Outside the Box was on a sabbatical overseas last week, but did make it back in time for the Connacht Junior Cup final in Milebush last Sunday and you can read all about that at www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/69409 While Castlebar Celtic were suffering a heartbreaking defeat to Ballinasloe Town in the provincial cup decider, the team who lost to them in the previous year’s final, in a similarly heartbreaking way, were cementing their position at the top of the Elverys Sports Super League table.
Westport United put eight past Moy Villa in the Sportspark to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season. That eight goal haul followed up the seven they put past Charlestown Athletic in the previous round. The Covies are showing no mercy to the new boys in the Super League so far this season and with another of the promoted sides lined up this Sunday in the shape of Straide and Foxford United, Westport look odds on to keep their 100 per cent record intact. In their three games so far in the league, Westport have hit the back of the net 18 times, that is one more goal than five teams at the bottom of the table (Fahy Rovers, Iorras Aontaithe, Moy Villa, Castlebar Celtic, and Ballyheane ) have managed among them in the 13 games they have played. Of course Celtic and Iorras Aontaithe have only played twice so far and they will surely start adding to that total soon, while Ballyheane are the only other team not to have been beaten so far in the league with three draws from three so far.
Ballina Town are nipping at the heels of Westport United at the top of the table and are level on points with them having picked up their third win from four games with a 5-1 thrashing of Fahy Rovers last weekend. Brendan Lavelle was the main man for them in that game, hitting the net twice along with setting up the other three goals and he will be relishing the chance to have a crack at a shell-shocked Manulla defence on Saturday evening. The Carramore based side will still be scratching their heads at how they managed to throw away a 3-0 lead after a quarter of an hour, and 4-1 advantage after 22 minutes, to end up drawing with Charlestown Athletic last Saturday evening.
Ballyheane were the only side to go unbeaten last season in the Super League and are still unbeaten, but are still looking for their first win of the new campaign. They will be making the long trek to Carnenash on Saturday evening when they take on an Iorras Aontaithe team who have not managed to pick up a single point yet this season from their opening two games. So far this season they have gone down to both Manulla and Ballina Town, conceding six goals in the process. Ballyheane, while still unbeaten, have been a bit out of sorts so far this season, and only after Straide and Foxford United were reduced to 10 men did they push on to equalise against the promoted side. While Moy Villa will be rocking from the beating handed out to them by Westport United they will be hoping they can pick up their first win of the league season on Sunday when they host Charlestown Athletic, the east Mayo men will be buoyed following their brilliant comeback against Manulla last weekend, but the Attymass men will fancy their chances on their own patch on Sunday afternoon.
It was a tough week for Castlebar Celtic after their loss on penalties to Ballinasloe Town last Sunday, but there is no rest for Stevie Gavin’s men as they are back out in action against Fahy Rovers on Saturday afternoon in Moneen. Stevie Gavin’s side will be looking to shake off the post cup final hangover with a win against their neighbours and not let themselves get left out of touch from the title race early on.
There is no room for slipping up at the top of the Premier A even this early in the season, with Swinford leading the way on 10 points from their four games, while Ballyglass, Conn Rangers and Westport United B are all locked on nine points, just one behind them. In the Premier B Achill Rovers and Glenhest Rovers are locked together on 10 points each at the top of the table, Bangor Hibs 100 per cent record has them top of League One, while Ballina Town B and Fahy Rovers B are joint top of League Two. There is a full round of action in all divisions across Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon this weekend.
