Mayo Super League title race hots up with Celtic win

Castlebar Celtic 4

Ballina Town 1

Castlebar Celtic produced a commanding victory over Ballina Town this evening, with Dani Ajenipa the standout performer in a convincing 4-1 win.

Celtic set the tempo from the off, captain Ioseph O'Reilly opened the scoring in the fourth minute, poking home from a corner thanks to a deft touch from Mark Cunningham.

Celtic dominated the first half, with Ajenipa a constant menace to the Ballina defence, and Jason Hunt going close on several occasions from range.

Ballina keeper Aaron Reilly was called upon regularly to keep the scoreline respectable at the break.

Dylan Felle doubled Celtic's lead early in the second half with a composed finish after a neat turn in the box.

Ajenipa got the third on 76 minutes, finishing coolly after a well-timed run in behind the Ballina defence. Ballina pulled one back through Martin Delaney on 86 minutes, a backheel from David Cawley releasing Jamie Moyles to cross for the headed finish, but Ajenipa had the final word, cutting inside his man and firing emphatically into the roof of the net in stoppage time.

Castlebar Celtic now sit in fourth, 4 points behind leaders Ballina Town but with two games in hand.

Celtic travel to Ballinrobe on Sunday, while Ballina Town make the short trip to Mount Falcon at the weekend.

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