The situation across the leagues in Mayo was sorted out mostly last weekend with a few relegation spots to be sorted out this weekend and a few more during the week when a reprieve was given to some clubs after points deductions to others were applied. In the Welcome Inn League One division last Sunday, Claremorris B were looking down and out following a 3-3 draw against Kiltimagh/Knock United which dropped them into the relegation zone along with Ballyvary Blue Bombers. But late in the week Claremorris B were given a reprieve from relegation when Kiltimagh/Knock United and Urlar United, along with Ballyvary Blue Bombers were all deducted three points for failing to fulfil fixtures. The resulting points deduction saw Claremorris B jump three places in the table with Urlar United and Kiltimagh/Knock dropping down the league into the relegation zone and League Two football next season.
In the Premier A table last weekend, Straide and Foxford United booked their return to the Super League with a 4-1 over Ballyheane, joining champions Fahy Rovers who saw off Killala 5-0 at the top table last season. Snugboro United staged the great escape on Saturday night with a 6-3 win over Clew Bay United which pulled them ahead of Ballyheane and Killala who will have to do battle in a play off for the final relegation spot this Sunday in Foxford at 3pm. The other play off action this weekend will see Ballyheane B and Swinford B go head to head in Snugboro for the title of champions of League Three after both clubs finished level on 32 points at the top of the table last weekend.
Cup semi final day Sunday
Sunday sees the Connacht Gold Cup reach the semi final stage with Clew Bay United the only team outside the top division to reach this stage of the competition. The west coast boys will be facing off against Iorras Aontaithe for a place in the final. Clew Bay United will have their work cut out and are coming off the back of a shock 6-3 defeat at the hands of Snugboro United last weekend. Iorras Aontaithe for their part have had a so-so season finishing the Super League in fifth place, well off the title race and also well out of the scrap at the bottom of the table. Sunday will give them a chance to give the season a big boost before the start of the external competitions.
The other semi-final is a showdown between Ballina Town and Westport United. Westport United put a late charge together to try to chase down Castlebar Celtic at the top of the table, but it was too little to late. They finished level on points with Claremorris four off the title winners and will have to play off against the south Mayo side for the second placed spot in the coming weeks. Ballina Town for their part put a sticky start to the season behind them well and finished up in fourth place in the table. The north Mayo men had put two league titles back to back before this season and a place in the final of this competition would offer them a chance to bring another trophy home to Ballina for the winter.
All Westport final in the shield?
There is a distinct possibility that Westport United could have three teams in two finals in the coming weeks. While the first team are looking to book a place in the Connacht Gold Cup final, both the B and C teams are looking to square off against each other in the Connacht Gold Shield final. Westport United B will have to overcome the challenge of Conn Rangers on Sunday, who finished nine points ahead of them in the Premier A division this year and Westport United B were relegated from the division.
Westport United’s C team who finished level on points with Charlestown Athletic in League One, but were denied an opportunity to play off for a spot in the Premier B next year, due to the relegation of Westport United B to that division and next season will face Super League basement club Ballinrobe Town who managed to win only one game all season in the top flight. It could be a black and red day to remember on Sunday.
