Late winners for Ballyheane and Celtic in Mayo Super League

There were late winners for Castlebar Celtic and Ballyheane in the Elvery Sports Super League while Kiltimagh/Knock United saw a first defeat at the hands of Westport United.

On Saturday evening, ten man Castlebar Celtic had a statement win at the top of the table as Oran Groarke’s late winner earned them a 2-1 win over Ballina Town in Belleek. The game was scoreless at the break and all the action came in the last half hour as the game had three goals and a sending off in those final thirty minutes. Celtic took the lead on the hour mark as Neil Douglas scored his first Super League goal of the season but minutes later Ballina were thrown a lifeline when Joe Slevin received his marching orders as he was sent off for two yellow card offences. Ballina pushed forward to try to get an equaliser and it arrived with five minutes to go as Dylan McKee found the back of the net. At this stage most would have put their money on Ballina getting a winner but it was Celtic who made it three wins from three as Groarke earned Celtic the three points to make it three wins from three for Stevie Gavin’s side.

In the second top flight game on Saturday evening Straide and Foxford United and Glenhest Rovers got their first point of the season as the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Foxford. In an entertaining game the home side took the lead midway through the first half as Connor Hanahoe scored the opening goal of the game but Glenhest were level seven minutes later through Mark Forrestal.

Pat Mulchrone then had Glenhest in front early in the second half but Straide & Foxford Chris Downey scored in the final five minutes to earn a point for Aiden Flatley’s side.

Conn Rangers put in another very impressive performance as they made it back to back victories with a 4-1 win away to Crossmolina. Just when it looked like the game would be scoreless at the break Adam Gallagher scored two goals in as many minutes to put Rangers in control at the break.

Liam Durkan then made it three just before the hour mark before PJ Gilmartin added a fourth on 77 minutes. Gallagher then had the chance to complete his hat-trick but he was unable to convert a late penalty and then Niall Coggins got a consolation goal for Crossmolina in injury time.

Westport United had a narrow 1-0 win away to unbeaten Kiltimagh/Knock United as they got their first three points of the season thanks to a first half goal from PJ Calvey although it may be credited as an own goal to Kiltimagh/Knock keeper Naill Walshe.

The goal came just after the half hour mark when Cian Halpin found himself in space inside the Kiltimagh/Knock penalty area and he pulled the ball back to Calvey who’s first time shot was saved by Walshe but as he tried to grab the ball he sent it into the back of the net.

There was only one game in the CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division on Saturday evening and a very late goal from Matthew O’Connor earned Kiltimagh/Knock United B their first point of the season as they drew 1-1 with Westport United B. Des Herterick gave Westport the lead with a superb finish from just inside the area as he got on the end of a through ball from Ted Horan after just ten minutes after Westport countered quickly following a loose throw in from Kiltimagh/Knock. Westport looked like they had done enough to take all three points but Kiltimagh/Knock didn’t give up and the equaliser arrived on 88 minutes when O’Connor headed in a left wing corner at the back post.

In the early morning kick-off in the Premier Division Ballyglass returned to winning ways with a comfortable 6-0 win over Fahy Rovers. Muti sports star Conor Heneghan returned to the side after his recent nine-darter in the Modus Super Series and he made an instant impact as he scored twice while Liam Hughes also hit a brace and the other goals came from Scott Hamilton and Stephen Hughes.

Moy Villa moved up to fourth in the table with a 2-0 win over Ballyhaunis Town in Attymass on Sunday afternoon. Luke Ruane’s early goal after just five minutes set them on the way to victory and despite John Durkan missing a penalty on the half hour mark they went in two up at the break as Durkan made amends minutes before the half-time.

Claremorris inflicted a first defeat of the season on Kilmore as they put in an excellent first half performance to earn a 5-3 win over the Erris men. They fell behind after only a minute as James Kelly set up Kyle Holmes to open the scoring with a well struck shot from just inside the area but from then on it was all Claremorris as they dominated the rest of the half with Rokas Mikuckis and Danny Broderick doing the damage on the wings.

They were level after twelve minutes when Mikuckis bundled the ball in at the far post after an excellent right wing cross from Broderick and they went in front on nineteen minutes when Ryan McLoughlin got on the end of a set piece to fire the ball home from six yards.

Mikuckis then made it three just after the half hour mark when he got on the end of a pull back from Brandon Walsh to fire the ball into the top of the net from eight yards leaving Pat McHale with no chance in the Kilmore goal. Claremorris could have added to their tally before the break but Kilmore with stood the pressure to give them a chance in the second half.

Kilmore were much stronger after the break and within six minutes they were only a goal behind as James Kelly slotted home a penalty after Patrick Sweeney was fouled in the box. Kilmore had the momentum at this stage but it swung back the way of Claremorris five minutes later as Simon Butler converted a spot kick after some off the ball pushing was spotted by the referee.

Veteran Conor O’Keefe headed in a fifth after some good work by Broderick and Newton Silva with fifteen minutes to go only for Kilmore to pull another back when Sean Brogan found James Kelly at the back post and his first time shot found the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Kyle Holmes went close to making it a frantic last few minutes but his acrobatic effort was well saved by Enda Jennings and Claremorris held out to earn a big three points on the road.

Manulla B began their 2023 Killeen Sports Ground League One campaign with a 2-1 win over Claremorris B in Concannon Park thanks to a late winner from James Dunne. Damien Joyce’s side took the lead after quarter of an hour as Shane Durkan grabbed his first goal of the season.

Heading into the final minutes of the game it looked like Durkan’s early goal would be all that separated the sides but Claremorris were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty in the final minute of normal time which Davy Hennessey converted to level the scores but Dunne’s late strike in added time gave the away side the perfect start to the new campaign.

Killala also earned maximum points on Saturday evening thanks to a 3-2 win over Ballyheane B in The Courthouse. Kevin Butler opened the scoring for Killala after just seven minutes but Rory Morris levelled matters for Ballyheane 12 minutes later. Butler then put Killala back in front after an hour and Dermot Lavelle added a third for the home side six minutes into the second half. Substitute Robert Callaghan made it an interesting last 15 minutes as he pulled a goal back on 77 minutes but Killala held on to pick up the three points in their first game back in League One.

Achill Rovers began their league season with a win as a strike from Michael English was the difference in a 1-0 win over Conn Rangers B. English scored his third goal in as many games with the winner coming on 12 minutes after he was set up by Terence Dever.

Castlebar Celtic came from a goal down to record a 4-1 win over Hollister at Celtic Park. Martin Delaney gave Hollister the lead after just seven minutes but goals from Conor Joyce, Dylan Felle, Dylan Howley and a late strike from substitute Ruari McArdle saw Celtic top the table after the first round of fixtures.

In McDonnell Construction League Two, Conn Rangers C and Partry Athletic had to settle for a share of the spoils as they played out a 1-1 draw in Mount Falcon on Saturday evening. The two goals came within minutes of each other as Ben Horan gave Partry the lead just before the hour mark and Aaron McDonnell found the back of the net for Rangers four minutes later to earn a point for Tom Kemp’s side.

The second game in League Two on Saturday also ended in a draw as Crossmolina B and Fahy Rovers drew 2-2 in Abbeyview. Crossmolina looked like they were on their way to all three points as they led 2-0 after just twenty five minutes as Mark Rothwell gave them the lead from the penalty spot after twelve minutes and Liam Clancy doubled their lead 13 minutes later. Fahy pulled a goal back through Jamie Sheridan on the half hour mark and it was Sheridan who got his second of the day on the hour mark shortly after Jack Sharkey seen red for a deliberate handball.

Iorras Aontaithe showed why they are favourites for League Two with a 4-1 win over Ballyvary Blue Bombers in Carne Nash on Sunday morning. Liam Maloney got Iorras off the mark after only ten minutes with an absolute bullet from 35 yards which rifled into the top right hand corner of the Ballyvary net. Iorras got their second just before the half time as Owen McHale got on the end of a loose ball and finished nicely from the edge of the box. Padraic Cowman was then made it three shortly after the break and it was Cowman who got his second of the day on 70 minutes with a nice finish after a pinpoint cross from the impressive Brendan Nallen. Ballyvary pulled one back on the in the last minute with a nicely struck free kick from Chris Kerins but the game was very much done and dusted at that stage as Iorras got their season off to the perfect start.

In the other League Two match on Sunday Ballinrobe Town B and Castlebar Town had to settle for a share of the spoils after a 2-2 draw in The Green. Luciano Almeida De Freitas gave Town the lead after 15 minutes but they found themselves behind at the break as Jamie Muniz and Jonathon Daly scored for Ballinrobe.

The only goal of the second half went to the away side who earned a point on their return to Mayo League football as Moo Paw converted a penalty on 57 minutes.

- Report courtesy of the Mayo Football League.

*Full match reports from all Super League games in tomorrow's print edition of The Connaught Telegraph.