Mayo club has done well to retain their senior status for the past few years and cannot be discounted as one of the outsiders who are capable of shocking the best. However, so far they have failed to make it past the quarter final stage, and I don't think their prospects this year are any better.

This year they are drawn at home to the league champions, Davitts, the team they went down to in the 95 championship. That game was in Ballindine. It could be a revenge mission for the west Mayo side in Burrishoole for what should be a cracker of a first round contest.





KNOCKMORE

The team they all have to beat and there is nothing to suggest that won't change this year. It could be a very long hall for them. Depending on how they do against Eire Og next month and I still fancy them to be in Croke Park come St Patrick's Day.

The same personnel are likely to be on board again this year. They have the tougher section of the draw, as indeed they did last year and that didn't make much difference. Their displays in Connacht have been impressive. They have plenty of talent on board and plenty more waiting on the wings.

Kevin Staunton's midfield supremacy has been a huge force behind them as has been the work of Peter Butler in defence. They can pile up the scores with the 'Bomber' Brogan still sticking the pace at this level.

I wouldn't bet against them.





Castlebar

A lot will depend on how much work the players are willing to put in this year. They would certainly be rated among the top five in the county, not just by virtue of their semi-final placing last year, but on the basis of the talent inherent in the club.

Under 21's success has boosted Ballina and I expect Castlebar to reap some benefit from last year's success at this level. However, they have lost a few very important players since that tremendous run to the All-Ireland final. John Maughan, Pat Holmes and Kevin Lydon have left a void which has yet to be filled.

They have some very good young players coming through like Shane Fitzmaurice, Jimmy Kelly, Russel Gibbons and Keith Burke but are missing a couple of high voltage footballers who can inspire them.

Tom Reilly's influence will be crucial again this year and while the mileage is going round the clock second, or even third time, he is still a key man for Castlebar who have three very wise men in Paul Gavin, Joe Cuddy and Martin Carney in charge.





Claremorris

Division two champions and Intermediate finalists Claremorris deserve to be back in senior football. The question is, can they remain there. Consistency has been the main problem for a club that has been something of a conveyor belt for some superb under age footballers which has an impressive array of minor and under 21 titles during years of flourishing in the mid 60's and early 70's.

Sadly, for some reason, the club has failed to turn it on at senior level and the closest they have come to a senior tile was back in 1978 when they went down to Castlebar Mitchels with a side that was odds on favourites to win.

But, I have no doubt their day in the sun cannot be too far away. With a minor tem that has dominated the championship for the past few years, it has only to be a matter of time before Claremorris find their place in the sun once again.

But they are going to have to be patient and staying up this year has to be their priority.





Crossmolina

They had been a long time waiting for it, but 95 finally saw Crossmolina deliver on their promise However, last year brought them little satisfaction. A first round exit to Knockmore and then they let the league title slip through their grasp against the same team.

There was little to celebrate either at minor and under 21 level, championships where Crossmolina have been traditionally strong. But there can be no denying that when Crossmolina put it together, as they did in 95, few teams can live with them.

I have no doubt there is another championship or two in a team that is relatively young and certainly one of the most talented sides in the senior championship.

If they can get over Ballina in the opening round I could see them go the distance. So much will hinge on that game. First round draw: Away to Ballina.





Davitts

The league title will put a pep in the step of the Davitts boys who win the 96 consistency award. However, while the league title does bring a ray of sunshine to the club, I have no doubt Liam Niland would dearly wish for a senior championship medal in the twilight of his career. If they are picking the top ten most dedicated club footballers of the decade, his name has to be included.

At least Davitts are going in the right direction. They have plenty of young players, they can play a nice brand of football, but it has been a case of getting it together and keeping it together.

Castlebar proved their downfall last year at the quarter final stage, although they did have a good opening round win over Louisburgh. First round draw: Away to Burrishoole.





Garrymoore

Cannot be discounted come championship time following a good run to the semi-final last year where they went down to Ballina.

Garrymore have been rebuilding in an effort to reclaim a title they last won in 1982, a year which to mark the end of a team which took six of the titles in the 70's. (74, 75, 76, 79, 81, 82) and must rank among the finest of club teams to compare with any county. It was unfortunate that an All-Ireland club title was just our of their reach.

It is time they had their name on the Moclair Cup after fifteen years. Garrymore have always been a championship side and while the fervour certainly waned for a few years, it is now very much still alive and well.

This year they have a tricky assignment away to newly promoted Moy Davitts, and as long as they don't expect to win that game too easily, they should advance to the next stage, and don't rule out a semi-final appearance. First round draw: Away to Moy Davitts.





Hollymount

Well, they never really got going last year. Although they were always in touch in the league Hollymount never really got a chance to unfurl their championship potential.

A first round bye can be a disadvantage and it well have cost them the championship last year as they came up against champions Knockmore who had the advantage of that clash with Crossmolina. You simply can never discount Hollymount. They are a hardened side, capable of taking the best, something they did only as recently as 1994.

I expect them to get by the first round and what an interesting tie it would be should they meet Garrymore in the semi-final.

Hard to go against them making the semi-final but you just never know. They could turn around and win the championship.





Kiltane

A number of players away from the club that they depend on. But they're a team never to be taken lightly as Castlebar discovered two years ago when they were shock losers to them.

They had a good win over Garrymore in the quarter final last year and they have a few nice young players who can compete at the highest level. I wouldn't rule out their prospects of going some distance this year and it is interesting to note that if they get over the first round they will be taking on Castlebar.





Kiltimagh

League form has seen Kiltimagh to a return to the senior grades after a short siyng in the second division. Similar to Claremorris, they are going to have to work very hard to stay up and that will be an achievement in itself.

I was disappointed with their performance in the Intermediate championship last year and this is certainly a club with much, much more to offer if the requisite effort is put in. That, perhaps, is where the problem lies. They have plenty of good footballers. All they need is effort and commitment this year and they can stay up. I think that is as much as they can hope for.





Moy Davitts

First crack at the senior championship and given their performance last year I think this team could stick the pace and remain up.

The commitment is certainly there as they proved in the Interemediate championship which they won last year. They are also putting in the work at under age level and have a very good club structure.

I cannot see them making any impression in the championship, although Knockmore did win the Intermediate and senior titles in consecutive years, but I don't think the Foxford/Bohola area club has anywhere near the same strenth in depth as the Knockmore men, but I could see them pick up the league points to stay afloat.





Swinford

A fair achievment by the club last year to gain promotion, and with a bit more luck they could well have been in with a shout in the Intermediate championship.

They picked up some impressive scalps in that Intermediate championship including Bonniconlon and Shrule/Clencorrib before going out in the semi-final to Claremorris. If they can build and benefit from that experience, they can stay up.

In fairness, I think staying in the first division is as much as they can hope for, while they will feel reasonably confident of getting by the first round.





Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - January 1997