Club championships to be ‘a great weekend’

THE start of the Mayo club championships next weekend will give supporters the chance to see up to five games of football in less than 48 hours.
That’s according to Mayo GAA vice-chairman, Con Moynihan, who says that every effort has been made to try and ensure that ‘as many people as possible can see as many games as possible’ on the opening weekend of the championships.
The action gets underway on Friday evening next when Louisburgh take on Kiltimagh in the Intermediate championship at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, as Gilmartin Park in Kiltimagh is currently undergoing development work.
That game is also being streamed live on Mayo GAA TV.
The Senior, Intermediate and Junior championships continue across Saturday and Sunday with the senior clash of two of the title favourites, Knockmore and Castlebar Mitchels, being streamed live on Mayo GAA TV at 6.30pm.
The meeting of Breaffy and Ballina Stephenites on Sunday is also being broadcast live on TG4 at 2.15pm with the local derby between Aghamore and Ballyhaunis being streamed by Mayo GAA TV at 4pm.
“It’s going to be a great weekend,” said Con Moynihan, who also serves as the chairman of the Mayo GAA CCC.
“There’s been a positive reaction to the ‘Championship Pass’ from people who like to take in as many games as possible, and we’re trying to think of clubs, players, supporters and Mayo GAA TV viewers when we’re scheduling games and drawing up the fixtures.”
Moynihan also said that there had been ‘an excellent meeting’ last week between Mayo GAA chiefs and club representatives, which included managers, chairpersons and secretaries, in relation to both next year’s Senior Leagues and the championship regulations.
“It was one of the best meetings I’ve had in my time as CCC chairman,” he said.
“There was really good interaction, clubs spoke their minds, we were able to engage with them about the various constraints and the calendar, and it was very productive.
“The main thing that came across was that clubs wanted more competitive league games,” he added. “A proposal has gone out to clubs for the 2024 Senior Leagues and that will be discussed further at the next meeting of the County Board.
“The clubs last week were adamant that they wanted a more competitive league, so that’s what we’ve tried to give them.
“Also, the Divisional competitions are likely to be played as pre-season games next year and finished out at that stage. There may not be room for the Michael Walsh League with more extended Senior Leagues, but I think clubs are happy to play the early rounds of the league without their county players and then have them back for the latter stages.”
Moynihan also confirmed that County Board officials and representatives ‘will be monitoring’ the number of players and personnel that are on sidelines and in dugouts next weekend.
“There are 32 people allowed in the dugout area, between players, management, backroom team and club officials,” he said.
“We’ll be monitoring it and that’s the expectation. We really hope there will be no incidents.”
There will be a week’s break between each round of the club championships, right up to the County Finals which be played across the weekend of October 28/29.