Ballina Town will be looking to pick themselves up from last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Dublin side East Wall Bessborough in the sixth round of the FAI Junior Cup when they get straight back into action this Sunday in the Connacht Cup. The Super League champions came close to matching the metropolitans last weekend, but fell short thanks to a 57th minute Daniel Ennis header. This weekend’s opponents will have a more local feel as Ballina Town have a short trip to south Mayo to take on Partry Athletic in the fourth round of the provincial cup competition.
Of the eight Mayo sides left in the competition, only Ballyheane and Partry Athletic have home advantage on Sunday the other six all on the road. Ballyheane will welcome Mervue United B to Quigley Park and last season’s Super League runners up will be confident of booking their place in the next round at the expense of the second tier opponents from Galway.
Westport United, who are still also in the FAI Junior Cup, will travel to take on Sligo/Leitrim Super League outfit Ballisodare United who are currently bottom of their division without a win from nine games. Castlebar Celtic, who booked their place in this round of the competition last weekend thanks to a 1-0 win over Ballaghderreen thanks to a Declan Flynn first half strike, will also be heading north where they take on Sligo/Leitrim Premier League side MCR FC. Swinford look to have a very tough task on their hands when the make the trip to Galway to take on Premier Division leaders Mervue United. Manulla will also be taking on league leaders this time in the shape of the Sligo/Leitrim Super League table toppers Calry Bohs. The men from Carnenash face a long trip south on Sunday when they head to Galway league division one mid-table side Maree/Oranmore, but will be more than fancying their chances of heading by up to the Barony of Erris with a place in the next round of the competition in their pockets.
In the Connacht Junior Shield four Mayo sides are in action on Sunday, with Straide and Foxford United travelling to Galway to face East United, Moy Villa also going to Galway to face Colga FC, while Charlestown Athletic will host Coolaney United from the Sligo/Leitrim League and Galway’s Medtronic will journey to Killala.
