The shake up in the promotion and relegation races took another step towards finality last weekend across the divisions in the Mayo League. In the Super League, Manulla all but made sure that they would be in the Super League next season, by seeing off Fahy Rovers thanks to a Dessie Campbell double. The Manulla veteran’s free kick five minutes from time was enough to seal a come from behind 2-1 win over the Fahy Rovers, who are battling it out at the bottom to avoid the drop with Manulla. Straide and Foxford’s relegation was confirmed with a 5-1 defeat at home to Iorras Aontaithe. In the battle to make the jump into the top division, last weekend saw a number of big moments in the Premier A. Conn Rangers went into the weekend leading the table, but a postponment of their game against Bangor Hibs offered both Ballyheane and Snugboro United a chance to pull ahead of them at the top for now. Ballyheane went to Swinford and Sungboro United to Clew Bay United. In both games the victor came from behind to win, but more importantly in the chase for the top, Sungboro United lost 3-2 after Clew Bay United came from behind twice to take the points. Ballyheane came from one down away to Swinford to run out 3-1 winners and go to the top of the table for now at least.
Conn Rangers will go back to the top if they win in their refixed game with Bangor Hibs, which would put them on 27 points (they are currently on 24 points ), with Ballyheane currently on 26 points and Snugbor United on 23 points and all sides will have two games left after this weekend.
In the Premier B division last weekend, Moy Villa secured their promotion to the Premier A for next year thanks to the results elsewhere in the division. But they failed in a chance to secure the title after they went down 3-2 to Charlestown Atheltic.
Celtic take positives from WNL opener
Castlebar Celtic kicked off their second year in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League last weekend with a 2-0 defeat to defending champions Peamount United. But there were a lot of positives to take from the game according to Celtic assistant manager, Jermey Dee. “We’re extremely pleased with the performance we got last weekend from the girls. There is no doubt that Peamount were the better side over the 90 minutes, but we stuck in there with them for the first hour and made it very hard for them. They are the defending champions and it’s always going to be tough. If we had one complaint it would be that we weren’t awarded a stone wall penalty on 44 minutes when Aoife Gibbons was taken down.”
But the performance of the younger players was something that Dee was particularly impressed with. “The likes of Lisa Caserly, Stacey Muldowney, Rachel King, Sara McGeogh and others was very great to see and gives a lot to build on.” Celtic will be next out in league on September 30 when they travel to Dublin to take on DLR Waves the newest side in the league and will be at home a week later to take on Cork Women’s FC.
Kick Start one course coming up
The Football Association of Ireland is holding a Kick Start 1 coach education course in Milebush Park, Castlebar on Saturday, October 20 from 9am to 5.30pm. Participants must attend all modules of the course in order to qualify for certification. This course is designed to assist beginner coaches, parents, teachers introduce young children (6 to 9 ) to fundamental warm up activities, basic activities and fun games in a safe, structured and stimulating environment. Course fee is €45. This course is limited to 24 participants so book early to avoid disappointment. Kick Start 1 coaches will receive an FAI Kick Start 1 certificate of attendance as part of the National Coaching Development Programme. For further course details and registration call Paul Byrne on 0868579678.
