IN FOCUS Pat Duffy (Eircom U-21 League Development Officer) and Gavin Dykes (Castlebar Celtic U-21 manager) are pictured at the launch of the club’s participation in the Eircom U-21 league last week. Pic: Michael McLaughlin
Celtic willing and able
Preview
Edwin McGreal
SATURDAY next will see another historic step in the history of the game of soccer in Mayo when Castlebar Celtic become the first club team to enter the eircom League when their U-21 side take their bow against Monaghan United at Celtic Park.
Following on from last month’s FAI Youth (U-18) Cup success, Celtic have in front of them a further challenge which should involve many of that side along with a good number of players overage for that grade but underage here.
Gavin Dykes will manage the side while club stalwart Fergie McEllin will act as co-ordinator, looking after much of the logistics on match-day and in the run up to games.
McEllin was involved in the first ever Mayo side to compete as this level when he managed the Mayo League U-21 team in their opening two seasons in 2002 and 2003 and the well-known Celtic official is eagerly looking forward to his club taking part.
“It’s really going to be a proud day for the club, being the first club from Mayo to enter. There’s a good buzz around the place about the team. The club want to progress and we are not strong enough to enter the Senior League yet.
“Down the line hopefully we might be in a position where we can enter the Senior League but this is an ideal opportunity for the club and everyone is looking forward to it,” added McEllin.
Players who Celtic will be able to call on from the junior panel include Ronan O’Boyle, John Maughan, Simon Kelly, Rory Irwin, Niall O’Hara, Paul Walsh and Emmett Feeney although both Maughan and Kelly will be out injured on Saturday.
Most of the U-18 squad will be available for this competition but, in the short-term, there are injury worries over Ger McDonagh, Shane Hynes, Darren Gavin, Gary Price and Neil Douglas.
Players underage for this competition will be able to play both for Celtic in this competition and for the club in the Mayo League. It will be different for overage players though.
There is an allowance made for playing overage players; a team may have three outfield overage players and an overage goalkeeper on the field at any one time. However, if an overage player plays five or more U-21 games, he automatically becomes ineligible for junior.
Celtic hope to play most of their games midweek to avoid clashes with their Super League side. It is something that McEllin must cater for in his role.
“Take this weekend, we were supposed to play Claremorris on Saturday in the Super League but our U-21 opponents, Monaghan, said they couldn’t play midweek. The Mayo League said if we gave them ten days notice about an U-21 game, they would try to switch our Super League game to the Thursday.
“We’re hoping most of the teams will be able to play us on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and those games where we can’t play on those days, we’ll be getting onto the Mayo League to try to switch the Super League to the Thursday.”
Fixture
Eircom U-21 League
Castlebar Celtic v
Monaghan United
Saturday, June 23 at 5pm,
Celtic Park, Castlebar
