Conn Rangers win promotion to Mayo Super League
Straide & Foxford Utd shock Ballyheane while Westport Utd fail to take advantage as they conceded two late goals to draw with Kiltimagh/Knock as Conn Rangers seal promotion from the Premier Division.
Elverys Sports Super League
The title race took another twist on Saturday evening when Straide & Foxford United surprised league leaders Ballyheane with a 3-1 victory at Green Road. A win for Ballyheane would have seen them move to within a point of the league title but despite the defeat they will still be crowned champions if they pick up four points in their final two games.
Sean Ruane gave Aiden Flatley’s side the lead midway through the first half and Kienan Smyth added a second after only seven minutes of the second period to set up a huge win for the north Mayo side. Smyth added his second of the day on 65 minutes to end any hopes Ballyheane had of a comeback even if Cillian Redmond did hit a consolation goal for Ashley Stevenson’s side.
On Sunday morning Westport United failed to take advantage of the Ballyheane result as they conceded two late goals to draw 2-2 with Kiltimagh/Knock United at United Park.
In a game of very few chances Westport took the lead on 39 minutes when birthday boy Dylan Duane rose highest at the back post to power a header into the Kiltimagh/Knock United net as he got on the end of a right wing cross from Patrick Moran.
Westport controlled most of the opening stages of the second half but had to wait until the 69th minute to double their lead when Adam Nugent continued his good form in front of goal with a well taken goal from the edge of the area after Sean Heaney won the ball back to set Nugent up to score in his third game in a row.
At this stage it looked like their was only going to be one winner but out of nowhere Kiltimagh/Knock United mounted a fightback and got their first of the day with fifteen minutes to go as Dan Duffy beat Gary Cunningham with a well placed shot from just inside the area. The away side now had their tails up and earned a share of the spoils with four minutes to go when Owen Carroll headed in a right wing corner at the near post.
The result is a big blow to Westport’s title chances and leaves Ballyheane in a strong position to retain their title, with Ballina Town now with the best chance of catching them as they lie six points behind the league leaders with a game in hand.
Claremorris remain second from bottom after a 4-3 defeat to Manulla in Concannon Park leaves them four points from safety with games running out in their battle to stay up. The home side took the lead inside the opening minute through as Simon Butler turned in a cross from Mark Maloney but they found themselves a goal down just six minutes later as Lorcan Conroy and Aiden Dunleavy scored for Manulla.
Richie Dalton added a third for the away side before half-time before Joe Slevin reduced the deficit as he slotted home a penalty three minutes into the second half after Cathal Walsh was taken down in the area. Aiden Dunleavy then scored his second of the day to restore Manulla’s advantage on the hour mark and despite Slevin scoring his second from the spot in injury time Manulla held on to take all three points.
Ballyhaunis Town were minutes away from relegation but a late goal from Brian Morley earned them a point with a 1-1 draw against Glenhest Rovers who themselves remain in the race for survival with two games remaining.
Cathal Chambers gave Glenhest the lead five minutes into the second half and it looked like there was no way back for Ballyhaunis when Aiden McTigue received his marching orders for a professional foul with 20 minutes to go.
At this stage it looked like there would only be one winner but Ballyhaunis had other ideas and Brian Morley kept their slim hopes of staying up alive with a goal four minutes from time.
CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division
Conn Rangers became the first side to secure promotion to the Super League after a resounding 4-0 win over bottom of the table Killala on Saturday evening. The home side did not have it all their own way especially in the first half and only went in a goal up as Darragh Jordan scored their opening goal after a quarter of an hour.
The key period in the game came when Rangers scored twice in as many minutes in the second half as PJ Gilmartin got their second of the game before Colm Rutledge made the points safe with a quality finish. The final goal came from Aaron Faughnan has he drilled home a shot from the edge of the area and soon after Rangers were celebrating their return to the top division.
Moy Villa struck two late goals to clinch a 3-1 win over Ballyglass the sunshine in Attymass on Saturday evening. It was the home side who took the lead midway through the first half with a well taken goal by Jason Murray which found the net via the post after good work down the left hand side by Tony Loftus and Luke Ruane. Ballyglass got themselves back on level terms shortly before half time through a well taken goal of their own.
The home side came out the strongest after half time and created chance after chance but a combination of good goalkeeping and last ditch defending kept the game level. Roughly 10 minutes before full time, player manager Mick Duffy was introduced and his first involvement was a raking pass out wide to Ciarán Gaughan who took the ball past a defender before cutting inside and firing a left footed strike to the top corner to make it 2-1 to Villa. The home side defended brilliantly but were nearly level again after a powerful strike from distance was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Gary Holmes.
Moy Villa put the game beyond doubt at the very end when Tony Loftus picked the ball up in his own half and drove up the left hand side before passing to Duffy who then curled home a stunning strike from distance to finish the scoring at 3-1. (Report courtesy of Moy Villa Facebook Page)
Crossmolina are now just a point away from securing back to back promotions after another impressive 2-0 win over Fahy Rovers on Sunday morning. It was Diarmuid Coggins that did the damage for Michael Canavan’s side as he scored a goal in each half to keep them within touching distance of Conn Rangers at the top of the table with a game in hand.
Coggins opened the scoring inside three minutes when he finished expertly with a low drive from inside the area but the home side did not have it all their own way and Fahy had chances to level matters before Coggins eventually sealed the victory after he was set up by Shane Hennigan. Crossmolina now look odds on for promotion and know they will also be crowned league champions if they win their final two matches.
At the other end of the table it’s as we were after Westport United B came from a goal down to earn a 5-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United B at CMS Park. John Tarpey’s side took the lead on 26 minutes through Shane Byrne but Westport were level four minutes before the break as Conor Calvey got his first of the day.
Jesper Frisch then scored a brace as Joe Kelly’s side took control of the game and then Calvey scored two more to complete his hat-trick to get his side back to winning ways after last weekend’s defeat against Conn Rangers.
Killeen Sports Ground League One
Ballinrobe Town finished their League One campaign with a win as they remain undefeated throughout the season after a 3-1 win over Kilmore. It could have been a different result if Mark Gilbert had added to his first half goal from the penalty spot early in the second half but he skied his effort over the bar and Ballinrobe were level minutes later as JP O’Gorman calmly slotted home a penalty after Padraig McGinty was penalised for a handball in the box.
Gilbert had given Kilmore the lead with a well taken goal on the half hour mark as he got on the end of an excellent through ball from Peter McArthur as both sides battled it out in an even opening period. After O’Gorman struck the equaliser the away side pushed on and scored two excellent goals to take a 3-1 lead.
The first was a stunning long range effort from Danny O’Toole whose left foot drive from almost thirty yards flew into the bottom right hand corner of Kilmore net. O’Toole then played a key role in their third goal as he was found brilliantly down the left wing by Shane Ryan before skipping past his man and firing the ball across the six yard box for Conor Ryan to score at the back post. Kilmore did pull a goal back in injury time as Sean Brogan curled a freekick from 20 yards into the top right hand corner of the net but there was very little time remaining and Ballinrobe saw out the final minutes to round their season off on a winning note.
In the other game in League One Westport United C earned their first win of the season in a 15-goal thriller with an 8-7 win over Hollister.
With relegation already decided the game didn’t have any implications for either side and both sides played like it was a game of Astro Turf with action at both ends right from the kick-off. Westport led 3-1 and 7-3 but Hollister came back both times to make it 3-3 and then 7-7 with 15 minutes to go only for Westport to finally win it when Dan O’Malley scored from the penalty spot five minutes later.
Ted Horan hit a hat-trick for Westport with O’Malley and Matthew Moran both scoring a brace and Danny O’Hora also getting in on the scoring for Michael Horan’s side. Martin Delaney got four for Hollister with their other goals coming from Danny Langdon, Jack Delaney and Conor Cunningham.
McDonnell Construction League Two
The two games in League Two that took place over the weekend and no effect on the title race as Fahy Rovers B and Ballyvary Blue Bombers drew 3-3 on Saturday evening and Killala B and Conn Rangers C also took a share of the spoils as they drew 1-1 in the Courthouse.
- Report courtesy of the Mayo Football League.
*We'll have full match reports from all Super League games from the weekend and the Under 21 Division 2 Playoff final in tomorrow's print edition.