Mayo Soccer 12 June 1996

MAYO YOUTHS AND SCHOOLBOYS FOOTBALL FOCUS

LADIES UNDER-14 LEAGUE

Emma comes to Ballinrobe's rescue

Ballinrobe Town . .2 Ballyhaunis . . 2

The girls of Ballinrobe and Ballyhaunis broke new ground with the first ever Under-age league match for girls in Ballinrobe on Saturday. Before a good attendance they served up some excellent patches of play. Laced with some very exciting goalmouth incidents in a game that either side could have won with a draw being the appropriate result.

Maeve Ann O'Reilly put the home side ahead before Yvonne Byrne scored direct from a corner for Ballyhaunis.

Ballyhaunis took the lead after a mix up in the Ballinrobe defence which ended with the ball going in off a defender.

Emma Mullin came to Ballinrobe's rescue with a late equaliser and a share of the points.

Maeve Ann O'Reilly, Collette Walsh, Emma Mullin, Kathy Reapy and Diane Philbin tried hardest for Ballinrobe, while for Ballyhaunis Lisa O'Dowd, Karen Lilly, Ciara Buckley, Yvonne Byrne and Sinead Vahey were best.

UNDER-12 PREMIER DIVISION

Good start by Charlestown
Straide & Foxford Utd . . 3 Charlestown Athletic . . 4

This opening tie between two of the stronger clubs at under age level lived up to all the expectations in a game which had plenty of goals and lots of goal mouth thrills, highlighted by a fantastic 30 yard volley from Owen Ruddy that helped give S&F a 2-0 lead at the break.

Charlestown enjoyed a purple patch early in the second half, where in the space of seven minutes they hit three goals courtesy of a brace from Michael Divilly and one from John Harrington.

A Lorcan Rowland equaliser for Straide & Foxford set up an exciting last few minutes, but it was Divilly agin, completing his hat-trick, who clinched a Charlestown victory.

For Charlestown Michael Divilly, David Sloyne, Vincent Doherty in goal, were best, while for S&F, Owen Ruddy, Aidan Kilcoyne, Sean Walsh and Kevin Donegan were to the fore.

Brave Celtic in command

Westport United . . 0 Castlebar Celtic . . 3

A good away win for Celtic against old rivals Westport , in a game where apart from a period of stern resistance in the first half by Westport, it was Celtic who enjoyed the best chances and they held a 1-0 lead at the break thanks to a Daire Duffy goal.

Colm Gavin made the score 2-0, 10 minutes into the second half and another goal by Daire Duffy had the points in safe keeping for Celtic.

For the winners Cormac Marinan had an excellent game in defence and others to shine were Rory O'Grady, Daire Duffy and Alan Durkin while for Westport Colm Cameron, Thomas Higgins in goal, Jack Turpin and Martin Cannon were best.

Ballinrobe on top
Ballaghaderreen . . 2 Ballinrobe Town . . 4

Newly promoted Ballaghderreen found it tough going against Ballinrobe Town in their opening tie in the Premier Division.

The visitors got off to an ideal start when Maeve Ann O'Reilly gave them an early lead and this was added to when a David Killeen free kick went in off a Ballaghderreen defender.

The home side reduced the lead however when they were awarded a penalty which Kevin O'Connor duly converted to leave the score at the break 1-2.

Early in the second half young Kevin Dolan struck twice with two goals for Ballinrobe to put the issue beyond doubt. Cian O'Gara scored a last minute consolation goal for Ballaghderreen.

John O'Hara was the outstanding player for Ballinrobe and there were also fine performances from Enda Reilly, Kevin Dolan and David Killeen while for Ballaghderreen and Eamonn Colleran, Kevin O'Connor, James Kilcullen, Luke Colleran and Eamonn Durkin tried hard.

UNDER-12 DIVISION 1

Killala serve notice
Swinford . . 0 Killala . . 2

Killala served notice that they will be one of the sides to beat in Division 1 this year when they overcame an excellent Swinford side.

Two goals, one five minutes into the game by Rory Gallagher and another five minutes from the end by Marcus Hannick were enough to clinch the points.

For Killala Marcus Hannick, Vince Kearney, Rory Gallagher and defender Peter McDonnell were impressive.

Impressive win for Ballyvary
Ballyhaunis . . 2 Ballyvary Bluebombers . . 5

Ballyvary opened their League campaign with a highly impressive performance in a 5-2 victory over Ballyhaunis.

Keith Higgins opened the scoring with the lead goal for the home side before Eoin Kearney equalised for Ballyvary. Patrick Waldron restored the Ballyhaunis lead early in the second half before the physically stronger side took over and hit four gaols without reply from Paul McDonagh and Fintan Molloy with a brace apiece.

For Ballyvary Colm McDonagh, Fintan Molloy, Paul McDonagh and Kieran McNicholas were excellent and for a game Ballyhaunis side Keith Higgins was outstanding with Liam Lyons, Ian Prenty, Cian Higgins and Alan Lyons were to the fore.

UNDER-12 DIVISION 2

Creditable draw for Glenisland
Castlebar United . . 1 Glenisland . . 1

A share of the points was probably the fairest result in a very enjoyable, well contested tie. Castlebar Utd. will rue their missed first half penalty and John Van Oosten hit the post when a goal looked likely.

After a scoreless first half Martin Flynn finally broke the deadlock when he put the home side in front, a lead that was equalised shortly after.

Outstanding for Castlebar were Michael Flynn, Keith O'Malley, Paul Guthrie, James Horan and Robert Coyne.