The action in the Mayo League proper will get under way next Saturday evening, April 11, when the four divisions in the league kick off for the 2015 season.
But on Saturday evening treble winners, Westport United, will take on Castlebar Celtic in the now annual season curtain raiser, the Mayo League Charity Shield. Both sides were last in action three weeks ago when they both exited the Connacht Junior Cup at the fourth round stage, with Celtic losing on penalties to Galway Hibs after a 1-1 draw, while Westport United lost 3-2 to Sligo outfit City United in Sligo. Those losses brought both side’s long seasons to an end. It was also the last game in which James Fahy and Kieran Mulchrone took charge of Westport United, with the duo stepping down from the position after the game after four seasons in the hot-seat. In those four seasons Westport United picked up two Super League titles, three Mayo FA Cups, three divisional cups, and one Connacht Junior Cup, leaving two very big pairs of shoes to fill for whoever takes over the side. The team are currently being looked after on a temporary basis by former players Vinny O’Malley and Alan McLoughlin. On Saturday evening they will get a chance to show it is business as usual when they take on Stevie Gavin’s Celtic side who will be looking to get some early season bragging rights over their near neighbours at the start of the new Mayo League season.
Ballyheane exit Connacht Junior Cup
The Mayo interest in the 2015 Connacht Junior Cup was whittled down a little bit more last weekend, when a brave Ballyheane side exited the competition at the fifth round stage. They faced a tough task against a Mervue United side who are currently in first place in the top division of junior football in Galway, but Ballyheane did not go down without a fight.
The hosts, with a number of players who have League of Ireland experience, took the lead through Eoin Concannon nine minutes in, but Ballyheane hit back three minutes later with Arek Tobiaz dinking the ball over the Mervue keeper to the back of the net. Ballyheane conceded again right on the stroke of half-time when Concannon grabbed his second of the game, and despite their best efforts in the second-half Ballyheane could not grab an equaliser. Manulla will look to keep the Mayo League flag flying in the competition when they take on Corrib Celtic in Carramore on Sunday week in their own fifth round clash in the competition.
Celtic women face rebel challenge
Castlebar Celtic women’s team will face into the penultimate scheduled round of games in this year’s Women’s National League on Saturday evening in Celtic Park, when they take on Cork City FC at 5pm. Celtic, who are in fifth place in the seven team division, will hope that they can take three points off the bottom placed side from the country’s second city as they go looking for their fifth win in the league this season. Celtic are currently four points ahead of fellow Connacht rivals Galway WFC in the standings and four points behind Peamount United in fourth place in the table. Celtic have one more scheduled game to go this season with a trip to Eamonn Deacy Park against Galway WFC completing the scheduled league season on Sunday April 19.
