Ballyheane keep six point lead at top of Mayo Super League
Ballyheane maintained their six point lead at the top of the Super League with a win over Castlebar Celtic while Ballinrobe Town and Kilmore secure promotion from League One.
Elverys Sports Super League
At the bottom of the table Ballyhaunis Town and Claremorris had to settle for a point apiece in the big match in the fight for survival on Saturday evening.
In an even game it was Ballyhaunis who struck first through Andy Cunnane on 58 minutes but Claremorris hit back as Cathal Walsh struck a crucial equaliser 15 minutes later.
On Sunday morning Ballyheane strengthened their grip on retaining the Super League title as they ended any hopes Castlebar Celtic had of catching them with a 5-3 win at Pat Quigley Park.
Celtic took an early lead inside two minutes thanks to James Basquille but it was the ‘Heane’ who were in control by half-time as Nathan Reilly-Doyle hit a quickfire double before Dan Purcell added a third on 35 minutes.
Jack Rochford then made it four early in the second half only for Jason Hunt to pull a goal back for Celtic minutes later. As the match ticked towards full-time Jordan Loftus made it a nervy last few minutes for the home side as he struck on 86 minutes only for Rory Morris to make sure of the points with a fifth for Ashley Stevenson’s side in injury time.
Westport United kept their feint title hopes alive as they came from two goals down at half-time to record a 3-2 victory over Straide & Foxford United at United Park.
The away side took the lead inside the opening few minutes when Damien Fontczak found the top left hand corner of the net from just inside the area. Straide & Foxford doubled their lead after 27 minutes when Kienan Smyth pounced on a error in the Westport defence to slot the ball past goalkeeper Gary Cunningham.
Westport needed a big second half performance and they got it as they were level by the hour mark. Patrick Moran headed in a corner from James O’Donnell on 56 minutes before O’Donnell himself got on the scoresheet with a contender for goal of the month as he volleyed home from 25 yards.
The winner arrived from the head of substitute Dylan Duane as he headed in a left wing corner from Jack Murphy with five minutes remaining.
Manulla secured a vital three points as they avoided been dragged into a relegation fight thanks to a 3-0 win over Glenhest Rovers on Sunday afternoon.
Diarmuid Heneghan and Sean Sweeney gave them a two goal lead at the break and Sweeney added a second after the break to make sure Aiden Dunleavy’s side secured the win.
Ballina Town stayed within six points of Ballyheane at the top of the Super League with a 2-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United at CMS Park.
The sides were level at the break after Jack O’Connor cancelled out Ryan Moran’s early strike but it was ace striker Benny Lavelle who popped up to score his 17th league goal of the season in the second half to earn the three points for Mark Beattie’s side. Ballina face Ballyheane in the next round of league games and anything but a win will more than likely end their hopes of overtaking Ashley Stevenson’s side.
CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division
Fahy Rovers insured a mid table finish as they put seven past Killala without reply in Fahy on Saturday evening. Ryan Feehan hit two for John Creaby’s side while Patrick O’Connell, Feilip Broch, Simon Duffy, Luke Napier were also on target while the seventh came from an unfortunate own goal off a Killala defender.
Conn Rangers stretched their lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Ballyglass at Michael Keaveney Park on Sunday morning. Colm Rutledge has been a superb signing for the north Mayo side this season and he opened the scoring for Brendan McDonagh’s side on 20 minutes. Evan Reape doubled their lead before half-time as the striker continued his good form in front of goal after his hat-trick against Swinford on Thursday evening. Lorcan Towey made sure of the points with 10 minutes remaining and Reape hit his fifth goal in two games to put the gloss on the scoreline late on.
Swinford secured a massive three points as they held on to record a 3-2 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United B to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
After a heavy defeat on Thursday night Swinford showed great mentality to get the win and they wasted little time in getting out of the blocks. The first goal came at the end of a six pass move started by Ian Price and it was Price who provided the killer ball with a fantastic pin point pass taking the whole Kiltimagh/Knock back line out of the game to find Adorn Biju who fired home.
The second came after a another very good passing move with Chris Reddington, Adorn Biju and Price involved and the latter got his second assist as he picked out James Devaney to finish of a brilliant move.
Kiltimagh/Knock pulled a goal back after referee Mick Walsh pointed to the spot just before half-time when a ball hit Johnny McNulty's arm from a close range on the edge of the box. The Swinford keeper got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out and injured himself in the process and had to be substituted at the break.
Swinford restored their two goal advantage half way through the second-half when 16-year-old right back Nathan Griffin shot from half way inside his own half caught out the Kiltimagh/Knock keeper and found the back of the net.
Kiltimagh/Knock made it a nervy finish for Chris McHale-Roe’s side when they pulled a goal back but it was Swinford who had the better of the chances after that with James Devaney missing two good chances to put the game beyond doubt.
Killeen Sports Ground League One
On Saturday evening Kilmore came from two goals down against Hollister to secure the three points that would earn them promotion on Sunday as goals from Mark Gilbert, Niall Cawley and Sean Brogan moved them level on points with Ballinrobe Town at the top of the table.
Hollister are fighting for survival at the other end of the table and played the better football in the first half but at the same time had to rely on some good saves by John Langdon to keep Kilmore at bay while they managed to take the lead when Thomas Delaney headed in a corner from the left. Hollister doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half when Martin Delaney slotted home a penalty but this woke Kilmore up and they dominated the game from then on.
They won a fortunate penalty to get back into the match when a Hollister defender needlessly handled the ball in the box and substitute Mark Gilbert got his side back into game as he sent the keeper the wrong way from twelve yards.
Minutes later it was all square as a cross from the left wing went passed everyone and fell to Niall Cawley who couldn’t miss from two yards. The away side threw everything at Hollister and they scored the winner with ten minutes to go when Ryan Ruddy’s fired in a shot from twenty yards that took a deflection off Sean Brogan and tfound its way into the net.
Hollister did come close to taking a point but the excellent Aran Reilly made a goal line clearance when Daniel Moyles looked odds on to score after he went passed the keeper but he couldn’t beat Reilly on the line and Kilmore held on to take the three points.
Conn Rangers B more or less secured their status in League One on Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over Achill Rovers at Fr. O’Brien Park. A goal in either half from Kyle Neary and Michael Mahedy were enough to secure the points for the North Mayo side despite Achill getting a late consolation goal.
Ballinrobe Town secured their second promotion in two seasons as they remain unbeaten in League One with a 2-1 win over Manulla B at The Green.
Ballinrobe always looked the stronger side but they had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock thanks goal by Connor Ryan. Liam Burke doubled their lead shortly after before Shane Durkan made it a nervy last few minutes for Pat O’Sullivan’s side but they held on to secure the win that guaranteed they’d be playing in the Premier Division next season.
McDonnell Construction League Two
In the early game in League Two Claremorris B moved back to within a point of Partry Athletic at the top of the table with a 6-2 win over Ballyvary Blue Bombers.
Ballyvary were well in the game at the break after a pulsating first half where Claremorris led by the odd goal in five but a strong fourth quarter performance saw them pull clear as they added three further goals to put a huge dent in Ballyvary’s promotion hopes.
Jason Murphy gave Claremorris the lead in the first minute only for Ballyvary to equalise on twenty minutes through Colm Kelly. Gavin Brady then got his first of the day to give the away side the lead seven minutes later but the sides were level again on 37 minutes as Cillian O’Brien scored Ballyvary’s second.
Brady then got his second of the day on forty-two minutes to put Claremorris back in front and they had to wait until 15 minutes to go to add a fourth as Conor Kilcullen got his name on the scoresheet. Danny Broderick added a fifth with two minutes remaining before Gavin Brady completed his hat-trick in injury time.
McDonnell Cup winners Ballyheane B promotion hopes took a big blow on Sunday afternoon as Castlebar Celtic B moved above them in the table with a 2-0 win at Celtic Park. Conor Joyce and Liam King got the goals for Celtic who are right up there in the title race with six games remaining.
Crossmolina B got their fifth win of the season as two second half goals were enough to see them claim the three points against Conn Rangers C in Mount Falcon. Conor Caden gave them the lead with 15 minutes to go as he calmly finished past the keeper from eight yards out after a good move up the left wing.
Mark Rothwell then doubled their lead with a spectacular goal from the edge of the area which may have been a contender for goal of the month but unfortunately the Crossmolina cameraman lost sight of the ball for a few seconds as Rothwell curled the ball into the top corner.
-Report courtesy of the Mayo Football League.
*Full match reports from action in the Super League and Under 21 League in tomorrow's print edition.