As was reported last week, it is all change in the Mayo League next season thanks to the restructuring of the five divisions into six divisions of eight teams each. The final shake up of the divisions was sorted out last weekend with play off games in the old Premier Division and Division One. In the Premier Division play off Clew Bay United saw off Bangor Hibs 4-1 in Manulla, while in the Division One play off Kiltimagh/Knock United beat Castlebar Celtic B 2-1 in Swinford.
With the new divisions finalised for next season, if you take the Super League as the first division down to League Three which will be the sixth division of Mayo soccer there has been a huge movement of sides through the divisions. Only 17 sides have remained in the same tier of football, with 27 teams being relegated down at least one tier in the divisions, six teams have been promoted up a division and two teams have been relegated down two divisions. In the newly formed Premier B and League One, no side has been promoted into either from its equivalent lower division last year, with 10 of the 18 sides which will compete across those two divisions being relegated into both divisions.
In the old Division Three and Division Two last season, the fourth and fifth tiers of the game in the county, Ballyhaunis Town won the Division Three title and Charlestown Athletic the Division Two title, yet both sides will still be playing in the equivalent tier of football next season.
Eyes turn to provincial competition
With the action in the Mayo League winding down for the winter all eyes turn on the Connacht Cup this weekend, with round two of the competition proper and the first round of the new shield competition. The shield competition has been brought in this year to offer an opportunity for sides which are knocked out in the first round of the competition to keep their chances of winning a trophy alive for a bit longer.
In the third round of the Connacht Cup, the Super League sides will enter the competition so it is up to the lower level sides in Mayo this weekend to fly the flag. The action gets under way at 2pm in all the games bar the Inver United v Partry Athletic game which kicks off at 11.30am. Claremorris which won the Premier Division this year along with Conn Rangers and Killala have a bye into the next round.
Straide and Foxford claim Connaught Gold Cup
The last trophy to be handed out by the Mayo League this season was sorted out last Sunday when Straide and Foxford United claimed the Connaught Gold Cup. The side who wear bright orange shirts were made work for their win after Fahy Rovers held them to a 2-2 draw after extra time forcing the game to penalties where Straide and Foxford won 4-3 to claim their second cup win in three years.
