Five-way tie at the top of the Mayo Super League
Five sides are now on seven points at the top of the Super League after another entertaining weekend of action in the Mayo League.
Elverys Sports Super League
Ballina Town were made to work for their first win in three matches as they claimed all three points with a slender 1-0 win over bottom of the table Claremorris in Concannon Park on Saturday evening. The home side are still looking for their first points of the season, but they will be encouraged at the fighting spirit they showed in a narrow defeat against Mark Beattie’s side. The only goal of the game came on twenty-six minutes when the division’s top scorer Benny Lavelle struck his seventh goal in their opening four matches as they got their second win of the season to get their title challenge back on track.
Dylan Duane first half hat-trick set Westport United on their way to a 6-0 win over Ballyhaunis Town at Solar 21 Park as his side continued their unbeaten start to the new campaign. Duane opened the scoring after only nine minutes when he got on the end of a cross from the right wing to power a header past the keeper from eight yards out. Duane doubled their lead six minutes later when he slotted the ball home from inside the area after he got on the end of an excellent through ball from Jack Murphy. Darren Browne extended their lead from the penalty spot minutes later as he sent the keeper the wrong way from twelve yards after Eoin Conway was fouled inside the area. Duane and Murphy combined again midway through the half as Duane completed his hat-trick with another calm finish after Murphy once again split the defence open with a ball through the middle. It remained that way until two minutes into the second half when Kevin Kitterick beat the offside trap to finish past the keeper at the near post from inside the six-yard box. The final goal of the game arrived on seventy-three minutes when substitute Dylan O’Malley pounced on a mistake by the Ballyhaunis keeper to tap the ball into an empty net to complete the scoring for United.
Straide & Foxford United inflicted a first defeat of the season on Manulla as they came away from Carramore with a 3-0 win on Saturday evening. After an even first half the deadlock was broken early in the second period when Michael Guilfoyle scored his first of the day from the penalty spot. Minutes later Michael McGarry extended their lead before Guilfoyle got his second of the day with another penalty late on to seal all three points for Aiden Flatley’s side.
Castlebar Celtic also moved onto seven points at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United at CMS Park. Oran Groarke gave them an early lead inside the first five minutes with a well taken finish but Kiltimagh/Knock equalised on thirty nine minutes through Cillian Finn but just seconds later Celtic were back in front when Jordan Loftus free-kick somehow made it into the back of the net. Loftus also got the goal that killed the game as a contest in the seventy-ninth minute as Celtic geared up for a top of the table clash with Ballyheane next weekend.
Ballyheane put last weekend’s defeat behind them as they beat Glenhest Rovers 4-1 on Sunday morning at Pat Quigley Park. Dan Purcell hit his first hat-trick for the club with the other goal coming from Nathan Reilly-Doyle. Levi Barrett got the Glenhest goal from the penalty spot.
CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division
Moy Villa made it two wins from two as they put eight past Kiltimagh/Knock United B without reply in Attymass on Saturday evening. They may have a new man in charge on the sideline, but it was two familiar faces on the pitch that did the damage for Mick Duffy’s side as both Luke Ruane and John Durkan hit hat-trick in a comfortable win. Paul O’Boyle and Stephen Duffy were also on target as Moy Villa continued their perfect start to the new season.
Ballyglass also continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-0 win over Killala at Michael Keaveney Park. Goals from Scott Hamilton, Newton Silva and Conor Burke earned a comfortable win for the home side as Killala continue to search for their first point of the season after three successive defeats.
In the game of the day Conn Rangers Owen McNamara hit an eighty fifth minute winner as his side edged an exhilarating contest against Swinford in a seven-goal thriller in James McEvaddy Park. Swinford took an early lead on ten minutes through James Devaney but Rangers hit back as Adam Gallagher levelled matters with a fantastic finish on the half hour mark. Ranger’s joy was short lived as Swinford went back in front thirty seconds later as Devaney struck his second but the sides were all square at the break as Rangers equalised again thanks to an unfortunate own goal from a Swinford defender. Rangers took the lead for the first time early in the second half through Liam Durkan but Swinford hit back to level the scoring again as Adorn Biju scored after Devaney was fouled inside the area. Just when it looked like the sides would have to settle for a point apiece McNamara scored to seal an important win for Mark Togher’s side.
Westport United B hold the bragging rights over neighbours Fahy Rovers after a 3-1 win in Fahy on Sunday afternoon. Padraig Folan gave Westport the lead on twenty minutes when he chipped the keeper from just inside the area but Fahy hit back almost immediately when Gary Concannon finished off a fine move involving Ryan Feehan, Luke Napier and Jake Staunton. The away side hit the front again though on the half hour mark when Oisin Ryall raced into the box before rounding the keeper to calmly slot the ball into an empty net. Fahy had the better of the second half but couldn’t break down the Westport defence for a second time and with just minutes remaining got caught on the break as Ted Horan got a crucial third goal for Joe Kelly’s side.
Killeen Sports Ground League One
Achill Rovers may have been one of the teams predicted to struggle in League One again this season but after two games they look like they may challenge at the other end of the table after a 2-0 win over Hollister saw them move to the top of the pile in League One. Brandon McGing and Sean Mulchrone hit their goals, which both came in a purple patch for the away side just before half-time.
Ballinrobe Town got their first win in League One with a 3-0 win over Conn Rangers B at the Green on Saturday evening. It was no surprise to see that it was their main man JP O’Gorman that hit all three goals as the veteran striker scored yet another hat-trick to show that he’s still more than capable of performing at this level.
Goal from Roger Clarke and Matty Nolan were enough to earn a second win of the season for Manulla B as they took the three points on offer with a 2-1 win over Newport/Mulranny Wanderers at Solar 21 Park.
Kilmore joined Manulla B and Achill Rovers at the top of League One with a 3-2 win over Westport United C in the Sports Park on Sunday afternoon. James Kelly broke the deadlock on the half hour mark with a well struck shot from outside the area that had Kilmore in front at the break but Westport equalised early in the second half as Cillian McGing got on the scoresheet for Michael Horan’s side. Kelly though as instrumental in all that Kilmore were doing and he played a huge part as they went back in front as Sean Brogan converted a penalty after Kelly was fouled inside the area. Dylan Walker then got his first goal for the club as he struck a sweet left foot volley from eight yards after Westport failed to clear a corner to ensure the points went home with the away side and despite Sean Prenty getting a late consolation goal for Westport the result never looked in doubt.
McDonnell Construction League Two
Partry Athletic moved to the top of League Two on Saturday with a convincing 4-0 win over Killala B in Partry. Eoin Lally gave them the lead with a sublime chip over the keeper in the first half before Conall MacGabhann added a second early in the second half thanks to a deflected shot. John Paul Sweeney then added a brace to put a gloss on the score-line as Neil Donnelly’s side continued their impressive start to the season.
Ballyglass B are another side that look like they will be promotion contenders as they earned their second win in a row with a 3-0 win over Conn Rangers C. Goals from Alan Jennings, Pj Gibbons and Vinny Flannery secured the points for Ballyglass who proved too strong for the North Mayo side.
Ballyheane B had a good away win in Fahy as they had a 5-2 win over Fahy Rovers B on Saturday evening. Rory Morris scored a hat-trick while the other goals came from Ben Lynch and Niall Vahey. The Fahy goals came from Danny Farrell and an unfortunate own goal from a Ballyheane defender.
Claremorris B moved level on points with Castlebar Celtic B with a narrow 2-1 win at Celtic Park on Sunday afternoon. Danny Broderick’s set piece delivery was the difference between the two sides as both Claremorris goals came from corners. Conor O’Keefe headed Claremorris in front from Broderick’s corner on sixteen minutes and even though Celtic pulled a goal back before half-time it was Claremorris who got the winner ten minutes into the second half when Gavin Brady got on the end of another corner from Broderick to strike the ball past the Celtic keeper to earn a crucial win for the Claremorris men.
- Report by the Mayo Football League.
*Full match reports from Kiltimagh/Knock v Castlebar Celtic, Manulla v Straide & Foxford, Ballyheane v Glenhest Rovers and Claremorris v Ballina Town in today's print edition.