Conn Rangers move a step closer to Westaro Masters title

Conn Rangers took a giant step towards the Division Two title but Divisions One and Three are none the clearer as we approach the penultimate round of fixtures in the Westaro Masters League.

Ballyglass returned to the summit of Division One after coming from behind to beat Ballyvary Blue Bombers 6-4. Simon Cloherty and Jakub Gawalkiewicz put the Bombers in front but a Jimmy Killeen hat trick, Colm Boyle, Alan Plunkett and JP Reilly saw the Swans take full advantage of the slip up by Iorras. Cloherty completed his hat trick late on for Ballyvary but they could not reel in Ballyglass.

Iorras Aontaithe kept things tight in the first half against Ballina Town but unfortunately the floodgates opened in the second half and they lost 10-2. Two Chris Maughan goals had Ballina leading 2-1 at the break after Mark Gilbert had fired Iorras ahead within the opening seconds. It was one-way traffic in the second half as Paul Moran scored a hat-trick, Maughan completed his hattrick, John Durkan scored a brace and Michael Noone scored from the penalty spot. Gilbert scored the second for Iorras far too late in the game for it to have any kind of impact.

The Thursday night game saw Ballyheane pick up their first win of the season after thumping an understrength Westport United 9-3 which ended the Covies slim title hopes. Arek Tobiaz was unplayable on the night as he netted fired in a double hat trick, while John Kelly hit a single treble. Ciaran Cuddy, Sean Bradshaw and Mark Joyce were on target for United.

In Division Two, Fahy Rovers kept their slim title hopes intact after beating Straide & Foxford United 8-3. A Chris Downey double put S&F ahead early on after Conor Ryan’s opener for Fahy but a treble from Darren Creaby fired the black and white to victory, with additional goals from Tom Keane, Bill Buggy, Laurence Joyce and Barry Rourke. Downey completed his own triple for S&F in the second half.

Goals from Declan Tonra and Eoin Carney for Manulla in a 2-1 win over Kiltimagh/Knock United put the champagne on ice for league leaders Conn Rangers with the Blues reducing the gap at the top to just a point. Colm Garvey scored the only goal of the game for Manulla.

Conn Rangers moved to within one win of the title after Shane Bourke inspired them to a 7-3 win over Killala. Bourke netted four along with Aidan Gallagher, Alan Dempsey and Paul Coleman. Killala’s goal came from an own goal, Jonathan McNulty and John Clarke.

In Division Three, Bangor Hibs kept parity with Partry at the top of the table by beating Snugboro United 7-3. Hattricks for Brian McHale and Mikie Sweeney had Hibs rocking before a quickfire triple from Snugboro’s Abdalrahman Dosah, Peter Moran and Robbie Ehlert gave Boro some kind of hope. McHale’s fourth quickly dashed these ambitions.

Partry Athletic’s John Russell took his tally to 26 for the season with a double hat-trick in a 9-1 win over Ballyglass ‘B’. Mark Gibbons and a Kevin Dolan double made up the remainder for Partry with Graham Cooke netting the lone goal for Ballyglass B.

Castlebar Town made it back-to-back wins after beating Manulla ‘B’ 3-2. Michael Cuffe put Manulla ahead early on before a brace by Brian Hanrahan and one for Aleksej Lyzin made sure of a second win for the Town. Gary Heneghan pulled one back for Manulla but their local rivals held on.

Goal of the week: Paul Moran (Ballina Town) can put his third goal down to the ingenuity of his teammate Aidan O’Hora. Moran’s shot slid towards goal where O’Hora was hanging. He let the onrushing ball roll through his legs, selling the Iorras keeper the dummy and it ended up in the back of the net.

Goalkeeper of the week:  Kieran O’Malley (Ballina Town) put in a good shift in a tight first half. Some key saves gave his team a platform on which to grow their brilliant second half performance.

Player of the week: Arek Tobiaz (Ballyheane) gave his side some much needed relief as he netted six goals against Westport United. A stunning performance.