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Castlebar Celtic’s brave step into the Newstalk FAI League of Ireland A league is ready to roll this weekend when Derry City make the trip south to Celtic Park. Last Friday night Celtic launched their campaign in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre. Declan Kilkelly, manager of the side, praised the club’s decision to enter the competition when he was called on to speak at the launch. “This is a brave, brave, decision by the club to enter this competition. The decision was proved right by just looking at the number of lads we have got back from clubs like Galway United, Mervue United, and Sligo Rovers who are ready to do their part for the club in this exciting venture. Any players, whoever they are, want to play at the highest level they can and now we can offer our players who have come through our own underage system this chance to play League of Ireland football for Castlebar Celtic.” Kilkelly was in charge of the Celtic youth side who claimed the FAI Youth Cup in 2006, took over the club’s senior side midway through last season after the departure of former manager Gavin Dykes who had brought them to an FAI junior cup semi-final, and guided them in their first adventure in the FAI u20 league side in 2007 only to see the club excluded from the 2008 competition because they did not have an A league side. The decision of the club to throw their hat in the ring for the 2009 A league and try to emulate Mervue United which went from junior soccer in Galway to the A league in 2008, and is now a League of Ireland first division club, is a positive one for soccer in Mayo according to chairman of the Mayo League Pat Quigley who said: “I wish Celtic all the best in this challenge, it’s a great step for the club and a very positive one for soccer in Mayo in general. We have played a very small part in this in the Mayo league and we will continue to do whatever we can to help the club in this challenge. This decision offers every lad who starts off playing football with Celtic something to aim for, to play in the League of Ireland.”

EA Sports League of Ireland Cup

Life as a league of Ireland club has had it’s ups and downs for Castlebar Celtic so far this season. Declan Kilkelly’s men have won one of their first two league games away to Drogheda United a much needed win after loosing their first two games of the season. Celtic entered the A League with much fanfare against Derry City a few weeks ago only to go down 2-1 to the Ulster men and they followed that game up with another defeat in the League Cup three days later. The defeat in the league cup was at the hands of this weekends opponents Finn Harps. The Donegal outfit ran out comfortable 4-0 winners after Celtic let them off the hook on two occasions in the first half. That time out Celtic faced the clubs first team while this weekend, it will be the Harps A side that make their way to Celtic Park.

Castlebar Celtic 2

Castlebar Celtic 2

There may be concerns voiced form players and managers about the length of their season in Mayo soccer circles, but the progress of Mayo sides in national and provincial competitions to the latter stages continues, even though they should be in off season. This weekend Westport United are looking to round off their season, or if you look at it another way, kick start it with victory in the Connacht Senior Cup on Saturday. With the Super League only a couple of weeks away United will take on Athenry in Milebush Park on Saturday evening in the final of the eight strong competition for the best of the best in the province.

This weekend sees the Mayo soccer season really kick into life, with the premier division and Down being in action over the last few weeks, the time has now come for the Super League sides to get in on the action. Westport United will be looking to make it three titles in a row this season and following on from their extra time Connacht Senior Cup victory over Athenry last weekend they have been set up perfectly for the new domestic season. The Coveys will start their campaign away to Manulla in Carrowmore on Saturday evening. Padraig Burns and Kevin Cusack’s team should expect a tough encounter from the central Mayo side who are capable of taking on and beating anyone on the day, especially at home. The league’s three promoted sides, Straide and Foxford United, Kilmore, and Fahy Rover all face a tough start to the season.

Castlebar Celtic 3

Four games played, four wins, and 12 points on the table, it has been business as usual for Westport United since the Super League swung back into action in the past number of weeks. The defending champions were always going to be the team that everybody would have to chase, but even as few as four games in they look like no one will be able to step up to the mark to haul them in this season. There nearest challengers at the moment are Ballina Town, a side who really need to deliver the title or some form of silverware this season to give them something to show for their top of the table battling over the past number of seasons. On Sunday the Beleek Park men will host Iorras Aontaithe and if they fail to see off the Erris men they could see Ballina extend their lead at the top of the table from three to six points with only five games gone in the season.

Snugboro United 3