There's nothing separating the top five sides in the Elverys Sports Super League at the moment, with the top five sides in the division all locked on seven points each - but the two old big beasts of the league, Westport United and Castlebar Celtic, do still have a game in hand (against each other ) over the other three sides.
Last weekend saw round four of the league take place and Castlebar Celtic, Ballina Town, Westport United and Ballyheane all picked up wins, while the other side on seven points in the standings Manulla fell to a surprise defeat to Straide and Foxford United.
Ballina Town had to work hard for their first win in three matches as they picked up a narrow 1-0 win over bottom of the table Claremorris in Concannon Park last Saturday. The only goal of the game came before the half hour mark when Benny Lavelle got in to get his seventh goal of the season. The defeat sees Claremorris winless still in the league - but they will be looking to put that right this weekend when they travel to Station Rise to take on Ballyhaunis Town.
The east Mayo men will go into this game off the back of a heavy 6-0 defeat to Westport United last time out in a game that was played in Solar 21 Park in Milebush. Dylan Duane got a first half hat-trick for United, with the other goals coming from Darren Browne from the penalty spot, a Kevin Kitterick strike and the Dylan O'Malley effort to round off the scoring.
Westport United will be on the road again this weekend when they travel to take on Straide and Foxford United, who picked up their first league win of the season last weekend, seeing off an up-to-then unbeaten Manulla 3-0. Michael Guilfoyle got the first goal of the day early in the second half and he finished off the scoring late on, with Michael McGarry getting their other goal to seal the points for Straide and Foxford United.
Manulla will be looking to pick up the pieces from that defeat when they take on Glenhest Rovers on the road on Sunday, their hosts were beaten 4-1 by Ballyheane last weekend with Dan Purcell getting a hat-trick and Nathan Reilly-Doyle getting their fourth of the day. Rovers goal came from a Levi Barrett penalty spot.
The champions will be taking part in what looks like the big game of this weekend when they make the short trip to Celtic Park to take on Castlebar Celtic on Saturday evening. Celtic head into that one off the back of a 3-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United on the road in CMS Park last weekend. The visitors went into an early lead in that one thanks to an Oran Groake strike, but the hosts were level not long after thanks to Cillian Finn's effort. The Hoops' went back in front through a Jordan Loftus free kick and the Celtic striker made sure of the points with his side's third goal to see out the scoring in the game and have them in good form ahead of their meeting with the champions this weekend.
Elverys Sports Super League Fixtures: Saturday, April 9 at 6pm; Castlebar Celtic v Ballyheane, Ballina Town v Kiltimagh/Knock United, Ballyhaunis Town v Claremorris. Sunday, April 10: Glenhest Rovers v Manulla at 2.30pm, Straide and Foxford United v Westport United at 11am.
