ROUNDUP: Busy Mayo women's soccer weekend produces high drama

As always, there was plenty of intrigue and action across Mayo women's soccer circles, with the tables taking shape and the battle lines in the hunt for titles and to avoid relegation all being drawn.

Here, we've tried to give a sample of the action that unfolded around the grounds, as well as the runners and riders for silverware in 2025.

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PREMIER DIVISION

Castlebar Town maintained their position at the summit of Mayo soccer as they swept aside Swinford. Firstly, Alannah Keaveney stepped up to produce an early net-shaker, before Louise Dowling’s strike, her fourth of the campaign, made it two-nil in the 32nd minute.

The scoring didn’t stop there, and Shauna Bolger’s strike five after the break extended the gap to three. Melissa Devaney may have pulled one back for Swinford, but substitute Sarah Bright’s late goal rounded off a comfortable victory.

On the banks of the Moy, Clíodhna Flynn’s 5th-minute goal for Conn Rangers would have caused Manulla a bit of a headache, but they responded before long via ex-Sligo Rovers player Lauren McLellan. Four minutes later, Ella Vahey got on Aoife Brennan’s pass to edge ahead.

On the hour mark, Vahey made it a brace for herself, giving her side important daylight and keeping the minimum between themselves and Town in the table.

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DIVISION TWO

The echoes of the referee’s first whistle in the Glenhest Rovers-Crossmolina clash had barely subsided by the time Milly Allen had the ball in the net to put hosts Glenhest ahead as they searched for a first win of the season.

The lead lasted merely 13 minutes, as Aoibhe Loftus brought the game back to level pegging before long.

Both sides duked it out trying to get the all-important deciding goal, but ultimately each had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The clash between Achill Rovers and Ballina Town had a similarly whirlwind start, with two goals in 14 minutes to kick things off.

Firstly, Deirbhile Kilcullen found the target in the second minute for visitors Ballina, before a strike from Rebecca Brudenall left the islanders two in arrears.

Kayla Connaghan pulled one back ten minutes into Act Two to add a sense of jeopardy as the game was coming down the home stretch. However, despite the pressure, the hosts couldn’t draw level, and Ballina held on to make it four wins from four.

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MAYO FC

Ursula Shaughnessy, Ciara Kearney, and Riona Moynihan may have all found the net, but they were powerless to stop the Under-19 side from falling to a 3-7 defeat on their home patch to Finn Harps. They’ll be looking to arrest the slide as they take on Sligo Rovers, who are also in big need of a win.

UNDER-17 CUP

Killala and Manulla produced a rip-roaring quarter-final tie with drama and tension abound throughout. Anna Burton gave visitors Manulla a sense of ecstasy with her sixth-minute goal, but Caoimhe O’Donnell’s strike four later ensured it was short lived.

It stayed level until the changeover, when Manulla came alive once more. Grace Mulroy fired in seconds after the restart, and Burton doubled both her tally and her side’s advantage.

The goals didn’t stop there, as Killala injected some spice into proceedings when Ella McLoughlin set up a grandstand finish.

Try though they may, Killala just couldn’t break through for a third time, and Manulla were the ones leaving with their passage to the semi-final secured.