Goals rain in as Mayo soccer leagues kick off

TheMayoleagues began in style over the weekend, with goals aplenty across all the grounds. All in all, the ball hit the net 75 times across 15 games, averaging five goals per match.

The pick of the bunch in the Super League was the clash of Ballina Town and Ballinrobe Town in Belleek Park, which the hosts won 4-2. Ryan Moran’s strike put Ballina ahead after ten minutes, however, Oisin Connolly’s penalty nine minutes later and Sean Vahey’s wonder-goal flipped the advantage at the changeover.

WATCH: Ballinrobe Town's Sean Vahey scores wonder-goal in six-goal Ballina Town thriller

Dylan McKee equalised in the 65th minute before PJ Gilmartin popped up with a brace to earn his side the result.

Elsewhere, Glenhest Rovers made a promising start to life in the Super League after last season’s promotion from the Premier League, winning 3-1 at home to Kiltimagh/Knock United. Ballyhaunis Town didn’t quite have the same welcome to the division, as they were beaten 2-0 on the road to Conn Rangers.

While Westport United couldn’t manage to break down a solid Manulla side under the floodlights on Valentine’s night, the same definitely couldn’t be said of their ‘B’ side on Sunday morning. They ran riot in a 10-1 thrashing of Straide and Foxford FC. Youngster Dan O’Malley scooped a hat-trick, while Aidan McHale and Ted Horan also netted two.

The other two fixtures both conjured up four goals but with vastly different outcomes. In an all-north Mayo clash, Kilmore and Killala had to settle for a share of the spoils, as Guilherme De Souza’s 54th-minute strike was enough to secure Kilmore a 2-2 draw.

Iorras Aontaithe continued their drive through the divisions when they made sure Ballyglass left the barony empty-handed after a comfortable 4-0 victory. Two from the deadly Luke McManamon and pne apiece from Dara Padden and Cillian Flannery allied to a fine display from Liam Maloney decorated an impressive opening display for the Erris men.

In League One, in arguably the pick of the matches. Snugboro would have been forgiven for thinking that four goals in 12 minutes, including a Ryan McNamara hat trick which left them 5-1 ahead at half-time would have had them home and hosed.

However, Swinford made the hosts sweat as Aiden Dunleavy scored two in ten minutes to complete his own hat-trick. Jakub Gawalkiewicz also scored to tighten the screw. In the end, Snugboro held on and the game finished a 5-4 thriller.

That wasn’t the end of the madness in the division. John Durkan ran riot, netting five as Ballina’s ‘B’ team put seven past their Claremorris counterparts.

Conall MacGabhan scored two for Partry Athletic in a facile 3-0 win over Bangor Hibs, as did Dylan Webb as Kiltimagh/Knock United ‘B’ beat Fahy Rovers 3-1.

READ MORE: Historic game under lights at Westport United home ground ends goalless

Conn Rangers ‘B’ were saved by John Paul Collins when his 89th-minute strike was enough to rescue a win for his side on the road to Ballyvary Blue Bombers.

By comparison to some other games, Achill Rovers' 6-0 win over Crossmolina ‘B’ almost seems run-of-the-mill. Ryan Kilbane scored three in a comfortable run out at Fr O’Brien Park while Micheál Moran, James O’Hara and Tiarnan Cooney also netted.

Cormac Mangan’s 39th-minute strike capped a manic opening half and was the difference as Castlebar Town edged Westport United ‘C’ 3-2. Ethan Reilly’s goal for Glenhest Rovers ‘B’ put the pressure on, but Fahy Rovers ‘B’ held on for a well-earned 3-2 win in the end. In Carramore, Manulla B prevailed 2-0 over Conn Rangers C to start their campaign with a win.