The Mezzino Connacht Post Primary Schools Football Championships got underway this week at Senior A, B, C, D and E grades with no shortage of Galway involvement.
In Senior A, Coláiste Bhaile Chláir get their Group 2 campaign underway on Friday at 12:30 pm, away to Leitrim Schools at Páirc Seán MacDiarmuida. They will be accompanied by Sligo Schools and St. Gerald's Castlebar.
St. Jarlath's had a disappointing start to their Group 3 campaign. They suffered a 1-13 to 0-10 loss against St. Muredach's College Ballina in Ardnaree on Wednesday. The other fixture in that group takes place on Friday at 12 pm as Summerhill College Sligo host Ballinrobe Community School.
In the Senior B Championship, Coláiste Bhaile Chláir have entered a second team into the grade this year. They've been handed a tough group with St. Joseph's ('The Bish') and St. Nathy's Ballagaderreen. The action in this group begins on Friday, as St. Joseph's will host Coláiste Bhaile Chláir B.
Clonfert College had the perfect start to life in Group 3, recording a 3-15 to 2-11 victory over St. Louis Community School of Mayo. Scoil Mhuire Strokestown will join them in what promises to be an extremely tight group.
Amazingly, four Galway schools will battle for two quarter-final places in Group 4. Dunmore Community School, Calasanctius Oranmore, Presentation College Headford, and Coláistí na Gaeltachta will all lock horns, and with the first round already played, it's advantage Oranmore and Coláistí na Gaeltachta. The Gaeltacht side, an amalgamation of schools in the Gaeltacht area as well as the three schools on the Aran islands, overcame Dunmore in the group opener last Friday on a scoreline of 1-12 to 2-7. And on Wednesday, Presentation College Headford were defeated by Calasanctius Oranmore by 4-14 to 1-11. The two matchday 1 winners meet in the next round on Friday, 28th November, with the victors of that clash booking their ticket to the quarter finals. Two days prior, Dunmore will host Headford, with both sides knowing only a win will keep their Championship hopes alive.
There are seven Galway Schools in the 'C' Championship. In Group 1, 2024 'D' champions St. Cuans Castleblakeney will be joined by two fellow Galway schools in Coláiste na Coiribhe and St. Paul's College Oughterard.
Like in the 'B' Championship, Group 4 throws up an all-Galway Group with Holy Rosary College Mountbellew, Glenamaddy Community School, Presentation College Athenry and Coláiste Éinde all squaring off. Round 1 fixtures are Presentation College Athenry v Coláiste Éinde and Mountbellew v Glenemaddy.
In the 'D' Championship, there are five Galway representatives. In Group 1, Coláiste Mhuire Ballygar will be joined by Castlerea Community School, Drumshambo Vocational School and the runners-up of this competition two years ago, Roscommon Community College. Ballygar will travel to face the Roscommon side on Monday, 17th November, in their opener.
Group 2 is made up of the four remaining Galway schools: Coláiste Iognáid, Clarin College Athenry, Coláiste Chroí Mhuire An Spidéal and Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin An Cheathrú Rua. The Round 1 Fixtures are Coláiste Iognaid v Clarin College Athenry and Coláiste Chroí Mhuire An Spidéal v Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin An Cheathrú Rua.
Six Connacht Schools will enter the 'E' Championship. It's an all-Galway affair in Group 1; Seamount Colleges Kinvara, St. Brigid's from Loughrea, Clifden Community School and Coláiste Cholmcille Indreabhán will fight for the two quarter-final places. Seamount Colleges will host Loughrea, and Indreabhain will travel to Clifden in Round 1.
In Group 2 Athenry's Coláiste an Eachréidh from Athenry and Archbishop McHale College, Tuam are grouped with former 'E' Championship winners Elphin, and Scoil Mhuire & Phadraic Swinford. The two Galway will clash in Round 2 on the 26th November, but in Round 1 Coláiste an Eachréidh face a tricky trip to Elphin while Archbishop McHale College, Tuam hosts Scoil Mhuire & Phadraic Swinford.
