With the Mayo League season only a couple of weeks away from kicking-off, the never ending nature journey of the top soccer clubs in Mayo continues this Sunday when Castlebar Celtic and Westport United meet in the semi-final of the Connacht Cup in Celtic Park.
The historic big two have been going all winter since the summer season ended in Mayo in the external competitions, and Sunday’s game offers both sides a chance to get one up on the other before the new season along with the bigger prize of a spot in the province’s top junior competitions final.
Westport United claimed the title two years ago on penalties with a 4-2 win from the spot against Athenry in Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. They made it all the way back to the final last year where Ballinasloe pipped them 2-1 thanks to an injury time winner in Lecarrow last May.
Westport United booked their place in Sunday’s showdown with a 1-0 win over Mervue United in the middle of last month. A game where if they had taken chances could have seen a much bigger victory for the Covies. JP O’Gorman scored the decisive goal and the Westport attacker has been in blistering form for his side for the past number of months and will pose a serious threat to the Celtic defence on Sunday.
Celtic booked their place in Sunday’s game with a 4-2 win on penalties against a very fancied Boyle Celtic side a fortnight ago. Ronan O’Boyle’s late strike for the Hoops sent the game into extra time and the Hoops came out on top when the game went to spot kicks, with Stephen Cafferkey keeping up the excellent form he showed over the game to deny Boyle from the spot, as Ronan O’Boyle, Jason Hunt, Ioseph O’Reilly and Declan Flynn all hit the target from the spot.
Also taking place on Sunday in Milebush Park is the meeting of Charlestown Athletic and Straide and Foxford United in the final of the Connacht Shield which is kicking off at 1pm.
