Mark Cunningham provided the heroics for Castlebar Celtic in the Calor Gas Super Cup last weekend when he grabbed a last gasp winner for the Hoops' against Ballyheane in Celtic Park.
It was a meeting between last year's league winners and cup winners in what was a hotly anticipated clash. Celtic took the lead from the penalty spot eleven minutes in after Neil Douglas slotted the ball home. The hosts held on to their slender lead right until the third minute of injury time when Nathan Reilly-Doyle netted for Ballyheane and looked like it he was going to send the game into extra time, but Cunningham held his nerve to squirt the ball under the body of Luca Meldrum and to the back of the net to seal the win for his side.
Ballina Town came out on the right side of a five goal thriller in Belleek against Kiltimagh-Knock United to secure their spot in the last eight of the competition. Oisin Tighe got the goals going ten minutes in after he was set up by Oisin Tighe, the hosts made it 2-0 before half-time thanks to a penalty from Benny Lavelle. Any notions that Ballina Town were going to cruise to victory were wiped out by two goals in five minutes after the restart by Kiltimagh-Knock United. Cormac Caulfield got the first goal for the visitors and Jack O'Connor netted from the penalty spot. Ballina Town looked to be even more on the back foot after Matt Hamilton picked up a second yellow car, but it was they who found the vital fifth goal of the day when Dylan McKee stuck to send his side into the quarter-finals.
Manulla hit eight goals in their win over Swinford at home in Carramore. Shea Benson struck twice with Cian Benson, Darragh Byrne, George Boyde, Padraig Beirne and James Dunne all also finding the back of the net. Adorn Biju did get one for the visitors to leave the final score at 8-1 to the hosts.
Crossmolina also had a big win putting seven past Ballyhanuis Town in Abbeyview, with brothers Niall and Aaron Coggins both grabbing hat-tricks and Shane Hennigan getting the other for the north Mayo men.
It was another big win for a homeside in Attymass where Moy Villa saw off Fahy Rovers 6-1 in their first round game. John Durkan hit a hat-trick for the Villa, the other goals came from John Judge, Andrew Ruane and Ciaran Gaughan. Rovers goal came from Luke Napier.
Glenhest Rovers looked to have all the hard work done in the first 30 minutes of their clash with Claremorris after they had worked themselves into a 3-0 lead. Pat Mulchrone grabbed the first goal, before Shane Finnerty made it 2-0 and Mulchrone struck again to put Rovers 3-0 up and causing. But Claremorris had other ideas and fought their way back into the game, with Simon Butler striking from the penalty spot and then bagging a second with 20 minutes to go. Rovers were put under even more pressure when Cathal Chambers was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, but his side were able to hold out the Concannon Park outfit and book a place in the quarter-final.
Premier Cup provides plenty
Castlebar Town took an early lead against Ballyheane B, but the latter came back in the second half to win 2-1, thanks to two penalties from Jude Lavin. Meanwhile, Hollister beat Claremorris B 5-1, with Martin Delaney scoring a hat-trick in the second half. Manulla B defeated Conn Rangers C 4-3 in a closely contested match, with Dylan Felle scoring a hat-trick in Castlebar Celtic B's 5-0 win over Ballyvary Blue Bombers.
Ballinrobe Town B also secured a victory, beating Crossmolina B 7-4, while Ballyglass beat Killala 1-0. Kilmore won 3-0 against Partry Athletic, while Achill Rovers beat Kiltimagh/Knock United B 4-1. Conn Rangers B won 4-0 against Fahy Rovers B, while Iorras Aontaithe knocked out the reigning champions Ballinrobe Town in a 3-2 victory.
Westport United B progress in Connacht Cup
Westport United B secured a place in the Quarter Finals of the Connacht Cup alongside Castlebar Celtic, thanks to their impressive 4-2 victory over Colga B in United Park. Conor Calvey put Westport in the lead after only nine minutes with a powerful shot from outside the box that found the top left corner of the Colga net.
Although Colga managed to equalise midway through the first half, Westport regained the lead just after the half-hour mark as Calvey set up John Murphy for their second goal. Colga managed to level the scores again after fifty-six minutes, but Westport quickly regained their lead when Dan O'Malley poked the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, following some great work by Cillian McGing on the left wing.
Conor Calvey sealed the win for Westport in injury time, tapping the ball into an empty net after Alex Halpin passed it to him across the six-yard box. In the Quarter Finals, Westport B will face Mervue United on April 9th.
