Ballyheane launch Mayo Super League defence on winning note
WEEKEND SOCCER ROUND-UP
Super League Champions Ballyheane showed little signs of a hangover from last weekend’s Calor Gas Super Cup final defeat against Westport United as they got the defence of their title off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over Claremorris.
A double from Ben Edeh and another from captain Sean Kilcoyne was enough to see off the challenge of Paul Burke’s side.
Straide & Foxford United came from behind twice as they denied Stevie Gavin a win in his opening league match as manager of Castlebar Celtic.
Jason Hunt’s made a scoring return to Super League action as he hit a brace for the home side while Johnnie Cocozza and Cormac Turnbull were on target for Aiden Flatley’s side.
Hunt gave Celtic the lead just after a quarter of an hour with an excellent volley from inside the area only for Cocozza to level matters less than ten minutes later before Hunt restored the home sides lead just before the break with a stunning goal from twenty-five yards that found the top left hand corner of the net.
It looked like Celtic might hold out for the win, but Cormac Turnbull had other ideas as he scored a superb goal for the away side with 15 minutes remaining to earn his side a share of the spoils.
In the other early morning kick-off in the top division newly promoted Kiltimagh/Knock United needed a last-minute strike from Owen Carroll to secure a point against ten-man Manulla at CMS Park.
Manulla took the lead early in the first half when Gary McHale cored their opening goal of the season, but they were pegged back almost immediately when new signing James McGrath made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Jack O’Connor was fouled inside the area.
Manulla were reduced to ten men before half-time and then needed a tremendous double save from Ryan Convey to deny McGrath a second from the spot.
but it was Aiden Dunleavy’s side that went in front again with ten minutes remaining when David McCracken found the back of the net but it was Kiltimagh/Knock that would have the final say as they equalised through Carroll with more or less the last kick of the game.
Ballina Town laid down an early season marker with as they put eight past Ballyhaunis Town without reply in Belleek.
A first half hat-trick from Benny Lavelle and goals from Ryan Moran and Jamie Cawley had them well in control at the break before Lavelle added two more in the second half to take his tally to five for the day and Jamie Moyles added the final goal to put the gloss on an impressive performance by Mark Beattie’s side.
Westport United were held to a 0-0 draw by Glenhest Rovers on the opening day of the season for a second year in a row as Stephen McLoughlin’s side earned an important point in Beltra on Sunday afternoon.
Westport’s best chance of the game fell to Shane Nallen in the first half and despite having the majority of possession they failed to break down a resolute Glenhest defence who were in inspired form for the ninety minutes.
Glenhest themselves had a big chance to win it late on but Gary Cunningham made an excellent save in the dying minutes to deny the home side what would have been a memorable victory.
CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division
Fahy Rovers and Swinford started their 2022 campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw at Solar 21 Park on Sunday morning.
Fahy will probably be the happier of the two sides as Swinford had the chance to grab all three points late on but could not find the net from the penalty spot.
James Devaney and Conor Devaney were on target for Chris McHale-Roe’s side while Jason Ormsby on his debut and Gary Concannon scored the Fahy goals.
Conn Rangers got off to a winning start with a convincing 5-0 win over newly promoted Kiltimagh/Knock United B at Mount Falcon with three of the goals coming from the penalty spot in the second half.
Mikey Bourke gave Rangers a deserved lead on thirty-five minutes with Ciaran Brogan getting a second just before the break.
Owen McNamara then got his first of the day from the penalty spot early in the second half before Moo Paw made it four with their second penalty of the day as his excellent spot kick found the top right-hand corner of the net.
McNamara completed the scoring with his second effort from twelve yards inside the final ten minutes as the North Mayo side laid down a marker for the season ahead.
Crossmolina started the new season as they finished the first with a comprehensive 4-1 win over neighbours Killala at the Courthouse.
Kevin Campbell and David O’Boyle had them two up before Killala pulled a goal back, but young striker Niall Coggins showed that he is ready for the step up in quality that the Premier Division will offer with a second half double to ensure his side started the new season with a win.
McDonnell Construction League Two
Last week at our league launch night Crossmolina B said there aim for the season was to win a match and they wasted little time in hitting their target as they got their first ever win with a 2-0 victory over Killala B. Ger Haran and Ciaran Traynor scored the goals against their near neighbours in what was Killala B’s first outing in Mayo League football.
Partry Athletic return to League Two football got off to the perfect start as they got a 3-2 win away against Ballyvary Blue Bombers on Sunday afternoon. Conall MacGabhann (2) and Martin Fox got the goals as Neil Donnelly’s side got their league campaign off to a winning start. Fergal Larkin and Cillian O’Brien got the goals for the Bombers.
Castlebar Celtic B got their first win of the season with a 2-1 win away against Conn Rangers C on Sunday morning in a game that could have been mush more comfortable had Kaylum Murphy not saved two penalties for Rangers.
Murphy had saved one before his side took the lead as Kevin Breslin gave Conn a half-time lead.
Celtic though were level minutes after the restart as Michael Ahern scored direct from a corner. Murphy then saved a second spot-kick but Celtic were not to be denied and Conor Joyce hit the winner for the away side as they started the season with a win.
Claremorris B got the better of Ballyheane B in a five-goal thriller at Concannon Park. Gavin Brady gave the home side a two-goal advantage at the break with two goals inside the opening half hour but Ballyheane made a game of it when Rory Morris pulled a goal back on fifty five minutes.
Just when it looked as if Ballyheane might get something out of the game Danny Broderick added a third for Claremorris before Shane Scollan got a consolation goal for Ballyheane late on.
In the final game in League Two Ballyglass B have three points on the board after a 2-0 win over Fahy Rovers B at Michael Keaveney Park.
Jimmy Killeen got both goals for the home side as they started the season with a win.
- Details supplied by the Mayo Football League.