Bombers are big winners as rivals cancel each other out
Alan Plunkett of Ballyglass FC was presented with the Westaro Masters Division 2 Golden Boot award by Walter Holleran, the FAI's Head of Grant Funding and Infrastructure Development, at the Mayo Football League's presentation dinner at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport. Pictures: Michael Donnelly
With storms Isha and Jocelyn firmly in the rearview mirror, it turned out to be a lovely night for Masters football at Solar 21 Park last Wednesday. The picture in each division is no clearer after four rounds and many of last week’s results have blown things wide open.
Ballyglass and Iorras Aontaithe played out a 2-2 draw in Division One, a result both teams may rue as two points dropped come the end of the season – although Ballyglass remain at the top of the table. It was a clash of styles as Ballyglass constantly looked to pass through the Erris ranks, while the men from the Barony looked to play a more physical style of football. Jimmy Killeen got the breakthrough early on for the Candystripes but Liam Donoghue responded quickly. It was a nervy second-half as both teams fought hard to go in front but it was that man Jimmy Killeen who fired Ballyglass ahead after Colm Boyle put him through on goal. The joy was short-lived as Brendan Nallen nabbed an equaliser five minutes later. It turned into a fiery contest in the closing minutes as referee Damian MacGraith dished out four yellow cards, including two to Iorras’s Shane O’Connor who received his marching orders.
Ballyvary Blue Bombers leapt into second in the table, a point behind Ballyglass, with a 7-4 win over Ballyheane. They raced into a 3-1 lead thanks to a brace from Simon Cloherty and one from Paul Kenny. Ballyheane’s chief goalscorer Arek Tobiaz got one back before Kevin Malone and Ashley Stevenson scored to make it level at the break. Stevenson got a second shortly into the second-half but the Bombers pulled away to make it a big win. Kenny got a second either side of Colm Kelly’s brace before Cloherty completed his hat-trick with a tap-in.
In the final Division One game of the night, great Masters rivals Westport United and Ballina Town played out a topsy-turvy 3-3 draw. It was as tense as a standoff between Wild West gunslingers in the first-half until Eoin McCormack opened the scoring for Ballina. Westport were in front before the break however, as Jesper Frisch scored a brace. David Hoban extended their lead and gave Ballina a mountain to climb shortly into the second-half. A foul on Aidan O’Hora gave Ballina a penalty and McCormack dispatched it before Chris Maughan provided a vital equaliser. Tensions rose in the closing minutes and Westport goalkeeper Shane Nallen was shown a red card. The result leaves both Ballina and perennial Masters favourites Westport on four points. While only three off the league leaders, it will be a long way off where both teams would expect to be.
In Division Two, Killala’s Johnny McNulty enjoyed a fruitful second-half in which he scored a hat-trick to help his team pull away to a 6-2 victory against Kiltimagh/Knock United. It was more evenly matched in the opening half. John Clarke gave Killala the lead before Aidan Ferguson hammered in the goal of the night. John O’Hara scored for Kiltimagh/Knock United with a towering header out of the Ronaldo playbook. It was the Johnny show in the second-half, as McNulty scored a delightful hat-trick to add to Mark Moyles’ goal. Conor Heneghan’s goal for United proved a consolation.
A battle of the top two sides in Division Two went the way of Fahy Rovers as they clinically defeated Conn Rangers 5-1 to move level on points with the Mount Falcon side.
An own goal put Conn ahead before Darren Creaby bundled in an equaliser before half-time. Creaby completed his hat-trick in the second-half, along with goals by Eric Carney and Kevin Concannon.
At the other end of the table, Straide and Foxford United and Ballyhaunis Town picked up their first points of the season after playing out an eventful 4-4 draw. Michael Prendergast scored a wonderful opener for S&F, which was cancelled out by Keith Robinson’s leveller at the break.
Sean Walsh restored the advantage for the Green Road men but a brace by Pat McGee put Ballyhaunis ahead for the first time. There was still time for late drama as two goals by Chris Downey, either side of a contentious penalty by Frankie Nolan, ensured a share of the spoils.
In Division Three, Ballyglass ‘B’ came from behind to defeat Snugboro United 4-2. Mark McGreal had put Snugboro ahead before the Red and White showed their class through strikes by Graham Cooke, Darren Reilly, John Boyle and James McGing. McGreal added a second for ‘Boro late on.
Bangor Hibs showed no mercy to Manulla ‘B’ as they fired fourteen goals past the Carramore men. Anthony Coyle bagged five while Michael Sweeney (4), Michael Doocey (2), Shane Lindsay, Thomas Murphy and Sean Dunne rounded off the biggest win of the Masters this season.
Remaining top of the pile are Partry Athletic, who maintained their 100% record with an 8-2 win over Castlebar Town. John Russell netted another hat-trick as well as a brace each by Mark Gibbons and Kevin Dolan. Danny Lydon rounded off the scoring for Partry, with Town’s goals coming through Mark Corrigan and Jarlath Coady.
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Aidan Ferguson (Killala): His sweetly struck volley had shades of James Rodriguez’s Puskas Award winning goal against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup.
John Murray (Ballyglass): Made a number of crucial saves against Iorras Aontaithe, who were firing all sorts of unpredictable efforts from every sort of range.
Simon Cloherty (Ballyvary): The Blue Bombers talisman inspired his side to a big win against Ballyheane, netting a hat-trick to boot.
