Shocks at a premium in busy Mayo weekend of cup action

by Kieran Gallagher

There were very few shocks in the opening round of the Mayo Football League's divisional cups over the weekend as most of the fancied sides made it through to the next round.

Westaro Cup

Cup holders Westport United are through to the next round of the Westaro Cup after a 3-0 win over Conn Rangers at United Park.

They opened the scoring after just ten minutes when Kevin Kitterick fired home from the edge of the area after Jack Dawson’s initial effort was saved by Brian McMahon in the Conn Rangers goal.

The second goal arrived five minutes before the break when Alex Halpin’s right wing corner was inadvertently turned into his own net by Brian Durkan at the back post to leave Rangers with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Westport had put the game to bed within three minutes of the restart when Cian Halpin added a third from the penalty spot after Alex Haplin was upended in the penalty area.

Rangers had their moments throughout the ninety minutes but never really threatened to cause a cup upset after going behind so early in the game.

Ballina Town were made to work hard for the win as they also made it through to the next round where they needed two late goals to see off ten man Ballinrobe Town at The Green.

Ballinrobe showed they will be able to compete at this level with a spirited performance with the turning point coming in the 75th minute when Killian McHugh was dismissed to give Ballina the advantage of an extra man and they took their chance to score twice in the final ten minutes of the game.

The first arrived five minutes later through Dylan McKee and the insurance goal came in the dying minutes as Jamie Cawley scored his first of the season for Fergal Forde’s side.

In the late evening kick off Castlebar Celtic met Crossmolina under lights at Celtic Park and it was Stevie Gavin’s side who progressed with a 3-1 win over the North Mayo side.

Jason Hunt continued his brilliant start to the season as he scored twice with his first arriving after twenty minutes to give his side the lead.

Matthew Williams equalised for the away side just five minutes later but Dylan Edwards restored Celtic’s lead before half-time before Hunt grabbed his second midway through the second half to end Crossmolina’s chances of a comeback.

Claremorris turned the tables on Manulla after their opening day defeat in the Super League as they got themselves into the draw fotr the next round with a 4-0 win over Aiden Dunleavy’s side in Concannon Park.

Mike Heaney opened the scoring for Claremorris on ten minutes and they were three goals ahead by half time as Simon Butler scored twice in as many minutes near the break with the second coming from a looping header from a Rokas Mikuckis cross.

Rokas was also the provider for the fourth goal ten minutes into the second half as his initial shot cannoned back off the crossbar to leave Mike Heaney with a tap in to score his second of the day.

Ballyheane were the final side to book their place in the next round thanks to an impressive second half performance that seen them record a 4-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United.

Goals from Nathan Reilly-Doyle and Matthew Leadbetter had the teams level at the break but Ballyheane kicked into gear in the second half as goals from Sean Kilcoyne, another from Reilly-Doyle and a strike from Dan Purcell in injury time was enough to see Ballyheane through.

Tuohy Cup

Kiltimagh/Knock United B got revenge on Ballyglass for their opening day league defeat with an excellent 4-1 win away in Michael Keaveney Park.

Ballyglass had put four past Kiltimagh/Knock in the opening Premier Division fixture but it was John Tarpey’s side that progressed to the next round thanks to goals from Andre Neves Do Carmo (2), Rodrigo Rosado Da Costa and Rafael Costa.

Rosado Da Costa opened the scoring after twelve minutes only for Dean O’Malley to equalise for Ballyglass ten minutes later but Andre Neves Do Carmo had the away side back in front with a goal in first half injury time.

Neves Do Carmo got the all important third goal on eighty two minutes before Rafael Costa completed the scoring in the final few minutes.

Glenhest Rovers tag a cup favourites got another boost on Sunday afternoon as they had a 6-1 win over Straide & Foxford United in Beltra.

Three goals in each half was more than enough for Paul MCLoughlin’s side as they made it through to the next round.

New signing Conor McCarthy hit his first hat-trick for the club with the other goals coming from Mark Forrestal, Pat Mulchrone and Kevin Cooney while Sean Ruane got Straide & Foxford’s lone reply.

Castlebar Celtic and Ballyhaunis Town met for the second time in eight days at Station Rise and it was Celtic who came out on top with a 3-1 win.

The sides had to settle for a point in last weekend’s league encounter but this time Celtic got the win thanks to a brace of goals from Conor Joyce and the other from Simon Jordan.

Jason Jennings had give Ballyhaunis the lead midway through the first half but Celtic were level almost immediately as Joyce got his first of the day.

Jordan gave them the lead midway through the second half and Joyce grabbed his second 15 minutes from time to end any chance of a comeback from the home side.

Westport United B are also through to the next round after a 4-3 win on penalties away to Kilmore as the sides finished a goal apiece after extra time.

Young Kilmore winger Thomas Tighe gave his side the lead after thirty three minutes as he drilled the ball past Micheal Gibbons from the edge of the area after some good work by Fionnan Ryan.

Kilmore looked like they were going to go through but Westport stuck in the game and got the equaliser with just over ten minutes remaining as Luke Dawson seemed to get the last touch in a goal mouth scramble following a right wing corner.

Both sides came close to winning it but they had to settle for the dreaded penalty shoot-out and it was Micheal Gibbons who was the hero as Kilmore missed two spot kicks while Westport scored all four to take the win.

Tonra Cup

Iorras Aontatihe continued their unbeaten start to the season as they came from a goal down to record a 4-1 win over Claremorris B in Concannon Park.

Liam Keirns gave Claremorris the lead after just seven minutes as he hit an unstoppable shot past Kian Gallagher in the Iorras net.

A Claremorris player was also on target for the next goal of the game but it came at the wrong end of the pitch as Ian Costello ended up getting the final touch to level the game for Iorras as he diverted the ball into his own net from a cross from Padraic McCafferty.

McCafferty put Iorras in front four minutes later to give them a half-time lead as he chipped the keeper to score an excellent goal before Dara Padden struck a superb free kick to make it three and substitute Ivan Barrett completed the scoring late on.

Ballyvary Blue Bombers had a 3-1 win over Partry Athletic on Saturday evening as they continued their recent good run of form as they made it three wins on the trot with a 3-1.

Chris Keirns have Ballyvary the lead midway through the first half before Conall MacGabhan levelled matters ten minutes later.

Ballyvary went back in front five minutes before the break through Colm Lynch and it was the same man that got the third for the home side with his second of the day on 70 minutes.

In injury time Partry had Conall and Fianach MacGabhann dismissed while Ryan Glynn also was red carded for Ballyvary.

Castlebar Town had the performance of the round in the Tonra Cup with an 8-2 win over Fahy Rovers as Luciano Almeida De Freitas was the star of the show scoring four as his side progressed to the next round.

Town were 5-1 ahead at the break as De Freitas (2) Ethan Minogue, Thomas McGing and an own goal had them in full control Jack McGovern getting the sole reply for Fahy.

Aaron Kelly-Hanley added a sixth before De Freitas scored another brace to make it eight and Jack McGovern did hit a late consolation goal for Fahy eight minutes from time.

Killala recorded a second win in a week over Crossmolina B this time in the Tonra Cup as they put three past their neighbours without reply.

Johnny McNulty gave them a half-time lead with a goal on 41 minutes Before Richard Lynn and Jason Muldoon added further goals in the second half to earn their side the win.

Conor Devaney scored an extra time winner for Swinford as they had a 3-2 win over Conn Rangers B in the opening round of the Tonra Cup but after five minutes not many would have predicted that result as Rangers raced into a two goal lead.

Duane McDonnell and John Paul Collins got the two early goals for Rangers but Swinford were back in the game on twenty minutes as Devaney got his first of the day.

Adam Higgins got their second to level matters on seventy minutes before Devaney hit the winner in the first half of extra-time.

McDonnell Cup

Ballina Town B maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 4-1 win away to Snugboro United.

John Durkan gave Ballina the lead midway through the first half but Snugboro were back on level terms three minutes later as Jason Ormsby got his second goal in as many games.

But that was as good as it got for the men in yellow Durkan had Ballina in front ten minutes later before Ryan Moran and Matthew Leonard added two further goals inside the first ten minutes of the second half.

Bangor Hibs returned to winning ways with a very impressive 4-0 win away to Westport United C as they made it through to the next round of the McDonnell Cup.

Bangor had suffered a 6-2 defeat to the same opponents just a few weeks ago but they were the dominant side in the first half as they hit three of their four goals through Kyle Holmes, Finnian Carolan and Mark Healy.

Both teams were reduced to ten men midway through the second half and it was Hibs who scored the only goal after the break as Healy got his second of the day from the penalty spot.

Conn Rangers C got their first win of the season with a 2-0 win away to Ballyvary Blue Bombers B.

Rangers C had drawn twice in their last two outings against Westport United C and Ballina Town B so went into this tie as favourites to reach the next round.

Goals in either half from Shane O’Malley and Liam O’Sullivan did the trick for Tom Kemp’s side as they kept a clean sheet for the first time this season.

Ballinrobe Town B are in the hat for the next round as Sean Vahey’s winner in extra time eventually seen off Fahy Rovers B on a 2-1 scoreline as the sides finished level after ninety minutes.

Peter Finnerty had given Ballinrobe the lead just before half-time but Sean Prendergast hit an equaliser early in the second half and the sides couldn’t be separated until Vahey hit the winner in the first half of extra time.