Top Mayo club advance to 4th round of FAI Junior Cup

Castlebar Celtic 2

Swinford FC 1

CASTLEBAR CELTIC brought Swinford's impressive FAI Junior Cup run to an end this afternoon, edging a lively tie 2-1 at James McEvaddy Park.

Celtic broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when winger Lerlah Hay drove to the endline and pulled a cross back for Luke Kelly, who finished instinctively from close range.

A fierce hailstorm briefly halted play shortly after, one of several weather fronts that swept through during the afternoon, but Celtic were not to be disrupted.

Jason Hunt delivered a dangerous corner before the break and Dylan Felle was on hand to grab the second.

Swinford came out fighting after the interval and pulled one back almost immediately when Aiden Dunleavy's corner was headed home by Matthew Leadbetter.

Evan Rowley went agonisingly close to levelling on 65 minutes, curling a strike that looked destined for the top corner before it drifted narrowly wide, and Dunleavy tested Peter Basquelle with a powerful free kick three minutes later.

Celtic held firm despite the pressure and Swinford keeper Sean Gilmartin, who was excellent throughout, could not prevent the hosts from advancing. Dani Ajenipa might have sealed it late on but shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Celtic now progress to the 4th round of the FAI Junior Cup alongside Ballyheane FC who beat St. John's Athletic 3-1 this afternoon.

Full match report to follow inside Tuesday's edition of the Connaught Telegraph