Mayo SFC: Title race blown wide open as Ballina Stephenites bowout

Castlebar Mitchels Sean Morahan looks to get past Ballina Stephenites Sam Callinan. Pic: Conor McKeown

The Mayo senior football club championship title race was blown wide open this weekend after three-in-a-row winners Ballina Stephenites bowed out of contention following a second successive defeat.

The holders needed to beat Castlebar Mitchels to stay in contention for the knock-out stages but a seven-point loss means their hopes of winning a fourth Moclair Cup in a row have been ended.

Mitchels ran out out 1-17 to 1-10 winners at Josie Munnelly Park on Friday evening with Neil Douglas’ late goal putting the seal on a deserved win for Kevin Filan’s charges.

The result means that Mitchels, who last won the competition in 2015, have booked a quarter-final spot with a game to spare.

The same goes for Garrymore who ran out 1-12 to 0-10 winners over Balla with Mayo defender, Eoin McGreal, scoring the all-important goal early in the first half.

Mitchels will face Garrymore in the third round with a home quarter-final up for grabs for the winners.

Elsewhere, Crossmolina and Aghamore couldn’t be separated on Friday evening.

A late free from goalkeeper, Adam Byrne, earned Aghamore a 1-14 to 0-17 draw against a Deel Rovers side that lined without injured Mayo midfielder, Jordan Flynn.

This was a fourth successive championship draw at home for Aghamore who had looked set to spring a surprise when they led by 1-6 to 0-1 after just 20 minutes.

But Crossmolina battled back in the second half, and despite a red card for Patrick Leddy in the closing stages, a couple of two-pointers from county star Conor Loftus and Diarmuid Coggins meant they were ahead entering additional time.

But Aghamore grabbed a draw with the last kick of the game.

Meanwhile, Claremorris produced the performance of the day to stun last year’s beaten county finalists, Westport after a high-scoring shoot-out that produced seven goals and 39 points.

The South Mayo side ambushed their visitors to run out 1-28 to 6-11 winners after an incredible game that ended with Westport goalkeeper, Paddy O’Malley, seeing his effort for an equalising two-point free drift wide in added time.

Mayo Under-20 attacker, Niall Hurley, led the way for Claremorris with 1-8.

The winners, who are unbeaten after two rounds, led at half-time by 0-19 to 3-6 and powered on to victory in the second half.

They will now face Charlestown in the third round with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

Charlestown needed a late own goal from Kilmeena to help them escape with a 2-11 to 1-11 win at home to last year’s Intermediate champions.

Mayo star Paul Towey turned in a man of the match display, shooting 1-5, a tally that included a brace of brilliant two-pointers.

Kilmeena were five points behind at the break but a goal from a penalty by goalkeeper, Paul Groden, brought them back into contention.

Two-pointers from Caolach Halligan and Mayo midfielder, Jack Carney, levelled the match for the first time in the 59th minute.

But the outcome was settled by a late Charlestown goal that crossed the line via a Kilmeena deflection after Ben Crean’s fisted effort for a point came back off the crossbar.

Knockmore picked up their first win of the campaign at the second attempt with a 1-24 to 1-9 win away to Ballaghaderreen.