Ballina Town went back to the top of the Elverys Sports Super League last weekend thanks to a 4-2 win over Snugboro United in Conway Park. Brendan Kenny, who also took over the management position of the Mayo Oscar Traynor Cup team late last week, has now got his side in poll position to push on and win the title with only five games left in the league. They are now sitting one point clear of champions Westport United as both sides race to the finishing post.
Michael Duffy got two goals for the north Mayo men and missed a penalty when the former Ballina goalkeeper denied him in the first half. But Duffy, who has been in fantastic form this season, didn’t let that put him off as he grabbed goals number two and four for his side. Eamon Kenny and Brendan Lavelle also got in on the scoring action for Town, while Kevin Curry and David Colleran got the goals for the home side.
This weekend sees an early start for all the sides in the league with 11am kick offs around the county. Every game for Ballina from now on is a must-win game, and this Sunday is a real must-win when they go to Carne Nash to take on third place Iorras Aontaithe. If they get over this hurdle then Ballina should have enough to see out the rest of the season and pick up the prize they so badly want, but Westport United won’t be giving up without a fight and they face a long early morning trek to Kilmore who are routed to the bottom of the table at present and looking at making the drop back down to the Premier Division next season, with the race so tight at the top and the goal difference also so tight Westport will be looking to pick up a couple of goals win on Sunday morning, as long as the early start doesn’t effect them too much.
There is an all Castlebar derby in Celtic Park on Sunday morning where Castlebar Celtic, who have struggled this year thanks to their top players playing League of Ireland football with the A league side, take on Snugboro United. The Conway Park club are smarting after two defeats in a row to Kilmore and Ballina Town and will be looking to get one over their neighbours and cement their mid table position.
Manulla will host Straide and Foxford United in Carramore on Sunday morning, where the hosts will be favourites to see off last year’s Premier Division champions who haven’t come back as strong as they would have hoped in their first season back in the Super League. The final game of the weekend sees Ballyheane make the short hop to the Moneen Road in Castlebar to take on Fahy Rovers. A win for Ballyheane would see them draw level with Fahy on 16 points, but if the home side take the win it will leave Ballyheane looking over their shoulder and the spectre of a relegation dogfight looming for them over the last few weeks of the season.
