Big results at both ends of Mayo Super League

A mixed day for the two Mayo League sides in Connacht Cup action while Ballyheane return to the summit of the Super League with a win over Ballina Town as Westport drop points in Manulla.

TP Brennan Connacht Cup Semi Final

Ballinasloe Town ended Castlebar Celtic’s Connacht Cup hopes as a double from Jordan Carr earned the away side a 2-1 win after extra-time at Celtic Park earlier today.

Just like last weekend in the abandoned game Celtic started the game brightly and were much the better side in the opening period.

They took the lead on seventeen minutes when Jordan Loftus made up for a miss minutes earlier with a well taken goal from the edge of the area. Oran Groarke got in behind the Ballinasloe defence and even though the defence cut out his low cross they only cleared it as far as Loftus who took his time before expertly finding the bottom right-hand corner of the net from twenty yards.

Celtic had a few half chances to double their lead in the first half but unlike last weekend they couldn’t add a second when they were on top, and they were made to pay for it in the second half. Ballinasloe equalised on fifty-five minutes when centre back Des Hope found Jordan Carr out on the left wing and the tricky winger turned two players before wrongfooting Stefan Hester in the Celtic goal with a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner.

Neither side came close to adding a second goal in the remainder of the half and the game went into extra time where Ballinasloe grabbed the winner in the first period. The goal arrived after four minutes of the half as Gary Egan and Liam Lynch combined down the right wing before Egan whipped in a cross that left Carr with the chance to head the ball past Hester from six yards out.

Stevie Gavin can be very proud of the efforts his side made over the past two weekends as they came so close to getting to the Connacht Final for the first time in eight years.

TP Brennan Connacht Shield Semi-Final

Westport United B ensured the Mayo League will have some representation in a Connacht Final as they had an excellent 3-0 away win against Corofin United to set up a final against Knocknacarra in a few weeks’ time. Two goals from Oisin Ryall and another from Ted Horan was enough to send Joe Kelly’s side into another cup final.

Elverys Sports Super League

Champions Ballyheane are back on top of the Super League as they held on to record a 3-2 win over Ballina Town in Pat Quigley Park on Saturday evening. Ashley Stevenson’s side went in two goals up at the break thanks to goals from Dara Ludden and Nathan Reilly-Doyle.

Captain Sean Kilcoyne then added a third to put them in what looked like a very comfortable position but two goals from Benny Lavelle gave Ballina hopes of getting a point late on, but the champions held on to pick up another important three points.

Claremorris finally picked up their first win of the season at the sixth attempt with a resounding 5-2 win over Straide & Foxford United on Saturday evening. Paul Burke’s side took an early lead inside the first two minutes through Ryan McLoughlin and from there they never looked back as they went in three goals ahead at the break.

Nathan Ring got their second midway through the half as he found the top corner of the net after been set up by McLoughlin and Simon Butler got the third goal on thirty-four minutes when he finished to an empty net after Mark Maloney’s dink over the keeper wasn’t going to make it over the line.

In the second half Claremorris continued where they left of as Maloney set up McLoughlin for their fourth and then John Heneghan headed home a cross from Jason Murphy on sixty-eight minutes to make it five.

Straide & Foxford pulled a goal back almost immediately as Paul Fitzpatrick smashed in a free-kick and they added a second consolation goal five minutes later through Johnny Cocozza but that was to be the end of the scoring as Claremorris seen out the final fifteen minutes to finally get some points on the board.

A thunderbolt of a strike from Aiden Dunleavy earned Manulla a 1-1 draw against Westport United to deny them the chance of moving back to the top of the table on Sunday morning.

After a scoreless first half Westport took the lead just before the hour mark when Kevin Kitterick opened the scoring for the away side. Dylan Duane was the provider as his ball over the top evaded everyone and Kitterick raced onto it to round the keeper before tapping the ball into an empty net.

At this stage it looked like Westport would return to the top of the table but Manulla had other ideas and levelled matters on seventy-five minutes when Aiden Dunleavy scored a goal of the month contender, Dunleavy picked the ball up out on the left wing and moved infield before unleashing a powerful shot from over thirty yards that flew in over Gary Cunningham and into the top right hand corner of the net.

Westport had chances to win it and nearly did so late on, but Harrison Quinn couldn’t direct his last-minute shot on target from a tight angle.

The East Mayo derby between Kiltimagh/Knock United and Ballyhaunis didn’t disappoint as the home side came from two goals down to earn a share of the spoils after a 2-2 draw at CMS Park.

Ballyhaunis took the lead just before the break when Gary Higgins got his first of the season from the penalty spot on his return to club colours after his move to Westport United last season.

Kiltimagh/Knock were then reduced to ten men early in the second half and when Andy Cunnane made added a second it looked like Ballyhaunis would go on to take the three points.

Kiltimagh/Knock though had other ideas and pulled a goal back midway through the half and as the game entered injury time Dan Duffy scored the equaliser with a fantastic strike from the edge of the box.

CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division

Conn Rangers impressive start to the season continued as they made it five wins from six games with a 3-0 win away to Fahy Rovers.

The sides were level at the break and for a good part of the second half but Conn Rangers introduction of a number of subs changed the game as Liam Durkan was the player that was fouled in the box allowing Owen McNamara the chance to fire home the opener from twelve yards on sixty-three minutes.

Five minutes later Durkan and two other subs combined for their second a few minutes later as he linked up with Sean Holmes who backheeled the ball into the path of Adam Gallagher who gave the away side some breathing space.

Gallagher then added a third goal when a corner from the left was headed back across the goal by McNamara and he volleyed the ball home from three yards out to add further gloss to the scoreline in the seventy eight minute.

Crossmolina have continued to score heavily in the Premier Division as they did in League One last year as they put seven past Swinford in James McEvaddy Park on Sunday morning.

Michael Gill had them in front after only two minutes as he got on the end of a corner from Diarmuid Coggins and they were further ahead soon after as Fiachra Walshe smashed home their second with a strike from the edge of the box after Swinford failed to clear another corner, Coggins then set up Shane Hennigan to add a third before he got in on the scoring himself with a well taken goal from outside the area.

Despite Swinford getting a goal back early in the second half it was Crossmolina who dominated proceedings again as Vlad Gordetskyy stuck a freekick from 40 yards that found the back of the net.

Two substitutes then combined to make it six as Conal Carolan set up Edward Gough before another substitute also got in on the act ad he added the final goal after Dale Lee’s first effort was saved by the Swinford keeper.

Killeen Sports Ground League One

Conn Rangers B came out on the right side of a nine-goal thriller over Achill Rovers to move level on points with the islanders after a 5-4 win in Mount Falcon.

Rangers led 5-2 at one stage but Achill ensured their was late drama at the end as they pulled two goals back but the home side held on to record an important win. Rangers goals came from Rory Langan, Shane Bourke, Aaron Faughnan, Kyle Neary and Josh Kelly while Sean Mulchrone hit a brace for Achill and the other goals came from Terence Devers and Michael Moran.

Ballinrobe Town moved above Manulla B and into second place in League One with a 2-0 win over Damien Joyce’s side in Carramore. An understrength Ballinrobe side came through the tie without several first team players but they were still too strong for their opponent’s thanks to goals from Shane Ryan and Mossy Joyce.

Newport/Mulranny Wanderers ground out an important first league win of the season as goals from Jay Ryder and Damien Doyle were enough to secure a 2-1 win over Westport United C at Solar 21 Park.

The only team with full points from their opening four games in League One are Kilmore after they had a comfortable 6-0 victory of Hollister on Sunday afternoon to go top of the table.

Justin Healy and Dylan Walker continued their impressive form in front of goal with a hat-trick each as the home side had the points wrapped up by the half-time whistle. Healy gave them the lead with an excellent finish from a tight angle before Walker made it two as he slotted home a penalty after he was taken down in the area.

Healy then got the next two to complete a first half hat-trick before Walker got his second of the day with a sweetly hit free-kick that found the top left-hand corner of the net. Kilmore made some changes at the break but still added a sixth in the second half as Walker completed his hat-trick with a well taken finish after he raced clear of the defence.

McDonnell Construction League Two

Partry Athletic remain on top of League Two after they got the better of a stubborn Fahy Rovers B side in Partry on Saturday evening.

In goal in either half was enough for Neil Donnelly’s side who remain unbeaten after their opening six league games. Conall MacGabhann gave them a very early lead with a well taken finish from eighteen yards inside the first five minutes.

The second goal came early in the second half when Ciaran Hennelly beat the offside trap to loop a header over the Fahy keeper after Cathal Flannelly played the perfect ball through for the midfielder who claimed his first goal of the season.

Castlebar Celtic B kept up their pursuit of Partry with a convincing 5-0 win over Killala B on Saturday in Celtic Park. Eoin Keane and Conor Joyce gave them a two-goal lead at half-time as they scored twice in as many minutes just before the half-hour mark. Liam Nevin and Nicky Canning added the next two goals before Joyce rounded of the scoring with their fifth late on.

Claremorris B remain three points of the top of League Two after a 3-1 win over Conn Rangers C. Veteran striker Mick Mullee had Claremorris in front after only eight minutes before Luke Clayton levelled matters eight minutes later.

Rangers joy was short lived as Claremorris were back in the lead three minutes later when a quality cross from Danny Broderick was guided home by Gavin Brady. Brady added a second just before the break from the penalty spot to complete the scoring for the day as neither side added to the score line in the second half.

Ballyheane B kept up their pursuit of the top three with a 4-2 win over Ballyvary Blue Bombers on Sunday morning. A brace from Rory Morris and goal from Darragh Moran and Shane McAtamany secured another vital three points for Walter Tuffy’s side. Dara Kelly and Colm Kelly were on target for Ballyvary.