All you need to know: Galway Senior Football Championship round three permutations

Corofin and Salthill-Knocknacarra have already qualified for the final eight. Maigh Cuilinn will join them if they avoid defeat, while three different teams can still win Group 4.

Claregalway, Mountbellew-Moylough and Annaghdown are also guaranteed preliminary play-offs at least. Killannin are the only team already condemned to the relegation battle.

Tuam Stadium and Pearse Stadium host three fixtures each, including double headers on Saturday. The other two games are in Kenny Park on Sunday. Nine teams will battle to maintain their championship ambitions.

SATURDAY

GROUP 3

Dunmore MacHales vs Naomh Anna Leitir Móir (Pearse Stadium, 4.15pm)

A draw or win will see Dunmore MacHales into the preliminary play-offs. They can afford a one-point defeat if Monivea-Abbey are beaten. Manager Michael Halliday will be concerned about conceding eight goals in two outings and defence must be tightened. With Matthew Redington in midfield, the Gleesons (Connor and Thomas) and inside forwards Padraig and Colm Costello (3-14 between them), they can trouble anyone.

Naomh Anna Leitir Móir must win and a two-point margin will suffice regardless of what happens elsewhere. They came up just one point short against Monivea-Abbey, even without Kasey Ó Ceallaigh and Iarla Ó Curraoin. With Tomás Ó Curraoin assisting an inside trio of Dylan Seoighe, Oisín and Fionn Mac Donnacha, they know chances will present themselves.

Verdict: Dunmore MacHales

Maigh Cuilinn vs Monivea-Abbey (Tuam Stadium, 4.15pm)

Maigh Cuilinn have two wins and will finish top in the group with a win or draw. A two-point defeat will also suffice if Dunmore win. Dessie Conneely has transferred back from Australia but won’t feature in this game while Sean Kelly also remains on the sideline.

Win by at least three points and Monivea-Abbey are guaranteed group winners. A draw puts them into last-12. But they are fairly safe with defeat as only an exact one-point Naomh Anna Leitir Móir win, with the victors kicking in excess of 30 points, can put them into relegation.

Verdict: Maigh Cuilinn

GROUP 1

Claregalway vs Mountbellew-Moylough (Tuam Stadium, 6pm)

A battle to determine second and third place, a draw will suffice for Mountbellew-Moylough. Eanna Monaghan remains out for Claregalway, but they welcome back Jack Mullen, Jason Reilly, Daniel Fitzmaurice and Mark King.

Michael Daly, Colm Mannion and Eoin Finnerty are absent for Mountbellew-Moylough, but Shea Finnerty returns. Central defenders Billy Mannion and John Daly will be detailed to curtail Conor Flaherty and Jack Lonergan.

Verdict: Claregalway

Killannin vs Corofin (Pearse Stadium, 6pm)

Killannin will seek a strong performance ahead of the relegation battle in two weeks with Johnny Heaney, Dara Walsh and Ryan Roche back in the mix, and Cian Folan and Enda Kelly leading the attack.

Corofin welcome back Kieran Molloy and Patrick Egan, but Aaron Looney (hand) is out. Dylan Wall returned against Mountbellew-Moylough while Jack McCabe impressed with three points.

Verdict: Corofin

SUNDAY

GROUP 2

Milltown vs Bearna na Forbacha (Kenny Park, 3.15pm)

Eoin Mannion’s 63rd minute equaliser against Caltra might have saved Milltown’s season. They must beat Bearna na Forbacha to ensure passage to the preliminary quarter-finals or better Caltra’s result. Mark Hehir (0-1) and James Kavanagh returned that day and the latter’s midfield performance with Terry Godwin will be crucial. Mannion and veteran Mike Martin lead the attack.

Bearna na Forbacha can look to the recent performances of Claregalway and Oughterard to find motivation following their beating from Salthill-Knocknacarra. Their destiny remains in their own hands. Avoid defeat and they are group runners-up. Otherwise, a Caltra win would put them out. Cian Hernon is a doubt, which could disrupt his midfield partnership with Caolan Malone. They’ll also need Seán Fitzgerald, Tom Curran and Sean Dunne on form.

Verdict: Milltown

Salthill-Knocknacarra vs Caltra (Tuam Stadium, 3.15pm)

Salthill-Knocknacarra are guaranteed action again in four weeks and welcomed back Matthew Thompson and Cathal Sweeney in their win over Bearna na Forbacha. Mark Mannion and Brian Conlon also impressed for Finian Hanley’s charges and they have Tomo Culhane back training.

Caltra must win to ensure qualification. A draw won’t be sufficient if Milltown beat Bearna na Forbacha. Should they finish level on points with Milltown, they do have a better scoring difference. Gabriel Naughton doesn’t have a full deck yet, but Mikey Mulryan and Shaun Keane returned and shared 2-3 the last day.

Verdict: Salthill-Knocknacarra

GROUP 4

St. James’ vs Tuam Stars (Kenny Park, 5pm)

Only a win will keep St. James’ in the championship after they surrendered eight-point leads in both previous fixtures. Jack Nolan (1-10) has spearheaded the attack. However, much will depend on midfielders Jack O’Neill and Paul Conroy, whose black card against Oughterard was costly, winning their sector with Johnny Duane likely to stay close to Jamie Murphy.

Avoiding defeat is enough for Tuam Stars, while victory will win the group if Oughterard also succeed. If Oughterard lose, Tuam go through regardless of the result. Paul Collins is a major doubt following injury against Annaghdown. Gary O’Donnell and Conor Heneghan should be back, along with Max O’Connell and Cillian Reidy. Dara O’Ruairc and Rory O’Connor will be tasked with cutting out the supply to Nolan.

Verdict: Tuam Stars

Annaghdown vs Oughterard (Pearse Stadium, 5pm)

Annaghdown are through to the knockout stages and will finish as group winners if they avoid defeat. Damien Comer showed his class with 2-3 against Tuam Stars while Galway under-20 wing back Olan Kelly has been one of the players of the championship so far.

Oughterard can also top the group if they win and Tuam don’t. A draw will guarantee a preliminary play-off, but a loss sees them out if St. James’ win. Enda Tierney (knee) and Ronan Molloy (hamstring) are unavailable but Eddie O’Sullivan (mouth) and Colin Forde (hamstring) return.

Verdict: Oughterard