The first of the big prizes that Westport United have their eyes on was picked up last Sunday in Milebush Park when Martin Geraghty’s 60th minute winner gave Westport United a 2-1 win over Ballina Town in the FCS Cup final.
It is back to business in the league for Westport on Saturday night when they host the bottom of the table Fahy Rovers in the Sportspark, where a win will move them ever closer to reclaiming the Super League title. A win for Westport will move them on to 43 points with three games to go after this weekend, Castlebar Celtic are trailing 10 points behind them in second place and have to head to Belleek this weekend to take on Ballina Town. If the north Mayo men can pick up the points against Celtic and Westport do their part, United will be crowned champions on Saturday evening.
While the Super League is winding towards the inevitable conclusion, the action in the division below has been bubbling along nicely and it is Westport United B who lead the way with four games to go. Last weekend Westport United B saw off Swinford 3-0 in Swinford to keep their noses out in front. While Westport United B can claim the title, they cannot get promotion to the Super League due to their A team already being in that division. That leaves three teams battling it out for the two promotion spots with Ballyglass and Conn Rangers both tied on 31 points, one point behind Westport United, and Swinford three points further back following their loss to the Covies last time out.
Conn Rangers will face Westport United B in Westport on Sunday, with Ballyglass hosting second bottom Snugboro United on Saturday night and Swinford away to the basement boys from Urlar United on the same evening.
It is just as tight in the battle to make it into the Premier A for next year in the division below with three teams only separated by three points with four games to go. Kiltimagh/Knock United are out in front on 33 points, just one point in front of Glenhest Rovers, while Ballyhaunis Town are two points further back in third place. Kiltimagh/Knock United are the only side of the top three in action this weekend, when they travel to the seaside to face Mulranny United on Saturday evening. Glenhest Rovers will have played their game in the current round of fixtures on Thursday evening after this paper goes to print. They were away to Ballyhaunis Town and a win would have put the pressure on Kiltimagh/Knock United ahead of their game at the weekend.
Never score again
Westport United B left back Sean Walsh (of this parish ) has been getting a bit of grief over the last week after seeing what he described to this writer as “a legitimate cracker of a goal” was disallowed by referee Martin Regan. Walsh told the ref “I’ll never score a goal again,” after it was disallowed, because the referee said an indirect free-kick had not been passed to him. A Walsh goal is a rare occurrence as he said that he could only remember scoring three during his years in the Mayo League, his first way back in 2005 and his last in 2008. Walsh was also said to have been gutted that his well practised celebration was ultimately to no avail.
