Town close to second League title

Wednesday, 22 September 2010 18:52

Derek Tansey, Ballina town captainThe final round of the Super League takes place on Sunday with the destination of the title still undecided. The maths are simple though; three points for a win will secure Ballina Town a second league title in a row no matter what Westport United do at arch rivals Castlebar Celtic. For Ballina, retaining the Super League would represent the continuation of what is surely the most glorious period of the club's history on the field of play.
Already this season they have claimed their second successive Westaro Super Cup and are holders of the first ever Mayo Community Shield title.

While it could be argued they haven't been as impressive this season as last, they sit in pole position because of an ability to win the big games. They did it with a late, late John Mountney winner over Westport United two games ago, and followed that up by claiming a 4-3 win at Iorras Aontaithe a week later, the Erris side being still very much in contention for the title before that result.
It's hard to see them not winning on Sunday against a Swinford side that fulfilled its objective for the season by staying up, an achievement in itself given that four teams are due to drop down from the league this year.
But there's one thing that will motivate the Swinford players: pride. They will want to show that they're better than Sunday's 4-3 reversal at Moy Villa in the FAI Junior Cup might suggest.
So, Ballina will face a wounded animal in Belleek next Sunday afternoon. But in the same position last year they put Fahy Rovers to the sword. It would be a shock if they couldn't do the same against Swinford, a side against whom they recovered from going 2-0 behind to before winning 3-2 in the first league game of the season.
If Ballina do slip up, Westport can pounce. They kept their title chances alive with a clinical 7-0 win over Ballyheane last time out, but it's unlikely they'll have it so easy in Castlebar on Sunday.
Therein lies the biggest problem for United; they're going to their biggest rivals needing something from the game. Even though Celtic have nothing to play for, they would like nothing more than to make sure Westport have no chance of winning the title in Celtic Park.
It's unlikely Westport will lose in Celtic Park on Sunday, but it's also equally unlikely they'll win the title. Expect Town to be the team celebrating come Sunday evening.
Elsewhere, Iorras are assured of a third place finish at least so their clash away to Ballyheane is a dead rubber given that Ballyheane are going down.
Straide & Foxford United versus Snugboro United at Green Road is a bottom of the table clash, while the Super League's fourth relegated side, Fahy Rovers, host Manulla at Moneen, which should be a good workout for the hosts as they prepare for a Connacht Gold Cup final showdown with S&F next month.

Key games (k.o. 2.30 p.m.)
Ballina Town v Swinford, Pete Murray Pitch, Belleek Park
Castlebar Celtic v Westport United, Celtic Park