Ballyglass girls do the double, new sponsor for leagues and cups
Ballyglass FC, Mayo U17 Division 1 League winners 2025.
Ballyglass FC are celebrating a double success. Hot on the heels of their Under 16 Connacht Shield win, the club's Under 17 girls have been crowned Mayo Under 17 Division 1 champions.
Mayo Women's League secretary Joe King visited Ballyglass to present the league cup to joint captains Katie Gibbons and Ellen Joyce.
The girls have show great team spirit and hard work throughout the season, led by coaches Pat Delaney and PJ Gibbons.
The Mayo Women's League has also announced a new sponsor for its Under 19 Girls League and Cup - Hayes Mechanical & Engineering. The company is also coming on board as sponsors of the U17 Girls Cup and Shield competitions, which get underway this week.
League chairperson Michael Collins welcomed the new partnership, noting the company's commitment to high quality services and playing an active role in the community. The Mayo Women's League promotes an ethos that includes respect, integrity and inclusivity, he said, and he looked forward to working with them. The U17 Cup and Shield semi-finals will be played next Tuesday (May 20) with the finals taking place at Umbro Park, Milebush, on Sunday, May 25.
Two quarterfinals will be played this evening (Tuesday) at 7.15pm, with Killala v Manulla in the cup and Ballyvary Blue Bombers v Castlebar Celtic in the shield. The draws for the U17 Girls Cup semi-finals are: Claremorris v Killala/Manulla; Westport v Kilmurry. U17 Shield draws: Ballina v Ballyvary Blue Bombers/Castlebar Celtic; Snugboro v Ballyglass. The U19 League commences next month.
The draw for Round 2 of the McHale Agri, Forest & Garden Mayo Women's Cup and Shield competitions has been made. Just one place had to be decided ahead of this round, with Kilmore and Crossmolina playing off their postponed first round Cup tie on Friday evening.
It was Kilmore who progressed in the Cup with a 4-0 win, while Crossmolina go into the Shield. Division 1 side Kilmore held a single goal advantage at half-time after Shannon Gibbons scored on 30 minutes. The ever-reliable Kathrina Barrett hit Cross' for an early goal within five minutes of the restart, with scores from Louise Maloney and Gibbons again to tie matters up.
The match-ups for the next round of the Cup and Shields in June are: Kilmore v Swinford, Manulla v Westport United, Killala v Castlebar Town, Kiltimagh Knock United v Ballina Town. In the Shield, the draw is: Achill Rovers v Crossmolina, Straide & Foxford v Glenhest Rovers, Conn BYE, Fahy Rovers BYE.
Two games went ahead on Friday evening in Division 2 of the senior women's league. Achill Rovers enjoyed their first win in a close encounter with fellow league newbies Fahy Rovers, 3-2. The islanders took a 2-0 lead into the break thanks to Realtín McHugh and Hannah Cattigan, but Deirdre Nally showed Fahy's intent two minutes after the restart when she pulled a goal back for the hosts. Jemma Western restored the two-goal cushion for Achill in the 64th minute, but Fahy fought back to reduce it again via Molly Foy on 78. There was, however, to be no equaliser for Fahy.
Ballina Town kept their 100% record intact with their third win - a 3-0 defeat of Glenhest Rovers. All three goals came in the first half and on the scoresheet were Margaret Giblin, Kayla Salami and Kathryn Carolan, with her first goal for the club.
There will be six league games this Friday evening. In the Premier Division, Castlebar Town host Swinford while Conn Rangers welcome Manulla. In Division 1: Kilmore v Killala, Westport United v Kiltimagh Knock United. In Division 2: Glenhest Rovers v Crossmolina, Achill Rovers v Ballina Town. All games kick-off at 7.15pm
In the Masters League, there's no touching Kilmore, who, with full points from nine games, will be collecting their winner's medals soon. Ballyvary Blue Bombers put up a determined effort against the league leaders but in Annie Lynskey alone, who never travels without her shooting boots, Kilmore have great force, earning five of her side's goals in a 9-3 win. Grace Lynch breached their defence twice for the Bombers, with Anne Reilly also continuing her good form by getting on the score sheet. Castlebar Celtic's 11-1 win against Manulla featured hat-tricks for Natasha Beegan and Sheena Van Den Oosten. Claire Cuffe had a late consolation goal for Manulla. In the Fahy Rovers A v B derby, bragging rights went the way of the B team with a 3-0 win - goals from Rita McLoughlin (two) and Sonya Maher.
