Ballina Town and Westport United maintained their 100 per cent records for the start of the new Super League season last weekend, while Manulla made it four wins from five to stay on the coat-tails of the top two.
Manulla's win over Castlebar Celtic on Sunday morning was the big result of the weekend - with Roger Clarke's men inflicting the second defeat in four days on the defending Super League champions, who had also been beaten by Westport United on the the Thursday evening previous.
The Carramore-based side went home from Celtic Park with the points, thanks to a 3-1 win, with all four goals coming inside the opening 45 minutes. Celtic were hampered by losing three players to injury in the opening half - but the ease with which Manulla picked apart the Celtic defence, will have been the most frustrating thing for their management.
Gerry Canavan swept the ball home for the first goal early doors and that lead was doubled before ten minutes had gone on the stopwatch, following a beautiful finish from Lorcan Conroy from the left hand side of their attack.
Their third goal was equally as deft a finish when Aidan Dunleavy clipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper before the half hour mark had passed. Celtic did pull one back right on half-time through Jordan Flynn, who headed home from a corner. Celtic did have plenty of possession in the second half, but Manulla sat back and soaked it up and hit on the break and could have scored themselves on a few occasions before the final whistle.
Celtic face into another derby this weekend when they travel to Quigley Park on Saturday evening to take on an improving Ballyheane side, who picked up their second win of the season last weekend when they saw off Swinford 1-0 away from home, thanks to a late Sean Kilcoyne strike. The hosts are actually one place in front of the champions in the table on goal difference at the minute, sitting fourth place in the standings at the minute.
The aforementioned Swinford are currently rooted at the bottom of the table, yet to pick up a win, but they will be looking to put that right when they travel to Station Rise on Sunday morning where they will take on Ballyhaunis Town at 11am. The hosts in this one will be kicking themselves for not taking anything from their last outing against Claremorris.
They led 2-0 at the break, thanks to a brace of goals from Gary Higgins - but Claremorris hit them for four, without response, in the second half. Dean Roddy struck twice with James Ruane and Jack Roynane getting one each in Claremorris's second league win of the season.
The south Mayo men will have a tough task this weekend when they host Ballina Town on Sunday afternoon - the north Mayo men are top of the table on score difference at the minute with five wins from five. Their latest win came on the road last weekend when they saw off Glenhest Rovers 2-0, with Duane Helly and Brendan Lavelle getting the goals for the north Mayo men.
Having had nine goals put past them by Ballina Town the previous week, Ballyglass had to face off against another of the top two last weekend when they welcomed Westport United to Keaveney Park. United were 2-0 winners at the final whistle with Cian McAllister and Phil Keegan getting the goals. This weekend, Westport United will be at home against Glenhest Rovers, while Ballyglass have another tough assignment when they travel to Carramore to take on Manulla.
Super League Fixtures
Saturday, September 18 at 5.30pm
Ballyhane v Castlebar Celtic
Westport United v Glenhest Rovers
Sunday, September 19 at 2.30pm
Claremorris v Ballina Town
Manulla v Ballyglass
Ballyhaunis Town v Swinford (at 11am )
