Castlebar Celtic win Connacht Junior Cup final rematch as Mayo teams march on

Castlebar Celtic 3 Maree Oranmore 2

In Celtic Park

THERE was to be no revenge for Maree Oranmore as the Galway side lost 3-2 on the road to Castlebar Celtic in a rematch of last year’s Connacht Junior Cup final.

A Luke Kelly hat-trick made the difference for the reigning Connacht champions, who reached the fourth round of the province’s premier junior soccer competition alongside Westport United and Manulla.

Celtic hosted the pick of the games on Sunday afternoon. They welcomed Maree-Oranmore to Celtic Park in a rematch of last year’s final, which was preceded by a long-running saga arising from the appointment of Mayo referees to Castlebar Celtic’s semi-final win. 

Played on a heavy pitch, the Galway outfit went 3-0 down in the first half thanks to Luke Kelly’s strikes in the third, 39th and 42nd minutes.

Despite centre-half Ioseph O’Reilly delivering an inspiring display for The Hoops, Maree Oranmore made it a one-goal game with goals from Adam Lavelle and Conor Whelan by the 86th minute. 

A very competitive game boiled over in stoppage time when substitute Hamsley Okomah got received a red card.

Ballinasloe United 1 Westport United 4

In Ballinasloe

Anthony O’Neill’s first Connacht Junior Cup game as Westport United manager ended in victory when his side clinched a three-goal win in East Galway. 

Mikey O’Brien scored two of United’s goals, with the first coming in the second minute of play before Cameron O’Leary hit Ballinasloe’s only goal.

The hosts finished the half on a downer when Simon Leonard scored an own-goal to leave the Covies 2-1 up at the break. 

Darren Browne mimicked the timing of O’’Brien’s first goal by scoring just two minutes into the second half before O’Brien made victory a fait accompli in the 52nd minute. 

Mervue United 5 Conn Rangers 1

In Mervue

The only Mayo team to lose their Connacht Junior Cup game today were Conn Rangers, who were well beaten away to Mervue United. 

The Galway City outfit went two up thanks to goals from Aaron Neary and Dara McGrath before Seán Holmes responded in the 33rd minute with Conn Rangers’ only goal of the game.

Two goals from Lewis Waweru shortly before the break left Joe Faughnan’s men with a mountain to climb at half-time.

The hosts added further insult to injury when Adam Healy made it 5-1 after 52 minutes to all but guarantee Mervue’s victory. 

Manulla 3 Ballisodare United 2 

In Carrowmore

Two goals from Bryan Ralph helped Manulla advance in their tie after a hard-fought win over Sligo’s Ballisodare United. 

The hosts went behind in the 43rd minute before Ralph levelled from the penalty spot eleven minutes into the second half. 

Ballisodare United got back in front from the spot kick through Darragh Healy.

Both Odhran O’Connor and Colm Murphy hit the crossbar from the same corner before James Dunne made it 2-2 for Manulla after 83 minutes. 

Bryan Ralph finally popped up with the winning goal directly from a corner to send Manulla into the next round. 

Full reports from Manulla’s, Castlebar Celtic’s and Conn Rangers’ Connacht Junior Cup games will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.