Ballina Town blew their chance to draw level at the top of the Super League last weekend when they lost 3-0 against Manulla away from home. The north Mayo men were three points behind the league leaders who were not playing last weekend but could not take advantage. Roger Clarke wound the years back with two goals in either half, with Johnny Hennelly scoring direct from a corner just after half time to put the game beyond the visitors. Ballina must now pick themselves up off the ground and hope they can shake off the challenge Straide and Foxford United in Belleek on Saturday evening. The men from green road are battling it out at the bottom of the table and got their second point of the season thanks to a 3-3 draw with Castlebar Celtic last weekend. Shane Burke opened the scoring five minutes before the break after Celtic had lost the services of veteran goalkeeper Declan Kilkelly a few minutes earlier due to injury. Paul Fitzpatrick added a second for United which looked like setting up the win. However Celtic were handed a life line shortly after when Keith Hopkins directed the ball home form the penalty spot after Peter Flatley was fouled. Soon after the game was level through a Terry Maughan free kick from the edge of the area. Things looked to have swung dramatically in Celtic’s favour when Pat Reid was red carded and James McGurran struck his side’s third goal, but it was not over yet as Fitzpatrick grabbed his second goal at the death to level it up again.
Iorras Aontaithe gave Fahy Rovers a reminder that things in the top league can be very tough at times with the new boys beating them 7-2, which was the men from Carnenash’s second win 48 hours after seeing off Ballyheane 1-0 thanks to a Garrett O’Malley goal. Their rout of Fahy put them back in the Super League race where they are now only five points behind Westport United. As for Ballyheane they picked themselves up from their loss to Iorras to head back to the Mullet peninsula to see off Kilmore 3-1. With David Sheridan, Michael Monaghan, and Alan Quinn bagging the goals for the Quigley park out fit.
In the Newstalk League of Ireland A Championship Castlebar Celtic were given a heavy beating by Derry City last weekend going down 6-1 to the Ulster men. On Saturday they will look to pick up the pieces when they host Dundalk in Celtic Park at 7.30pm.
