MAYO SENIOR LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Big wins and solid displays

As the league season moves towards a close, there have been some impressive displays all across the
county as teams gird their loins for the upcoming championship challenge.

In Division 1A, Davitts continued their great run with another impressive victory. This time, they were ten points clear of Ballinrobe when the final whistle sounded in Ballindine. The border boys are one of the most in-form teams in the county as the league season nears and end. Belmullet defeated Charlestown in a high-scoring encounter in Tallagh.

Nine goals and 36 points kept the attendance entertained on an evening when there were a number of physical confrontations also on view. The home side eventually emerged victorious on a 5-21 to 4-15 scoreline in front of a highly invested attendance.

Anthony Barrett and the O’Donoghue pair of Fionn and Ryan kicked early Belmullet points before Barrett rattled a goal.
Charlestown roared back with a goal and a two-pointer from Paul Towey and a point from Paddy Goldrick before Jack Mahon’s net-shaker had the Sarsfields ahead.

Belmullet powered back, and Ryan O’Donoghue kicked three points before Ciaran Honeyman got on the end of a smart free to ripple the Belmullet net for the third time. Goals certainly weren’t in short supply, as Fionn O’Donoghue produced one of his own for Belmullet, and that set the home side alight.

Ryan O’Donoghue turned on the style in the following five minutes, notching 1-3 without reply to leave them clear at the interval. Charlestown showed a sense of urgency early in the second half and three points from Towey and two from Gareth O’Donnell’s orange flag had the away side motoring. However, Belmullet found their groove once again with a Fionn O’Donoghue goal and a further point, helping to keep them away from any serious jeopardy.

At the other end, Towey and Goldrick continued the shooting exhibition with two-pointers, but the game descended into chaos from there as order seemed to be lost by the officials.

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A series of tussles took place all over the park and after the dust settled, referee Sean Tolan opted to flash red to Belmullet’s Evan Ivers. A Charlestown penalty was duly converted by Towey to reduce the gap to six, but Belmullet weren’t troubled and three late points saw them win on a 5-21 to 4-15 scoreline..

IMPRESSIVE SARSFIELDS
ARDNAREE boosted their survival hopes with a well-earned 1-23 to 0-17 win over Parke. Sean Sweeney found his groove to open the scoring for Parke, before Ardnaree’s Nathan Roddy got the ball rolling for the Mosiders. Sweeney twice raised white flags to give his side the lead, but Roddy, John Timlin, and Ethan Convey (2) all did the business for Ardnaree. Parke and Colm Lynch did try and make their mark in the first half but to little effect as Convey and company kept the scoreboard ticking over to give the home side a handsome enough lead as they headed for the change of ends.

The men from Parke opened the scoring once more, but Convey kept Ardnaree in front ascendancy with
two fine points. Coming down the home stretch, there was only going to be one winner, and Sarsfields
were toasting a first win of the campaign, which leaves them within touching distance of leapfrogging
Ballinrobe in the relegation dogfight.

In Division 1B, Westport had eight points to spare over Hollymount Carramore and will hope to carry that
form into next weekend’s enticing clash with Crossmolina.

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IMPRESSIVE WINS
IN the second tier, Shrule Glencorrib continued their impressive campaign with a big win over Cill
Chomain. The border boys emerged victorious on a 2-16 to 0-9 scoreline as they continue preparations
for the junior championship.

Ballyhaunis turned on the style to beat Eastern Gaels by nine in a local derby, and Kiltimagh edged out
Islandeady by a single point, 1-17 to 1-16, after a thrilling encounter. Lahardane MacHales continued to
show why they’ve been grabbing a lot of attention recently with a well-earned three-point win over
Kilmaine.

The John Reilly Derby ended in an eight-point win for Kilmeena in St Brendan’s Park as the West-Mayo
side defeated the team now coached by their former manager. Kiltane had too much firepower for
Louisburgh and the Erris men were also very happy with their defensive display, restricting the Clew Bay
side to just 1-5 over the hour while notching 1-13 themselves. Killala had eleven points to spare over
Breaffy’s second team, while Ballaghaderreen defeated Westport’s second team by a whopping 32 points.

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In the third tier, North Mayo Ardagh defeated Northern Gaels by two points, while Tuar Mhic Éadaigh left
Ballycastle with a four-point win in their cargo. Achill made the long trip to Kilmovee worthwhile when they
won by five, while Castlebar Mitchels B kicked a massive 30 points more than their hosts, Crossmolina B.
Ballintubber’s second string were much too good for their Ballina counterparts, while Davitts B team had
19 points to spare over Ballinrobe.