By the end of the weekend Ballyhaunis Town will have faced into two crucial fixtures that could define the rest of their season. The newly promoted side took on Westport United in Station Road last night after this paper went to print - but on Sunday they face a real must-win game when they travel to Conway Park to take on Snugboro United on Sunday morning.
Both Ballyhaunis Town and Snugboro United will be expected to be still locked on five points each - if, as expected, Westport United take the points in their meeting with Ballyhaunis Town. Both sides have won one and drawn two games each this season and sit two points behind Straide and Foxford United - who have put together a good run of form of late to move out of the relegation zone. When the teams met in the league at the start of May it ended up in a 1-1 draw in Station Rise with Kristoffer da Silva Ventvra getting the goal for the east Mayo men and Peter Minogue bagging the goal for the Boro'. With games running out for both sides, a win is vital for both as they try to close in and leap-frog Straide and Foxford United out of the relegation zone and if results go their way at the weekends and Claremorris beat Straide and Foxford United, they could move into a position of safety in the table.
This evening in Belleek, second placed Ballina Town will be looking to keep the gap between themselves and their visitors, Manulla, who sit three points behind them at the minute. Last weekend Manulla picked up their eighth league win of the season when they saw off Ballyhaunis Town 2-0, with Gerry Canavan and Chris Maughan getting the goals for Danny O'Leary's side. Their opponents were in action in the semi-final of the Westaro Cup where they had a 4-1 win over Ballyglass with a Brendan Lavelle brace along with goals from Dylan McKee and Keith Tighe getting the goals.
The Keaveney Park outfit will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday morning when they host a Westport United side who will be facing into their second game in four days. United were also in the semi-finals of the Westaro Cup last weekend and they set up a final meeting in that competition with Ballina Town, scoring a 1-0 win over Ballyheane thanks to a Phil Keegan goal.
The other game in the top flight is the meeting of Claremorris and Straide and Foxford United in Concannon Park. The visitors have picked up four points in their last three games and will fancy their chances of picking up another point against their hosts, who were 4-1 winners over them in the earlier league meeting this season.
Cup finals down for decision
There are two big cup finals taking place over the weekend in Solar 21 Park Milebush - with the first final - the Tonra Cup final - between Crossmolina and Claremorris B, on Saturday evening at 6.30pm. This is the divisional cup for the sides in the Killeen Sports League One division. Crossmolina are performing better in the league, sitting just a point off the promotion places at the minute, while Claremorris B are just outside the relegation zone - but still four points clear of the side below them. When the teams last met in the league it ended up in a 0-0 draw. Shane Hennigan has been the top scorer for Crossmolina this season, bagging nine goals, while Michael Mullee is the top scorer for Claremorris B this season. To get to the final, Claremorris B have had to rely on penalties to see off Westport United B in the quarter-finals and Partry Athletic in the semi-final. Crossmolina didn't need penalties but both their quarter-finals and semi-finals went to extra time against Killala and Castlebar Celtic B respectively.
On Sunday it is McDonnell Cup Final day and Newport-Mulranny Wanderers will face off against Moy Villa. The Attymass based side are currently out in front in the league, five points clear of their opponents on Sunday. When the teams met in the league a few weeks ago, Newport-Mulranny Wanderers ran out winners by the odd goal in five, with Dean Guthrie bagging a brace and Adrian McManamon the third goal for the west Mayo men, with John Judge and Luke Thomas Ruane getting the goals for Moy Villa. That was Newport-Mulranny Wanderers' second league win over Moy Villa in the league this season, having also picked up the points with a 1-0 win over their opponents in April thanks to a Jack Hanley goal and they will be looking to make it three from three on Sunday and pick up a trophy to mark the season.
Mayo League Fixtures
Friday, July 12
Elverys Sports Super League at 7pm
Ballina Town v Manulla
Saturday, July 13
Tonra Cup Final at 6.30pm in Solar 21 Park
Crossmolina v Claremorris B
Castlecourt Hotel Premier League at 7pm
Kiltimagh-Knock United v Conn Rangers
Achill Rovers v Swinford
Glenhest Rovers v Bangor Hibs at 4.30pm
Sunday, July 14
McDonnell Cup Final at 12pm in Solar 21 Park
Newport-Mulranny Wanderers v Moy Villa
Elverys Sports Super League at 11am
Snugboro United v Ballyhaunis Town
Ballyglass v Westport Untied
Claremorris v Striade and Foxford United
Castlecourt Hotel Premier League at 11am
Manulla B v Fahy Rovers
Iorras Aointaithe v Ballina Town B
Calor Gas League Two at 12pm
Kilomre v Kiltimagh-Knock United B
