They may have only lost their footing from the top of the table momentarily and only be there on goal difference, but Westport United will be hurting after Ballyheane came to the Sports Park and went home with three points, thanks to Alan McHugh’s goal 11 minutes before time. While Ballyheane in their history are no strangers to taking big scalps, going to Westport having only won two games beforehand, it looked like a major job for the men from Quigley Park, but their dogged determination and closing down of Westport in every area on the park ensured that they didn’t let their late lead slip.
For Westport, well they could be back on top of the table as you read this as they played Snugboro in their game in hand as the paper went to print. But they follow that up with a not altogether easy trip to take on Iorras Aontaithe in Carnenash on Saturday evening. The north Mayo men were sitting in third place in the table after last weekend’s round of games, where the went to Conway Park and took home three points thanks to a 2-1 win over Snugboro United. Iorras have been in good form lately and they continued that last weekend. Ivan Barrett gave them the lead in the first half, but they surrendered it thanks to a Kevin Curry goal for the home side, but a winner late on from Garrett O’Malley was enough for them to take home the points to Erris. Having the Super League champions in Carnenash this weekend Iorras will be looking forward to and they will be going all out to dent Westport’s title charge and improve their own.
Ballina Town were the side who took advantage of Ballyheane’s win to move into poll position for a few days at least, and the five goals they bagged in Castlebar against Celtic were all important as they moved to the peak on goal difference. Going in nil all at half time, Ballina managed to put five in the Celtic net in the second half with Philip Devers bagging a brace, as did Brendan Lavelle, with the fifth goal coming from Ross Kenny from long range.
Ballina will stay in west Mayo this weekend when they head to mid table Fahy Rovers. Rovers were stung last weekend by Straide and Foxford United, who saw them off 2-0 in Green Road to record their first win of the season. Fahy will have to improve their performance dramatically this weekend if they are going to hold out against the Belleek side who now have serious designs on the Super League title as the race reaches the midway point.
Divisional finals this weekend
Milebush will host a double header of divisional finals this Sunday when Snugboro United B and Conn Rangers meet in the McDonnell Cup final at 2pm. This game will be followed up by the meeting of Claremorris and Iorras Aontaithe B in the Touhy Cup final at 4.30pm in the Castlebar venue.
Celtic take points in A championship
Castlebar Celtic took three points from their clash with Sligo Rovers in the Newstalk League of Ireland A championship last weekend. Celtic ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Ioseph Reilly, Chris Rowland and Ronan O’Boyle, all of which came in the opening 45 minutes of the game. Sligo had a number of former Celtic players in their side including goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly, who saved a penalty from O’Boyle before he put away the rebound for his goal, and Eoin Trophy, who pulled back a goal for the visitors when the game was already wrapped up by Celtic.
