Search Results for 'Mayo League'

Neither Iorras Aontaithe nor Westport United took the easy road into the last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup last weekend. The two remaining Mayo sides in the competition were made to sweat it out right until the end, with Iorras having to endure the dreaded lottery of penalties to book their place in the next round. Indeed both sides had to come from behind in their games, Erris trailed Dublin Bus by 2-0 just before half time in their encounter in Carnenash.

The Mayo league made their mark last weekend when they comprehensively beat the United Churches Football League in the last eight of the Oscar Traynor Trophy by 3-0. Setting up a February 15 clash with Athletic Union League in the semi-final at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh. In horrendous weather conditions the Mayo League side were comfortable winners leading the game 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from Westport United’s Martin Geraghty and Castlebar Celtic’s Sean McHale. The final nail in the UCL coffin was drilled home by Stevie Gavin from the penalty spot with time almost up.

It was a mixed weekend for Mayo sides in last weekend’s FAI Junior Cup, with Iorras Aontaithe breaking through to the seventh round of the cup after a five goal thriller, while Westport had to suffer the heartbreak of going out on penalties 8-7 to St Peter’s from Athlone after a 2-2 draw. Westport had to come back from going behind twice to keep the tie alive in what was an end to end contest. The unlucky man was Westport centre half Martin Geraghty whose effort failed to bustle the back of the net with the 15th spot kick of the shoot out.

This Sunday afternoon sees the Mayo League take to the field in the semi final of the Oscar Traynor Cup in the lion’s den of the AUL complex in Clonshaugh, Dublin. Their opposition, the much fancied Athletic Union League, are the favourites to lift the cup this year. Mayo manager Declan Kilkelly was confident going in to the game when he spoke to the Mayo Advertiser earlier this week. “We have a great squad here and if we play to the maximum of our potential, we have a great chance of making the final.” The Mayo side had a warm up game last week with a charity match against Iorras Aontaithe in Carne, which Mayo won 3-2, which Kilkelly believed to be a “great bonding session for the lads and preparation for this weekends challenge.”

“Even when we play away in Mayo we have to travel an hour and half to most places, but this is a bit further all right.” Iorras Aontaithe manager Eric Reilly jested about his side’s trip down the country this weekend in the FAI Junior Cup, the 250 plus mile down from their home in Carne Nash to south Cork and their opponents Kinsale.

Western Lakes

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.”

Westport United made the most of Ballina Town’s slip up at the weekend to regain poll position in the Elverys Sports Super League. Westport saw off Fahy Rovers 4-3, while the men from north Mayo were held to a 1-1 draw by a Ballyheane side who ran into their own problems this week when the Mayo league awarded the points from a postponed game against them.

It is with deep sadness and profound loss that we mourn the passing of our dear friend and colleague in the football world, Liam McEntee, at such a young age. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his wife Samantha, daughter Jennifer and sons Conor and Ciaran. Our sympathies are also offered to Liam’s father, brothers, sisters, and extended family members and friends.

It has been changing times in Mayo over the past few years and one person who has seen more change than most has been Brendan Kenny. The Ballina Town manager only took over the post on a part time basis until a new boss was to be appointed a couple of years ago, but he has hung on in there. His first few months in charge saw Town go on a long journey to the latter stages of FAI Junior Cup. This season his north Mayo charges have the Super League in their grasp thanks to a comfortable win over Manulla last weekend. Win their last league game of the season and the deal is done, nothing the chasing Westport United men can do about it.