Its KNOCKOUT this Saturday in the Connacht Gold Senior Football Championship with four mouth-watering quarter-final clashes and no obvious favourites.
The vagaries of the draw are such that the four unbeaten teams from the group stages of the competition have all been paired together, so two of them will exit before the semi-finals!
Glencar Manorhamilton were the only team in the group stages to record maximum points with the other three unbeaten teams – St Marys, Melvin Gaels and Mohill recording a draw apiece. The first double bill takes place in Drumshanbo where Champions Melvin Gaels take on a St Marys in the first game at 5.30 with Glencar Manorhamilton coming up against Mohill on the same programme at 7pm. Saturdays other two quarter-finals, which form a double-header at Cloone, are Annaduff versus Gortletteragh at 5.30 and Allen Gaels against Carrigallen at 7pm.
ANNADUFF V GORTLETTERAGH (5.30pm in Cloone)
The step up to from Intermediate to Senior has been a seamless one for Gortletteragh but on Saturday they face their toughest assignment yet against a seasoned Annaduff side who will have the benefit of an extra game under their belts having qualified as the 8th place winner last weekend. Gortletteragh will know they are up to the task having already narrowly defeated Annaduff at home in the league on the11th May (2-5 to 1-7) while they also had the better Group form winning two of their group games with Annaduff winning one. Annaduff wont be too bothered about previous meetings or where they finished in their group, experience is what counts and they have plenty of it in recent times at the knock out stages!
ALLEnÓgAELS V CARRIGALLEN (7pm in Cloone)
Coincidentally, Carrigallen and Allen Gaels are the only Quarter Final teams plying their trade in the Division 2 League so when the Open Draw was made both clubs were unsurprisingly content. With a semi final appearance at stake both teams will obviously go hell for leather for victory. This game is too close to call – it could even come down to Hawkeye in Cloone! In the group stages they both recorded one win from three and when they met in the league way back on the 24th February in Carrigallen they couldnt be separated on a scoreline of 2-11 to 3-8. Perhaps another draw is on the cards!
MELVIN GAELS V ST MARYS (5.30 in Drumshanbo)
Champions Melvin Gaels face a tricky assignment against a strong St Marys side that have been knocking on the door for the last numbers of years in the Senior Championship. When the two sides met in the league in Carrick on the 21st April the home side were 1-12 to 0-11 winners. Both teams are brimming with talented players and our expectations are for a high intensity game with no quarter asked or given. Will it be the Gaels or the Saints – Your call?
GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON V MOHILL (7pm in Drumshanbo)
They haven’t met in the league yet but what we do know is both teams play an open, attractive brand of football. A young Mohill side with some exciting up and coming players eager to make their mark, come up against an experienced Glencar Manor outfit. There is a weight of expectation for both teams – can Manor restore pride after loosing last years county final or can Mohills well documented talent deliver?
– Knockout brings out the best in players –
– Expect games full of passion and intensity –
The Connacht Gold Leitrim Senior Football Championship Quarter Finals this Saturday in Cloone and Drumshanbo.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
23-Aug-13 by Colette Fox – PRO
