Iorras Aontaithe stayed top of the Mayo Super League last weekend after they came from two goals down to beat Snugboro United in Carne last weekend, while champions Ballina Town were surprisingly overturned by Castlebar Celtic in Celtic Park. Iorras have a 100 per cent record from their six games so far and are now four points clear of Ballina and have a game in hand. But they had to do it the hard way last weekend; Sean Curry put the visitors one up earlier on and they doubled their lead shortly after when David Colleran headed home their second.
But Iorras pulled themselves back into the game thanks to Colin Stewart and Ivan Barrett. Iorras finally overcame the dogged defence from the bottom of the table side three minutes from the end when Jimmy Tighe slotted home a spot kick. This weekend Iorras face into another tough examination of their title credentials when they travel to Straide and Foxford United on Sunday afternoon. In the last round Aidan Flatley’s men were denied a share of the spoils by an injury time David Hoban goal for Westport United. Straide and Foxford United took the lead through Declan Smyth after 12 minutes with a low shot to the bottom corner of the net. Westport pulled the game level just before the break through Tom McGing. But it was injury time before Westport were able to steal the win, thanks to a David Hoban header from a Dave Cameron corner. Westport United, who have a game in hand on leaders Iorras and two on second placed Ballina Tow, will face local rivals Fahy Rovers in Moneen this weekend. Fahy are in second last place in the table with three draws from their first six games; in the last round they went down 2-0 to Ballyheane with second half goals coming from Chris Maughan and Niall Tuffy in Quigley Park. Ballyheane’s win has moved them up to sixth place in the table, a move in the right direction. This weekend looks ripe for a Ballyheane scalping of a big side when they travel to Belleek to take on Ballina Town. The champions have drawn two of their last three games and lost the other after a 100 per cent start in their first four games. Brendan Kenny’s men will be looking to get their campaign back on track, but Ballyheane can be a tough nut to crack at the best of times for the big sides, never mind coming in the middle of a bad run of form. Swinford marked themselves out as a side who have adapted comfortably to life in the top flight since coming up this season. In the last round of games they dispatched Manulla with ease in Cloonaghboy by a score of 3-1. Swinford went three up through a Peter Convey double and Tom Kavanagh before Manulla hit back through Roger Clarke, and Swinford will go into Sunday’s clash away to Snugboro as favourites to keep up their good form. Manulla will take on a rejuvenated Castlebar Celtic fresh from their 2-0 win over Ballina Town in what is a must win game for both sides to keep themselves at the top of the race to avoid relegation.
U18 League final this evening
The u18 league will be put to bed this evening in Westport United when they host Castlebar Celtic in the final of the competition at 7pm. Celtic manager Paul Large is looking forward to the clash. “It should be a good tight game this evening between two good sides. It’s been about five or six weeks since we had a game but that’s the nature of things around this time of year with lads having exams and stuff on. We had a good run in the FAI youths’ cup and are still in the Connacht Cup, so we’ve had a good year so far.”
