It’s a battle of the Towns in Milebush Park on Sunday, when Newport Town face off against Ballyhaunis Town in the Tuohy Cup final at 3pm. The men from Ballyhaunis Town will go into the game as favourites, as they sit 14 points clear of Newport Town in the Welcome Inn Premier B table. Ballyhaunis Town are right in the title hunt only three points off first placed Kiltimagh/Knock United, and two points behind Glenhest Rovers in second place. Newport Town are currently sitting third from the bottom in the league table with only three wins from their 11 league games so far this season, but they are still six points clear of the relegation zone. When these sides met in the league a few weeks ago, Ballyhaunis Town ran out 5-2 winners in Ballyhaunis and also saw off Newport Town 1-0 in the second round of league games.
On their route to the final, Ballyhaunis Town saw off Achill Rovers 5-4 in the first round, and Castlebar Celtic C 1-0 in the quarter-final, before they defeated Glenhest Rovers 5-0 in the semi-final. Newport Town got a bye in round one of the cup and then beat Mulranny United 2-1 in the quarter-finals, and league leaders Kiltimagh/Knock United 1-0 in the semi-final.
Both teams have reformed over the recent years and have moved up through the grades, with Newport Town winning the McDonnell Cup last year and operating in the third tier of Mayo football at present, which is some achievement for both sides. A chance to pick up another trophy is something that neither side is going to want to pass up. Newport Town will be looking to Mark Gill, Padraig McMenamon and Ciaran O’Connell to spur them on. Ballyhaunis Town will be hoping that Gerry Gallagher, Conor Freeley, and Michael Waldron can be big players for them. The game kicks off at 3pm in Milebush Park.
