The Mayo League make the trip to the far edge of Roscommon on Sunday where they will face down against the Roscommon and District League in the first round of the Oscar Traynor Trophy at 2pm.
With all the domestic action in the county now under wraps until next spring, and club attention shifted towards the external competitions for the sides still in them, the Oscar Traynor can offer some relief and something to look forward to over the winter months. The Mayo League has been paired in a group alongside Sunday’s opponents from the Roscommon and District League, and the Galway League and the Clare League. Their next scheduled game after Sunday’s trip to Lecarrow is a meeting with the Clare League at home on November 23.
Westport United duo Kieran Mulchrone and James Fahy are once again at the helm of the Mayo League and after guiding Westport United to a treble, which saw them unbeaten in all competitions in Mayo this season, hopes will be high that they can keep that form up with the Mayo League side. The Roscommon and District League this year will be managed by Enda Concannon and Peter Tiley, who have guided Ballinasloe Town over the last few years and become nemeses of the Mayo League management duo on the club scene in recent times.
Both sides met in the Connacht Inter-League Cup semi-final back in September also in Lecarrow, with the Mayo League seeing off the home team 3-1 after extra time en route to winning the cup against the Sligo-Leitrim the week after. Ballina Town’s Brendan Lavelle scored twice in normal time and again in extra time, with Castlebar Celtic youngster Jason Hunt finding the back of the net for the third goal. The Mayo League side from that competition with Gary Cunningham, Colin Cameron, Peter Bourke, David Cameron, Philip Keegan, Ronan and Ger O’Boyle, and Chris Rowland is expected to make up the bulk of the side which will take on the Roscommon outfit who are backboned by a very strong Ballinasloe Town contingent. Getting off to a winning start will be something that will be essential if the Mayo League are to qualify for the latter stages of the competition.
Mayo League presentation night
The Mayo League will host its annual awards presentation night in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Saturday November 29. The night sees the best of the best honoured across all the divisions each year.
Mayo League sevens kick off next week
The first annual Mayo League sevens will kick off next week in Milebush, eight Mayo League teams have entered the competition which will be see each side play 14 league games between next Friday and the end of February on Friday nights, with a cup competition to follow after the end of the league.
Connacht Cup and Shield action this weekend
There are five Mayo teams in an action in the second round of the Connacht Cup this Sunday. Achill Rovers will meet Ballyglass in an all Mayo tie, with Ballyglass hosting Kinvara United, Kiltimagh/Knock United at home to Colga FC, and Killala away to MD Town. In the Connacht Junior shield, Ballinrobe Town will hit the road to Cregmore, while Urlar United will host St John’s. Swinford are away to Medtronic, as are Manulla B to Mervue United B. Mulranny United will host Kiltimagh, and Hollister and Crossmolina meet in an all Mayo clash in Ballina.
