Celtic stay on course for 'perfect' league after late winner over Westport

Castlebar Celtic took a giant step towards a third Super League title in a row after scoring a late winner against archrivals Westport United last night in Celtic Park.

Oran Groarke put Celtic in front in the first half, but Harrison Quinn equalised before the hour mark. United pushed for a winner but it was the Hoops who got it as Fionn Mahon broke down the right in injury-time. His was shot was tipped onto the bar by Gary Cunningham but it remained in play and Johnny Cocozza bunded it over the line.

United remain top on 28 points and four clear of Celtic, but Stevie Gavin’s side have four games in hand.

Another side who got a late winner is third-placed Glenhest Rovers, who continued their brilliant league season with victory over Ballina Town. Dylan McKee cancelled out Ethan Reilly’s opener for Glenhest and it was Shane Finnerty who was the hero for the ‘Hest late on, as they opened a four-point gap over Conn Rangers.

Comebacks was the name of the game in the CastleCourt Hotel Premier League, as two of the four wins saw teams come from behind. Claremorris kept their promotion hopes well and truly alive after coming back from a goal down to beat Straide & Foxford United 3-1 while Ballyheane ‘B’ were 2-0 down but would go on to win 3-2 against Crossmolina.

The win for Ballyheane sees them move five clear of relegation while S&F are in danger of dropping into League One, along with bottom of the table Kilmore who were beaten 2-0 in the battle of the north against Iorras Aontaithe.

Killala remain a point above the relegation zone, but their hopes were done no favours after a comprehensive 8-0 defeat to Ballyglass, with the Candystripes odds-on favourites for a return to the Super League.

Elsewhere, there was one game in the Premier Cup, as Achill Rovers advanced to the quarterfinals after a 3-1 win over Manulla ‘B’.

*See Tuesday's Western People for a full report on Castlebar Celtic v Westport United.