Promotion, relegation and final pairings decided in Galway football leagues

Tuam Stars and Corofin to meet in Division 1 decider

SEMI-FINALS were played at both the top and bottom of Divisions 1, 2, 3A, 3B and 4A of Galway club football leagues last Thursday through to Sunday, sorting out promotion and relegation and paving the way for finals in early July.

The top five divisions contained eight teams and ran on an 'all county' basis with seven regulation league games guaranteed. The top four in each division then faced off for promotion (1v4, 2v3) and the bottom four also contested playoffs (5v8, 6v7), with higher placed finishers enjoying home advantage. A two up, two down format with finalists promoted and relegation semi-final losers demoted.

DIVISION 1

Holders Tuam Stars and Corofin will contest the top-level final for a fourth straight year after both won semi-finals on the road. The Stars were 0-19 to 1-13 victors against Maigh Cuilinn last Thursday, while Corofin overcame Claregalway by 2-12 to 0-8 on Saturday.

Milltown made their long trek to Naomh Anna Leitir Móir a winning one on a 2-14 to 3-9 scoreline that preserves their status for 2027. Oughterard stayed up with a 1-16 to 0-16 win over Salthill-Knocknacarra at the Prairie. Naomh Anna and Salthill-Knocknacarra drop down to Division 2 as a result.

Next year's Division 1 will be made up of Tuam Stars, Corofin, Claregalway, Maigh Cuilinn, Milltown, Oughterard, Dunmore MacHales and St. Michael's.

DIVISION 2

Dunmore MacHales will play Division 1 football for the first time in 25 years after their 2-23 to 2-12 victory at home to Mountbellew-Moylough on Sunday lunchtime. Their final opponents will be St. Michael's who earned promotion after a 2-17 to 1-10 win over city rivals St. James' in Westside on Friday evening.

In relegation playoffs played on Saturday, Annaghdown overcame Micheal Breathnach by 0-15 to 0-12 in Cregg and Monivea-Abbey were 2-13 to 0-13 victors over Bearna Na Forbacha in Barna.

Next season's line-up in Division 2 is: Naomh Anna Leitir Móir, Salthill-Knocknacarra, St. James', Mountbellew-Moylough, Annaghdown, Monivea-Abbey, Caherlistrane and Oranmore-Maree.

DIVISION 3A

Caherlistrane secured promotion after getting the better of Glenamaddy by 1-21 to 1-18 on home soil on Friday evening. Oranmore-Maree will face them in the final and also move up after coming away from Killannin with a 4-10 to 2-15 victory at the same time.

Corofin defeated St. Brendan's at home by 3-13 to 0-13 and An Cheathrú Rua ran out 2-13 0-13 winners away to Caltra in the relegation playoffs.

Micheál Breathnach, Bearna Na Forbacha, Killannin, Glenamaddy, Corofin, An Cheathrú Rua, Kilconly and Headford make up next year's Division 3A.

DIVISION 3B

Kilconly continued their unbeaten campaign so far with promotion to Division 3A after a 4-20 to 0-8 victory at home to Oileáin Árann on Saturday morning. Headford defeated An Spidéal in their own backyard by 1-18 to 1-15 on Saturday evening to go up and also advance to the final.

Cortoon Shamrocks travelled to Clifden and came away with a 0-18 to 1-9 win that maintains their status in the division. Kilkerrin-Clonberne followed suit with a 4-14 to 4-13 home victory over Cárna-Caiseal in one of the games of the weekend.

Division 3B next season will consist of St. Brendan's, Caltra, An Spidéal, Oileáin Árann, Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Cortoon Shamrocks, Menlough and Annaghdown.

DIVISION 4A

Both promotion semi-finals were played on Sunday lunchtime with Menlough running out 1-21 to 1-14 winners at home to Claregalway and Annaghdown defeating Killererin by 1-17 to 2-8 in Barnaderg.

In the relegation semi-finals, St Gabriel's emerged 5-16 to 2-10 victors against Tuam Stars in Kilconnell while Williamstown went on the road and got the better of Corofin on a 2-15 to 1-8 scoreline.

Division 4A in 2027 will have Cárna-Caiseal, Clifden, Killererin, Claregalway, St. Gabriel's, Williamstown plus the two teams that come up from Division 4B.

DIVISION 4B

The top four teams in both Division 4B North and West qualified for quarter-finals that were played on Saturday and Sunday. Results: Oranmore-Maree 9-23 Maigh Cuilinn 1-7, Na Piarsaigh 0-14 Glinsk 0-7, Athenry 1-12 Salthill-Knocknacarra 2-6, Clonbur 3-16 Kinvara 2-12.

Both semi-finals go ahead this evening (Thursday) with 7.45pm starts. Athenry host Clonbur at 7.45pm, while and Na Piarsaigh have home advantage against Oranmore-Maree in Ros Muc. Both finalists will move up to 4A.