Following on from Glenhest Rovers win in the McDonnell Cup final last weekend and round of action in the Super League which saw Castlebar Celtic keep staking their claim for the title, it is back to cup action for most of the sides in the Mayo League this weekend.
The third round of the Connacht Gold Cup, the premier knock out tournament of the Mayo league, will get under way at 2.30pm on Sunday with 16 teams looking for a last eight spot. Manulla who find themselves one place off the relegation zone in the Super League will travel to Foxford to take on a Straide and Foxford United side who are pushing well for promotion back to the top level of Mayo football from the Premier A division this season. Castlebar Celtic, who are five points clear at the top of Super League, will host a Conn Rangers B side who are struggling in the basement tier of the divisions with only two wins so far this season in the league. It should be a comfortable win for Declan Kilkelly’s side on Sunday. Clew Bay United, who are sitting in fourth place in the Premier A table, will make the trip to Partry Athletic to take on a Partry side who are currently staring relegation to the fourth tier of Mayo football in the face, unless they can get a few wins under their belt in their last five league games. Ballina Town, who sit in third place in the Super League table and held Castlebar Celtic to a 2-2 draw last weekend at home, will be strong favourites to see off the challenge of Kiltimagh/Knock United at home on Sunday afternoon. Fahy Rovers who sit top of the Premier A table at the moment will face a tricky afternoon when they have to travel to face Charlestown Athletic. The east Mayo men are currently in third place in League One and in striking distance of promotion, but Fahy who look odds on to be promoted back to the Super League this season should have enough to get themselves a spot in the last eight.
Achill Rovers will face a long cross country trek to take on Ballyhaunis Town in a tough battle for each side. Achill Rovers have only lost one game in the league this season, but are in the extraordinary position of having also only won one game. They are third bottom of a very tight League One table after drawing seven of their first nine games. Westport United will be strong favourites to see off Ballyheane B, when Ballyheane B make the trip to Westport on Sunday afternoon. The final game off the weekend cup sees Iorras Aontaithe travel south to take on Fahy Rovers B who are stuck in a mid-table position in the bottom division of the league.
