There is only one place to be on Sunday and that’s in Belleek Park at 2.30pm, Westport United, who wrestled the lead back in the Super League last weekend, will make the trip north to take on the side who were leading the league for the past couple of weeks. Ballina Town, whose game was postponed against Snugboro United last weekend, will be eager to reclaim the top spot in the league from the three in a row-chasing Westport men. Currently Westport are three points ahead with a slender on-goal advantage in the goal difference stakes, while Ballina have a game in hand on the champions. A win here and if they pick up a win in their postponed game could see a six-point swing at the top with Ballina moving three points clear.
All of that is fine talk on paper, but Westport will come into the game having just put five past Straide and Foxford United in Green Road, with Ray McLoughlin putting them ahead after only 30 seconds of the game from a free kick. The hosts did try to make a game of it and Paul Fitzpatrick had them level after 20 minutes, but that is as good as it got for the home side as the Covies took control in the second half. Philip Keegan struck nine minutes into the half, before a Dave Horkan brace and Tom McGing made it five with two minutes left.
Chasing pack still moving
Iorras Aontaithe made sure that no one would forget that they still haven’t given up hope of getting into the title race with a 4-0 thrashing of Castlebar Celtic in Carne Nash. A first-half goal from Garrett O’Malley put them into the lead at the break, but a trio of strikes after the turnaround from Pat Barrett, Seán Gaughan, and Brendan Nallen put a gloss on the score for the home side in wet and wintery conditions. This weekend they will be hosting fourth place Manulla who can overtake the north Mayo men and jump into third place with a win in Carne Nash. The Carramore based side got the better of Ballyheane in their local derby last weekend to keep their season ticking along nicely. A first-half goal from Dessie Campbell combined with a second half strike from substitute Damien Coleman was enough to put the home side on the right side of this three-goal encounter, with Ballyheane pulling a goal back right at the death through Alan McHugh to leave Ballyheane in the lower reaches of mid-table in the Super League.
But Ballyheane will be favourites this weekend to pick up three points when they host a Straide and Foxford side fresh from shipping five goals to Westport in Quigley Park on Sunday. Fahy Rovers, who will host Snugboro United in Moneen this Sunday, cemented their place in mid table last weekend with a two-goal win over a bottom of the table Kilmore side away from home. Goals from Richie Needham were scored just before the break to reward consistent Fahy pressure. Just before the end Gary Goggins had the final say on the encounter when he slotted home a penalty against a Kilmore side who were at that stage reduced to nine players.
