The Mayo League representative side made the short trip to Eamon Deacy Park in Terryland on Tuesday night for this first round EA Sports Cup tie. But unfortunately they came up short against the SSE Airtricity League side after holding them at bay for more than 75 minutes of the contest. Galway FC had been pushing for a goal all night, but Mayo League goalkeeper Gary Cunningham had been in fantastic form. When he was finally beaten it came from the boot of Marty Owens who fired home at the back post from close range after being set up by Jake Keegan. The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes before the end when Keegan riffled the ball past Cunningham from out on the right hand side after some neat footwork to create the space for the shot.
Galway FC: Hanley; Owens, Fadden, Elwood, Ludden; Molloy (Horgan, 67 ), McGinty, Varley, O’Brien (Keegan, 67 ); Manning, Walsh.
Mayo League: Cunningham; Ryan (Morrissey, 81 ), Lawless, Bourke, Neary; Lavelle, Gorman, Fitzgerald, Keegan; O’Boyle (O’Gorman, 65 ); Hoban (Cawley, 79 ).
New league divisions drawn up
The Mayo League this year will consist of three ten team divisions, one seven team division and one six team division.
Super League: Ballina Town, Ballyheane, Castlebar Celtic, Charlestown Athletic, Fahy Rovers, Iorras Aontaithe, Manulla, Moy Villa, Straide and Foxford, Westport United.
Premier A: Ballyglass, Castlebar Celtic B, Claremorris, Conn Rangers, Killala, Partry Athletic, Snugboro United, Swinford, Urlar United, Westport United B.
Premier B: Achill Rovers, Ballyhaunis Town, Ballinrobe Town, Castlebar Celtic C, Conn Rangers B, Glenhest Rovers, Iorras Aontaithe B, Kiltimagh/Knock United, Mulranny Town, Newport Town.
League One: Ballyvary Blue Bombers, Bangor Hibs, Crossmolina, Kilmore, Kiltimagh/Knock United B, Manulla B, Straide and Foxford United B.
League Two: Ballina Town B, Ballyglass B, Charlestown Athletic B,
Fahy Rovers B, Hollister, Snugboro United B, Moy Villa B.
Connacht Cup action this weekend
Westport United will be looking to book their place in the semi-final of this season’s Connacht Junior Cup. The Covies will be hosting Galway League outfit Mervue United at 2pm on Sunday in the Sportspark.
In round five of the competition Castlebar Celtic an Ballina Town are in action this Sunday looking to make the last eight of the competition alongside Westport United. Celtic are away to Galway side Knocknacarra, while the Town are also on the road away to Corrib Rangers B on Sunday.
Celtic’s Hansberry named Bus Éireann WNL Player of the month
Castlebar Celtic’s Emma Hansberry has been confirmed as the Bus Éireann Women's National League player of the month for January and February. The Mayo side has cemented itself as the third strongest team in the league this term and the 19-year-old midfielder's form has been instrumental in Celtic closing the gap on champions Raheny United and perennial rivals Peamount United.
Sligo native Hansberry believes the award is testament to the progress Adrian Carberry's side has made this season. "I was delighted when I heard I'd won the award. I'm the second person from Castlebar Celtic to win the award in the last three years so it's a great honour to pick up the award and it's a nice memento for the club because we've worked hard for the past few months. It's nice for somebody to get the award," she said. Former U19 international Hansberry admitted that Celtic are striving to reduce the gap between themselves and the big Dublin sides over the coming 12 months. "We'd love to catch the big two but at this stage of the season we'd be happy to claim third spot. We're already looking forward to next season because we feel with the players we have now and the players we brought in after Christmas we can compete with the top two Peamount and Raheny United next season," added Hansberry.
