Fancy a flutter on Westport or Ballina?

Fancy a flutter?


Daniel Carey

ANYONE who fancies a punt will be interested to know that the remaining local teams are available at long odds to win the FAI Junior Cup.
Westport United, who claimed the silverware back in 2005, were available at 25/1 as of yesterday (Monday) on the boylesports.com website, while Super League champions Ballina Town were quoted at 50/1.
The draw for the last 32 means Westport face a trip to Trim Celtic on the weekend of January 11/12. The Covies’ travelling army love to check out new places and, like Dustin The Turkey, they’ve ‘never been to Meath’ for a Junior Cup game. Westport will expect to have home advantage in the Connacht Cup after travelling to Sligo last Sunday for a match against Aughannagh Celtic that didn’t go ahead.
Ballina will travel to Castleisland, who beat Abbeyfeale United 5-2 last weekend, in the round of 64, with the winners having a home draw against Dublin side East Wall Bessborough. Ballina manager Fergal Forde told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) he has no confirmation on a date for the Castleisland game – or, indeed, their Connacht Cup match against Galway Hibs, which was postponed last Sunday.
Incidentally, Ballaghaderreen face a tough home tie against St Michael’s of Tipperary, who at 7/1 are second favourites behind Sheriff YC (available at a stingy 11/8). Of course, Ballagh’ beat Castlebar Celtic in an earlier round, and their Connacht Cup rematch with the Hoops (postponed last weekend) is expected to go ahead next Sunday. Incidentally, if you fancy the border boys’ giant-killing to continue, they’re available at 40/1 to win the FAI Junior Cup outright.
The draw in full is as follows: Castleisland or Ballina Town v Eastwall Bessborough; Ballynanty Rovers v Maynooth; NUI Galway v Newcastle West; Crumlin Utd or Avenue v Blarney St; Sheriff YC v Fresford or Douglas Hall; Regional v Firhouse Clover; Strand Celtic v Collinstown; Mervue Utd v Greenwood; Liffey Wanderers v Grange Utd; Hibernians v Ballymun Utd; Trim Celtic v Westport Utd; Fairview v Valley Park Utd or Geraldines or Summerville Rovers; Carew Park v Aileach FC; Wilderness Rovers v Carrick Utd; Ballaghderreen FC v  St Michael’s; Glen Celtic v Crettyard Utd or Quigley Point Swifts.