The home straight of the Mayo League Super League season is coming into view for the 10 sides in the top division. With five rounds of action left, the defending champions Westport United are sitting top of the table just one point clear of challengers Manulla. On Saturday evening a full round of fixtures is down for decision in the top division.
Leaders Westport United will travel to north Mayo to take on Ballina Town at 5pm on Saturday evening; United sit 19 points in front of their opponents and six places clear of them. When the sides met last in the league Westport United ran out 2-0 winners at home thanks to goals from Adam Mulchrone and Jack Murphy. United will be expected to pick up the three points and push on with their title defence.
Second placed Manulla face into a local derby against relegation-threatened Ballyheane in Quigley Park at 5pm. Manulla will be looking to keep pace with Westport United by picking up three points in this one. When the teams last met in the league in Carramore, Manulla picked up the victory with a 3-1 win, with Anthony Elding bagging a brace and Dessie Campbell adding the other.
The meeting of Claremorris and Ballyglass in Concannon Park at 7.30pm, looks to be a very interesting meeting between two of the three sides who are locked together on 20 points after 13 games, with Straide and Foxford the third side in that group. When the sides last met in the league Claremorris took home the points with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Dean Roddy and Derek Glynn - with Keelan McDonnell grabbing one for Ballyglass.
Third placed Castlebar Celtic — who are fresh off a league cup final win last weekend against Manulla — will be expecting to pick up another three points when they travel to Glenhest Rovers on Saturday evening. Celtic were 7-2 winners in their last league meeting, with Jason Hunt grabbing two goals and five other players also finding the net. Rovers are sitting five points clear of the relegation zone and any result in their favour could go a long way to ensuring their survival in the top division.
The final game in the Super League this weekend is the meeting of bottom of the table Achill Rovers and fourth placed Straide and Foxford United in Achill. Straide and Foxford were 3-1 winners in Green Road in their earlier league meeting, thanks to goals from Kevin Langdon, John Durkan, and Conor Sharry.
Iorras look to strike for home
Premier Division leaders Iorras Aontaithe look to put some real distance between themselves and second placed Kiltimagh-Knock United when they meet on Saturday evening at 7.30pm. At the moment, Iorras sit six points clear at the top of the table with five games left to go in the season. Last weekend Iorras came out on top by the odd goal in five in their local derby against Bangor Hibs. Brendan Nallen was the game winner after Jason Boylan and Brian MacHale both struck twice for their respective sides.
While Iorras look to be well on their way to claiming promotion, the battle to join them in going up is between Kiltimagh-Knock United and Swinford who are just separated by four points as the finishing line comes into view. If Kiltimagh-Knock United fall to Iorras Aontaithe, Swinford will be hoping to pick up three points when they host Westport United B on Saturday evening. If results go in their favour, it will leave just one point between Kiltimagh-Knock United and Swinford and both sides are due to meet in the final round of league in mid September.
