ROUNDUP: Tables take shape as Mayo soccer season gathers pace

With the Mayo soccer leagues taking shape and the league season a third of the way to completion, the picture of who will be aiming for promotion and battling to avoid the drop across all four leagues is coming into clearer focus.

Here, we’ll round up all the action in a reduced calendar of soccer action over Easter weekend, as well as going through the runners and riders in each division at this juncture.

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Super League

At present, Westport United hold a narrow lead at the top of the Super League table in the wake of their 4-0 win over Conn Rangers, who are part of a trident of sides snapping at their heels.

Of the trio, the reigning champions are the clear favourites to overtake Westport, not least due to the fact that they have two games in hand over their opposition.

At the other end, Ballyhaunis look likely to face the drop. The only point they have to their name is a draw with Ballyheane, and an 11-1 drubbing at the hands of Westport United tells you all you need to know.

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Premier League

Robert Callaghan turned on the style for Ballyheane ‘B’ as he ran in a hat-trick against Crossmolina in their 3-0 win on home turf, moving themselves closer to ninth-placed Straide and Foxford United.

Meanwhile, Westport United ‘B’ maintained their place at the summit and one point abreast of Crossmolina with a 3-0 win of their own. Dylan O’Malley broke the deadlock on the cusp of half-time, before Jack O’Malley and substitute Simeon Popov piled on the misery for Claremorris.

Looking at the basement, although Ballyheane ‘B’ recorded a win and have played two fewer games than the other sides in the bottom half of the table, they are behind Kilmore and Straide/Foxford United, who are level on points at this juncture.

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League One

Michael Jordan was on fire to secure three points for Ballyvary Blue Bombers as they eked out their joust with Partry Athletic in a five-goal thriller. The attacker ran in a pair of goals within 16 minutes early in the first half to put his side two to the good.

Conall MacGabhann pulled one back and has now scored in eight consecutive games, including the Premier Cup, but Jordan rounded off a display of scoring prowess, leading his side much like his basketball namesake, to push the lead back out to two.

Martin Fox halved the deficit in his cameo from the bench, but visitors Ballyvary ensured they’d be heading back up the N84 with the points on board.

At present, Ballina Town ‘B’ are the only side who have captured maximum returns from their opening seven league ties, and hold a six-point cushion over Swinford. It may be early days, but both Swinford and Snugboro are neck and neck in the hunt for booking their ticket to the Premier League.

The relegation battle is still too tight to hang your hat on any team being plunged to the bottom tier of Mayo soccer, with the bottom half of the table all within two points of each other.

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League Two

Achill Rovers currently look primed to be heading to League One with the trophy in hand. The islanders are six from six at present and even at this early stage have a six-point advantage over Ballinrobe Town ‘B’ and Westport United ‘C’.

If you were a betting man, you’d back one of those two sides to end the season in second place, but you’d be foolish to write off Fahy Rovers ‘B’ and Crossmolina ‘B’, who are three points behind Ballinrobe and Westport.