Action aplenty as Mayo club GAA leagues get underway

The commencement of the inter-county championship wasn’t the only competition that kickstarted under cloudless skies this weekend, as the Mayo club leagues got underway on parks and pitches around the county.

Here, we’ve tried to give you a flavour of the action, with fine wins for Claremorris and The Neale, a narrow win for Ballyhaunis on the road, and the inseparable Balla and Westport.

WATCH: Joe Brolly on new rules and his new role in Mayo GAA

Special thanks to our many contributors from around the clubs for making this section possible. Anyone who wishes to submit their own short reports on any game from across all five SFL divisions can send them via email to oisin.bradley@iconicnews.ie.

DIVISION 1A

Ballina Stephenites 0-12 Breaffy 1-11

REPORT: Breaffy beat Mayo senior champions Ballina Stephenites

Knockmore 5-14 Ballinrobe 0-14

REPORT: Goals the difference as five-star Knockmore dispatch Ballinrobe

Davitts 2-18 Charlestown Sarsfields 4-8

Ardnaree Sarsfields 0-15 Belmullet 1-23

Castlebar Mitchels 1-18 Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin 1-16

DIVISION 1B

Ballintubber 1-10 Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-12

REPORT: Ballintubber defeated by young Crossmolina side in frantic finish

Balla 1-11 Westport 0-14

Westport opened their league defence on Saturday with a draw on a fine evening for football in Balla.

Both teams displayed early promise for the season ahead in a game that ebbed and flowed from the opening exchanges to the end, and an evenly matched contest ultimately ended in a draw.

A full report on the draw between Balla and Westport can be found on page 9 of this weekend's Mayo News.

Claremorris 2-19 Hollymount-Carramore 1-9

Claremorris produced a strong performance to run out 13-point winners over visitors Hollymount-Carramore. The hosts were moving well before a Hollymount-Carramore three-pointer on the verge of half-time reduced the gap to five points.

Claremorris upped the ante following the break with a strong performance to close out a dominant display.

READ MORE: Charlestown confirm appointment of former player as senior team manager

Garrymore 1-15 Burrishoole 3-15

Burrishoole made a strong start to life in Division 1B after securing a victory over Garrymore.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Burrishoole taking advantage of the strong wind at their backs in the first half, leading by a commanding ten points at the break. Both teams showed well throughout, with some standout scores from each side.

Garrymore did rally as the game entered its final quarter with five points on the spin, and had it not been for Eoin Mullarkey in nets, the crowd would’ve been served up a grandstand finish. However, Burrishoole held their composure and managed to seal the win

Moy Davitts 2-17 Mayo Gaels 1-16

DIVISION 2A

Lahardane MacHales 2-10 Ballyhaunis 1-15

The East Mayo visitors raced into a five-point lead early doors, before Lahardane had a purple patch of their own, grabbing 1-4. Midfielder Kyran Jordan reacted well to get the first of his brace of goals. Ballyhaunis responded well with the final two points of the half by their top scorer on the day, Adrian Sloyan.

James Maughan opened the second half scoring with the first of his two two-pointers, but a blitz of 1-5 came from Ballyhaunis with the goal from Conor Keane after a neat assist by the evergreen Keith Higgins.

Maughan again and Darragh Walsh notched more two-pointers, before Kyran Jordan's second goal made it a grandstand finish. However, Ballyhaunis steadied the ship and held on for the win.

Bonniconlon 0-14 Kiltimagh 3-7

Islandeady 0-10 Kilmaine 1-20

Aghamore 0-19 Cill Chomáin 1-16

Cill Chomáin produced a spirited comeback from a twelve-point deficit at half-time to salvage a draw in incredulous circumstances on the road in Aghamore.

Hosts Aghamore went in with a 0-14 to 0-2 lead at the break, however Cill Chomáin, spearheaded by a mighty Joe Mason performance in which he notched 0-8, came out a completely different side for Act Two, restricting their opponents to 0-5 and putting on a fine attacking display.

Shrule-Glencorrib 1-9 Eastern Gaels 0-14

GALLERY: Mayo and Sligo supporters showing their colours

DIVISION 2B

Westport Saint Patrick's ‘B’ 0-20 The Neale 3-27

At a sunny Islandeady, The Neale and Westport served up a beautiful open game of football, which firmly endorsed the new rules.

The game opened at a fast pace, and some of the point-taking on show was sublime. Westport kicked some strong points before The Neale replied with two well-taken goals. The visitors went in with a four-point lead against a stiff breeze.

The second half started at breakneck speed, with The Neale racing into a seven-point lead, which was quickly wound in by Westport. However, as the game went on, The Neale became the dominant side and won by 16 in the end.

DIVISION 3A

Ballycroy 1-12 Crossmolina Deel Rovers 'B' 2-12

Northern Gaels 2-15 Ballycastle 1-7

Castlebar Mitchels 'B' 1-17 Achill 3-9

Kilmovee Shamrocks 0-17 Tuar Mhic Eadaigh 3-11

Knockmore 'B' 1-9 Ardagh 3-11

DIVISION 3B

Ballina Stephenites 'B' 2-14 Ballinrobe 'B' 2-15

Charlestown Sarsfields 'B' Hollymount-Carramore 'B' 2-7

READ MORE: Five Mayo players who caught our eye against Sligo