Goals aplenty as Mayo soccer leagues take shape

Mayo’s foray deep into the Oscar Traynor Cup, coupled with the adverse weather conditions, saw the initial fixture list for Gameweek Two of local soccer slashed in half.

However, that didn’t stop a whole raft of interesting fixtures and storylines from developing as the season gathers pace.

READ MORE: Mayo through to Oscar Traynor Cup semi-final after victory over Donegal

The entirety of the Super League was postponed in advance of Mayo’s Oscar Traynor Cup trip north to Swilly Park, however the Premier League stepped up to the mark.

Straide and Foxford United fell to a second successive defeat, as they travelled to Michael Keaveney Park to take on Ballyglass. Dean O’Malley scored the opener 23 minutes in before Oisín Moran scored his first of the season to double the advantage and secure his side’s first win.

Elsewhere on Saturday, two goals in as many minutes from Martin Deacy and Oisín Deane saw Crossmolina leave Claremorris with the points in tow. Guilherme de Souza’s top-corner strike seven minutes from time was the difference for Kilmore v Ballyglass as he netted in back-to-back matches.

League One takes all the headlines this week. Even with only three games on, anyone who braved the conditions to see any of these games will surely say it was worth it, with 21 goals flying in.

We’ll start with the ten-goal thriller. Aaron Healy’s fifth-minute for Bangor Hibs strike was sandwiched by a JP Collins brace for Conn Rangers ‘B,’ leaving the score 2-1 within seven minutes.

READ MORE: Seven-figure grant funding announced for Mayo clubs and sports groups

The madness didn’t stop there. Collins’ 30th-minute strike earned him a hat trick. However, Brian McHale scored a brace on either side of the changeover and flipped the script. Darragh Holmes’ penalty levelled proceedings to leave the clash on a knife edge

Enter JP Collins again, who netted twice more to earn his side the win. The youngster now has a record of 20 goals in his last six League One outings.

Ballina Town ‘B’ played in a seven-goal clash once again, and just like last week, they were comfortable. John Durkan opened the scoring with his sixth of the season before Shane Devers made it 2-0 two minutes later. Liam Burke clawed one back for Partry Athletic, but it did little to stem the tide. Sam Monaghan scored his side’s third to keep Partry at arm’s length.

Durkan made it a brace from the spot before Monaghan helped himself to his second. By the time Conall MacGabhan scored another goal for Partry, in truth, it was too little too late.

Snugboro’s game this week was much more routine than their 5-4 thriller against Swinford last time out. However, there were still goals aplenty. Eoin Morris’ seventh-minute goal separated them from hosts Ballyvary Blue Bombers, before Mark McGreal, Ryan McNamara and Ghanaian substitute Roddick Boayke made it a comfortable 4-0 win.

League Two threw up some interesting curveballs also. Conn Rangers ‘C’ bounced back from last weekend’s 2-0 Manulla ‘B’ loss by winning 2-0 themselves against Ballinrobe Town ‘B.’ Ronan Holmes and Richard W McHale got the goals in that one.

Glenhest Rovers ‘B’ and Manulla ‘B’ had to settle for a share of the spoils after a 33-minute period saw four goals. Matthew Horan was booked twice in as many minutes and left his Glenhest side with it all to do, and ultimately they couldn’t hold Manulla off, and Callan Jennings earned the visitors a share of the spoils.

Finally, Achill Rovers made it back-to-back wins with a 3-1 victory on the road to Westport United ‘C’. Rinalds Fedotovs opened the scoring for the hosts, but ultimately Achill’s strength told as Michael Moran, Mark McNulty, and Colm Campbell rattled the net.