Cup fever continues on the Mayo League front this weekend; after the season kicking off last weekend with the opening round of the Super Cups, this weekend it is the turn of the divisional cup competitions to get up and running.
The Westaro Cup will see the Super League sides get down to business against each other before the start of the league in a few weeks' time.
In last weekend's Super Cup action, all of the Super League sides who were facing lower league opponents, booked safe passage to the next round of the competition - with Castlebar Celtic, Westport United and Ballyheane respectively, seeing off fellow Super League outfits Ballina Town, Ballyhaunis Town and Glenhest Rovers.
Celtic's game against Ballina Town was pencilled in as the game of the weekend before the action got going and it was the Hoop's young side who brought to an end an amazing winning run in the competition for the north Mayo men, who had lasted tasted defeat in the Super Cup in way back 2016. Lerlah Hay bagged two first half goals for Michael McNicholas' men with Jason Hunt getting their third before Dylan McKee pulled one back for the Town'.
This weekend Celtic will be at home again when they welcome local rivals Ballyheane in the opening round of the Westaro Cup. The visitors got their season off to a winning start thanks to Jack Rochford's strike from the penalty spot against Glenhest Rovers.
Ballina Town will be looking to get their first win of the new season when they travel to face the aforementioned Glenhest Rovers on Sunday morning at 11am.
Westport United were the winners in the other all Super League clash with a comprehensive 3-0 on the road last weekend in the Super Cup. Their goals came from Mikey O’Brien, Mark McDonagh and from the returning Gary Higgins, who signed for the Westport men during the closed season from Ballyhaunis Town. The sides will do battle again this Saturday evening in the Westaro Cup, this time on the West coast.
Both Swinford and Claremorris picked up wins last weekend over Premier Division outfits in the Super Cup, with Swinford putting three past Snugboro United at home, the goals coming from a James Devaney brace and the other from Richie Dalton. Claremorris hit seven against Ballina Town B on the road with Simon Butler getting a hat-trick, Rokas Mikuckis bagging a brace and the other two goals from Danny Broderick and an own-goal. The two sides will meet in what looks like an intriguing tie in Concannon Park on Sunday morning.
The final game in the Westaro Cup this weekend is another interesting-looking encounter with local rivals Ballyglass and Manulla clashing in Keaveny Park on Sunday afternoon. The home-side were really pushed by Kiltimagh-Knock United last weekend with the game ending level at 1-1 after 120 minutes and Ballyglass edging the game 5-3 on penalties. Manulla, for their part, had a good 5-1 win over Straide and Foxford United in Green Road - with the goals coming from Ruari Henry, Aiden Dunleavy, Padraig Beirne, Matty Nolan and Diarmuid Heneghan, to get Declan Kilkelly's tenure in charge of the side up and running with a win.
Mayo League Fixtures
Saturday, July 3
Westaro Cup Round 1 at 7pm
Westport United v Ballyhaunis Town
Tonra Cup Quarter-Finals at 7pm
Kilmore v Newport Mulranny Wanderers
Moy Villa v Kiltimagh Knock United B
Partry Athletic v Crossmolina
Claremorris B v Achill Rovers
McDonnell Cup Quarter Finals at 7pm
Ballyheane B v Castlebar Celtic B
Ballinrobe Town v Conn Rangers B
League Three Cup Quarter Finals at 7pm
Manulla C v Moy Villa B
Fahy Rovers B v Ballyglass B
Sunday, July 4
Westaro Cup Round 1
Castlebar Celtic v Ballyheane at 2.30pm
Glenhest Rovers v Ballina Town at 11am
Claremorris v Swinford at 11am
Ballyglass v Manulla at 2.30pm
Tuohy Cup Round 1 at 11am
Westport United B V Snugboro United
Killala v Conn Rangers
Kiltimagh Knock United v Fahy Rovers
Ballina Town B v Straide and Foxford United at 2.30pm
McDonnell Cup Quarter Finals
Ballyvary Blue Bombers v Crossmolina B at 11am
Westport United C v Hollister at 2.30pm
League Three Cup Quarter Finals
Claremorris C v Swinford B at 2.30pm
