ROUNDUP: Mayo soccer explodes with goals as season nears climax

There was no shortage of drama and spectacle in Mayo soccer this week, with title races and relegation drama abounding as the season sprints towards a frenetic conclusion. Goals were in plentiful supply with the net rippling 61 times in nine games.

We’ve tried to get a grip on all the narratives playing out across the county’s soccer landscape.

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SUPER LEAGUE

Thrills and spills certainly weren't in short supply when it came to Mayo’s top flight with some 31 goals across the game week to sink your teeth into. Three of the five games are carried in the sports section of The Mayo News, but the carnage didn’t stop there.

We’ll start with the ten-goal thriller between Ballyhaunis Town and Glenhest Rovers. Ronan Coyne got the ball rolling for Rovers before Shane Finnerty doubled the advantage. Marcos Gabriel Luiz De Moraes pulled one back for the hosts, but that was as good as it got.

Connor McCarthy and Nathan Barrett netted braces, while Levi Barrett and Cillian Murphy rounded off an emphatic win.

Elsewhere, Luke Kelly ran in a whopping five goals as Castlebar Celtic kept their winning run going apace with a 9-1 drubbing of Conn Rangers. Eoghan Hughes (2), Oran Groarke, and a returning Jordan Loftus had the other goals for Celtic in that one.

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LEAGUE ONE

It’s hard to even know where to start summing up a game with 14 goals. The 10-4 scoreline between Fahy Rovers and Ballyvary Blue Bombers is one seldom seen. Simon Duffy got the ball rolling, before Patrick O’Connell, Liam Troy, Duffy, and O’Connell again made 5-0 before the changeover. Ben Lennon made it six before long.

Roan Naughton dragged one back, but Ryan McGonagle and Sean Gallagher kept piling on the misery. Ballyvary’s Jamie McArdle got a quick brace, and Cillian O’Brien found the net also, but Duffy’s third and Jack McGovern’s goal to make it ten capped off a miserable day for the Bombers.

The madness didn’t stop there, as Swinford powered to an 8-1 win over Conn Rangers ‘B’, keeping the pressure on table-toppers Ballina Town ‘B’. The win had plenty of notable incidents. First, Swinford center-back TJ Groarke was sent off before any goals were even scored. Second was the fact that two hat-tricks were scored: one by full-back Dylan Toner, and the other by half-time substitute Evan Rowley.

Ballina Town ‘B’ were also strong in their win over Snugboro. Ryan Moran’s opener for Ballina was cancelled out by Ryan McNamara, but that was as good as it got.

John Durkan made it a brace before half-time, before Moran secured a brace of his own after the changing of ends to ensure that the title race could go down to goal difference on the last day.

Elsewhere, Partry Athletic and Claremorris ‘B’ had to settle for a share of the spoils in their clash in Partry. The home side got the ball rolling via Ben Horan, but a Warde leveller in the 40th minute secured a draw.

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MAYO FC

The Under-15s put in a gallant display, and Eryk Chmielak’s goal halved the deficit at a stage, however a 6-1 Cobh Ramblers defeat saw them out of the cup. In the Sunday game in Milebush, the Under-14s were defeated 3-0 by Derry City.