Stage set for interesting finale in Division One of Mayo Women's League
Division One of the Eco Powered Cabinets Mayo Women's League is heading towards an interesting finale after table toppers Kilmore and second placed Killala were both defeated at the weekend.
On an evening where a win - with Killala losing - would have given the Erris side the title, a youthful Kiltimagh Knock United team threw a spanner in the works with a well deserved 2-1 win in Kilmore.
And, also on their travels to north Mayo, Westport United avenged their early season defeat to Killala with a 3-1 win on this occasion.
Kilmore's next match in the league is against Killala, away. A point would secure them the title, but with an extra game in hand, two wins for Killala would push matters to a play-off. One of Killala's games is against KK who are similarly still in the running.
Kiltimagh Knock United faced a difficult task down on the Erris Peninsula but took the game to Kilmore and the lead on 19 minutes from a wonderful Kayla Doherty strike. But put Kathrina Barrett behind a free-kick and there's usually only one outcome, and so it was that she had Kilmore back on level terms within a minute.
Doherty scored what was to be the winner on 54 minutes and try as they might, there was no way through the KK defence for their hosts.
Westport might have been thinking deja vu when Killala took the lead on four minutes in their clash but a goal each side of half-time settled them nicely, with Leila O'Malley making absolutely sure of full points on the stroke of full-time.
In the Premier Division, Straide & Foxford United secured their first win of the season in the local derby against Conn Rangers. Captain Stephanie Loughney scored the game's only goal in the 72nd minute.
Swinford played out a 1-1 draw against Manulla, where Niamh Flannery gave the visitors the lead on 21 minutes, with Swinford captain Melissa Devaney cancelling it out five minutes later.
Three second-half goals against Fahy Rovers gave Glenhest Rovers their first win of the season in a strong display. All even at half-time, with both sides having chances, Glenhest pushed on in the second with goals from Keira Doinik, Milly Allen and Alanagh Daly.
Ballina Town continue to dominate the division, with five wins from five, and putting five past nearest contenders Crossmolina in their latest outing. Kayla Salami helped herself to a hat-trick, with goals too from Margaret Giblin and Deirbhile Kilcullen.
Attention next Friday turns to the quarterfinals of the McHale Agri, Forest & Garden Mayo Women's Cup and Shield, with some intriguing ties.
Cup fixtures are: Kilmore v Swinford, Manulla v Westport United, Killala v Castlebar Town, Kiltimagh Knock United v Ballina Town. Shield: Achill Rovers v Crossmolina, Straide & Foxford v Glenhest Rovers, with byes for Fahy Rovers and Conn Rangers.