The opening weekend of action in the Mayo League saw plenty of goals and wins for the big three sides in the Elvery's Sports Super League, with defending champions Castlebar Celtic, Westport United and Ballina Town all picking up three points.
Celtic looked to be heading towards a shock opening-day defeat when Ballyglass led them 2-0 at the break in Keaveny Park on Sunday morning - but Celtic managed to hit six goals in the second half to take the points home with them. Goals from Jordan Loftus who would go on to complete a hat-trick and Lerlah Hay had the Hoops level early in the second half with Hay bagging a second before Loftus hit two more and Paul Walsh bagged his side's sixth to round off the win.
Westport United who will be in Connacht Cup semi-final action this weekend where they will take on Galway outfit West United on Sunday afternoon, also fell behind early on in their Super League opener with Ballyheane hitting the front through Dean Fadden. United pulled themselves level through a Danny O'Toole header - they edged in front through Peter Corcoran's effort from the edge of the area and they hit their third thanks to a long-range effort from Eoin Conway to seal a 3-1 win.
Ballina Town also hit six goals last weekend putting half-a-dozen past Ballyhaunis Town in Station Rise on Sunday afternoon, Brendan Lavelle hit four goals for the north Mayo men getting their first two goals early on before Fabinao stroked home number three for the Town. Lavelle completed his hat-trick and Fabinao got his second before the break to put Ballina Town 5-0 up at the break. Lavelle got his fourth early in the second half, the hosts did pull a goal back through a Gary Higgins penalty to conclude the scoring.
Manualla had a hard fought 1-0 win over Claremorris in their league opener, Enda McGahon got the all-important goal early in the second half to set the Carramore side off to a winning start in the league. The final game in the opening round of action in the top flight saw the two sides who were promoted last season - Swinford and Glenhest Rovers - come face to face in James McEvaddy Park. The game finished all square at 1-1 with John McNulty putting Swinford in front before Johnny McNulty equalised for the visitors who will be in Connacht Shield semi-final action this weekend when they take on Colmanstown Untied on Sunday afternoon.
Mayo League Fixtures
Saturday August 22
Elverys Sports Super League; Ballina Town v Swinford at 6pm.
Castlecourt Hotel Premier League: Snugboro United v Manulla B, Conn Rangers v Killala, Straide and Foxford United v Westport United B - all at 6pm
Killeen Sports Ground League One: Party Athletic v Newport-Mulranny Wanderers, Kilmore v Claremorris B - all at 6pm
CMR League Two: Crossmolina B v Kiltimagh-Knock United B at 6pm.
Sunday, August 23
TP Brennan Connacht Cup Semi-Final: West United v Westport United at 2pm
TP Brennan Connacht Shield Semi-Final: Glenhest Rovers v Colmanstown Untied at 2pm
Elverys Sports Super League: Claremorris v Ballyglass at 2.30pm, Manulla v Ballyhane at 11am.
Castlecourt Hotel Premier League: Fahy Rovers v Ballina Town B, Iorras Aointaithe v Kiltimagh-Knock United
Killeen Sports Ground League One: Achill Rovers v Crossmolina at 2.30pm
CMR League Two: Westport United C v Conn Rangers B at 11am, Hollister v Ballyvary Blue Bombers at 2.30pm.
