Big night in Milebush
THERE are still a few issues to be decided in the final round of fixtures in both divisions of the Westaro Masters League at Castlebar's Milebush Park tonight.
Chief among them is the destination of the Division One and Division Two titles, with Manulla and Manulla B going for a double.
Both enjoy slender one-point leads over Kiltimagh/Knock United and Charlestown Athletic respectively, so if they avoid defeat the titles will heading to Carramore.
Of the two, Manulla B have the harder task as they face Charlestown in a title decider. Whatever happens there, Charlestown will be going up, but the question of who will join them must be decided too, with Castlebar Celtic and Fahy Rovers in the running. Rovers face Crossmolina, who have struggled of late, while Celtic take on Swinford B, who could also go up but only, presumably, if the Swinford A team moves in the other direction from Division One.
A win for Celtic would make the issue certain, and it would take a strange set of results to let Conn Rangers back in with a chance, although they are likely to finish the campaign with a win against lowly Kiltimagh/Knock United B.
The Kiltimagh/Knock A team have everything to play for, though, going into their final game against Straide & Foxford United, who will be hoping to avoid relegation. However, with Manulla facing already relegated Snugboro United, the odds are that the runners-up spot will have to do for KKU.
Ballyvary Blue Bombers need only to avoid defeat against Swinford to be absolutely certain of staying up, while their opponents could do with a win, although much rests on the S&F result in the scrap to see who avoids going down with Snugboro.
The game between Westport United and Ballina Town is of little consequence, but it gives both sides the opportunity of a good game ahead of the Oliver Kelleher Masters Cup, which commences this night week.
Tonight's Division One fixtures, with John Mulroe refereeing, are: Swinford v Ballyvary Blue Bombers (6.30), Snugboro United v Manulla (7.30), Westport United v Ballina Town (8.30), and Straide & Foxford United v Kiltimagh/Knock United.
The Division Two fixtures, to be refereed by Barry Blake, are: Manulla B v Charlestown Athletic (6.30), Kiltimagh/Knock United B v Conn Rangers (7.30), Fahy Rovers v Crossmolina (8.30), and Swinford B v Castlebar Celtic (9.30).
The fixtures in the first round of the cup are: Straide & Foxford United v Ballina Town, Castlebar Celtic v Kiltimagh/Knock United, Swinford B v Westport United, Swinford v Kiltimagh/Knock United B, Manulla v Crossmolina, Charlestown Athletic v Fahy Rovers, Snugboro United v Manulla B, and Ballyvary Blue Bombers v Conn Rangers.