Goals aplenty as divisional cup finalists are confirmed
The Kilmore squad before their 3-1 victory over Partry Athletic which has secured them a place in this season's Tonra Cup final. Picture courtesy of Kilmore FC
Cup semi-final action took centre stage in the Mayo Football League on Sunday with final pairings for the four divisional cups now set. However, there was one game in the Elverys Sports Super League before the weekend. Castlebar Celtic moved to the top of the table on goal difference with a 5-0 win away to Claremorris with Dylan Felle scoring a hat-trick.
Felle was among the goals again on Sunday as Celtic booked their place in the Benson Cup Final with a 4-1 win against rivals Westport United with Mark Cunningham, Oran Murphy and Lerlah Hay also finding the back of the Covey’s net, who scored a consolation late on through Cian Halpin (see full match report on opposite page).
Celtic will meet Glenhest Rovers in the final after they comprehensively beat Conn Rangers 5-1 at Mount Falcon on Sunday. Levi Barrett’s penalty for the visitors was cancelled out by Owen McNamara but further goals for Eoghan Wright, Paddy Mulchrone and Connor McCarthy’s late brace helped to send Rovers to Milebush.
Iorras Aontaithe have now won their last 11 games in all competitions with a 4-1 Tuohy Cup semi-final win over Castlebar Celtic ‘B’ their latest triumph. Cillian Reilly, Keelan Barrett, Paddy Dixon and Luke McManamon scored for the Barony side.
There was another comprehensive win in the other semi-final out at Conway Park where Snugboro United beat Ballyheane ‘B’ 8-3. Eoin Morris (2), Mark McGreal, Kyrylo Boichuk, Roddick Boayke, Tom Murray (2) and Jason Ormsby scored for ‘Boro while Mattias Dolan, James Cunningham and Niall Vahey scored for the Bs.
Kilmore advanced to the Tonra Cup final after beating Fahy Rovers 3-1 in a tight game. It took two late goals from Ciaran Cawley and Mark Gilbert to settle the tie that looked destined for extra-time.
Kilmore’s opponents in the final, Killala, had to go through extra-time to beat Claremorris ‘B’ on the other side of the draw in a nine-goal thriller. Killala were almost home and dry until Alan Fenwick’s 96th minute equaliser made it 4-4. Rory Gallagher, often a cup hero for Killala having scored twice in the 2019 Connacht Shield Final win against Knocknacarra, was the man of the moment again, scoring three minutes into extra-time to make it 5-4 and Killala would hold out until the full-time whistle.
The perfect season of Ballinrobe Town ‘B’ continued with them booking a place in the McDonnell Cup final, beating Glenhest Rovers ‘B’ 3-0 to advance. It was signed, sealed and delivered by half-time through goals from Conor Keleghan, Rafael and Rodrigo Rosado Da Costa.
Charlestown Athletic await in the final after their extra-time victory over Crossmolina B. Kacper Gawalkiewicz’s goal in the 110th minute was the icing on the cake for Charlestown, who needed a 91st minute leveller in normal time from Damien Ward to stay alive in the tie.
The Tuohy and McDonnell Cup finals will take place on the weekend of July 4/5th. The Benson and Tonra Cup finals will take place two weeks later, on the weekend of July 18/19th.
Thursday, May 28
Elverys Sports Super League:
Claremorris 0 Castlebar Celtic 5.
Sunday, May 31
FAI Junior Cup Round 5:
Ballyheane 1 Rosemount Mulvey (Dublin) 0.
Benson Cup Semi-Finals:
Conn Rangers 1 Glenhest Rovers 5, Castlebar Celtic 4 Westport United 1.
Tuohy Cup Semi-Finals:
Iorras Aontaithe 4 Castlebar Celtic ‘B’ 1, Snugboro United 8 Ballyheane ‘B’ 3.
Tonra Cup Semi-Finals:
Kilmore 3 Fahy Rovers 1, Killala 5 Claremorris ‘B’ 4 (AET).
McDonnell Cup Semi-Finals:
Ballinrobe Town ‘B’ 3 Glenhest Rovers ‘B’ 0, Crossmolina ‘B’ 2 Charlestown Athletic 3 (AET).
