The Super League enters its final stretch at the weekend and Westport United are three points clear at the top of the table. However Westport United manager Barry Kilgannon told the Mayo Advertiser this week that it is going to be a tough run into the title and he is taking nothing for granted. “We’ve got four very tough games left to play and any of those sides are capable of taking points off us on their day, so we have to be on top of our game from now on into the season.” While it will be a tough challenge to reclaim the title they surrendered to Ballina Town last season, Kilgannon would rather be where he is now than any of the other title chasers. “If you gave me this at the start of the season, top of the league with four games to go, of course I would have taken it, the season seems to have flown by to now. But now it’s time to push on and that starts on Sunday with Fahy Rovers. This is a local derby and they are fighting for their lives, so it’s not going to be just a matter of us showing up and collecting the points.”
Taking over the manager’s job at Westport United was a tough task as the club are used to success, a fact that Kilgannon is more than well enough aware of. “Westport United are used to success, that’s a fact, they’ve got a great pool of playing talent and this year we’ve tried to freshen that up bringing in some newer players to keep the lads on their toes. It helps to push everyone on to maintain that success.” While the Super League may be the meat and drink of his side, Kilgannon is confident that come winter his side will be in the hunt for success in both the Connacht Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. “The league has flown by to now, and the lads have put in a huge effort so far, but when the league is over we’ll be tailoring our training and challenge games so we can have a good run in both the Connacht Cup and the FAI Junior Cup over the winter.”
While his side are one of the three who are chasing the title, everyone else in the league is looking over their shoulder to avoid the drop and Kilgannon isn’t sure that having four teams go down is the best thing. “It’s tough for a lot of good sides, a few weeks ago we played Straide and Foxford United in a game and had to battle hard to come out with a 1-0 and nothing was safe for us until the final whistle. It was a good, hard honest game of football and it’s sides like that who might go down and we won’t be having a game like that next season, maybe the four teams going down isn’t right for the Super League.”
The other games in the Super League this weekend see Castlebar Celtic host Manulla, and Snugboro United travel to Swinford. Fellow title chasers Iorras Aontaithe welcome Straide and Foxford United to Carnenash, while Ballina Town (who could be within two points of Westport if they beat Castlebar Celtic in a game that took place after this paper went to press ) will head to Quigley Park to face Ballyheane.
