How super is Mayo’s top league?

How super is Mayo’s top league?


Feature
Colin McDonagh

WESTPORT United were formally presented with the Super League trophy on Saturday night, but the destination of this year’s title has been clear for months.
United were confirmed as champions after Castlebar Celtic’s  2-2 draw with Manulla. It marked the start of a fantastic weekend for the Covies, who beat Ballina Town in the FCS Cup final at Milebush Park the following day.
It’s the first time for four years that the cup will reside by the banks of the Carrowbeg River. United have now won the Connacht Cup, Super League and divisional cup in the space of three months, and have reached the final of the Connacht Gold Cup, where they will play Castlebar Celtic B.
So what do those involved make of the 2012 season? Is there anything that can improve Mayo’s elite league? And what do they think about their own team’s performance? The Mayo News has been canvassing opinion among all eight clubs.

Michael Duffy
(Ballina Town)
“WE’VE had great wins over Castlebar Celtic and Westport, but the penalty loss to Westport in the quarter-final of the Connacht Gold Cup was hard to take. Even the FCS Cup final we thought we’d grind out a result, especially when they went down to 10 men. But fair play to Westport, they went and did what they had to do. I thought they were excellent.
“We know we’re good enough to win the league, but mistakes and discipline have cost us I think. But the club here have a great committee and hopefully we can push on next year.
“In terms of the Super League itself, I believe it’s too short. As soon as you’re building up a bit of form the season is over. From talking to some of the guys with the Irish Junior squad, only three counties use a summer league.”

Declan Kilkelly
(Castlebar Celtic)
“THE quality isn’t there anymore. Realistically I feel we need to go back to a winter league for the good of the game. A lot of players are caught between two minds, to play Gaelic football or soccer. Having a winter league would ensure there wouldn’t be any clashes and all the best players would be available.
“We lost our opening game to Westport and from then on it was always going to be a struggle. The league was over after six games to be honest.
“We’re building for the Connacht and FAI cups now and we’ve tried to blend in players along the way, but overall its been a disappointing league.”

Michael Hutton
(Claremorris)
“WE’RE disappointed that we weren’t challengers when we compare it to last season. We struggled to have a full team available and we struggled for consistency. Our high point was the game against Castlebar Celtic but the draws with Manulla and S&F were low points. Our young players have done well and the club must stay strong with younger players.
“I’d love to see a winter league set up because not as many players would be missing. It would tie in nicely with the cup competitions also. But that has its plusses and its negatives too.”

John Beckett
(Fahy Rovers)
“THE league has been a one-horse race all year. Westport have been the best team by a proverbial mile. They are streets ahead of everybody else.
“To be honest I thought we have under-performed … a lot of decisions went against us during the season. Our low point came with the injury to Morgan O’Flaherty. He was playing very well at the time and to lose him was a massive blow.
“I believe the Super League should be extended to ten or 12 teams. This year’s league was over before the halfway point. The Mayo League were lucky last year as all the divisions went to the wire. There is not much difference between our summers and winters so maybe a winter league could be arranged. It’s an area up for debate surely.”

Michael S Togher
(Iorras Aontaithe)
“I BELIEVE this has been the worst year of football since they brought in the Super League. A league shouldn’t be over after six games. I think soccer is at an all-time low in Mayo.
“The economy has hampered us badly too. For example, we had 13 players last year for the Connacht Gold Cup final, and this year there were only four available for selection. That’s down to emigration, but the lads have done extraordinarily well this season, especially with the resources available to them.
“All credit to Westport though. They have been a class above everyone else. They are a great club and they are a great bunch of lads. Kieran [Mulchrone] and James [Fahy] have done an exceptional job.”

Mossy Lally
(Manulla)
“WE knew we wouldn’t be challenging for the title at the start of the year. Our goal was to stay in the Super League … people might say that lacks ambition, but we have to be realistic. Sligo Rovers will never win the Champions League, for example.
“Emigration has led to a lack of quality in the league I feel. A few years back lads could be working three days a week and would have all the time in the world. It’s different now, but I cannot fault our lads. Their attitude has been superb”.

James Larkin
(Straide and Foxford United)
“WESTPORT United blazed a trail behind them that nobody could follow. They have run away with the league and the competition has gone from the top half of the league.
“We have played well and apart from last weekend we’ve only been beaten by the odd goal. It was always going to be a struggle, but we’re a good footballing team. I feel our attitude and fitness have let us down at times. Every game we play at the bottom is important.
“Our cup run was our silver lining. We’re normally classed as a league team but it seems that we’re becoming a cup team.”

Kieran Mulchrone
(Westport United)
“TO be honest, I haven’t got a chance to think about the league. It’s been all go, especially with Connacht Cup success and trying to get the lads ready for the Super League.
“If you had told me that when we took over we would have won the Connacht Cup I wouldn’t have believed you. In terms of the Super League we’re obviously very happy. Our aim now is to win the Connacht Gold Cup and hopefully we can achieve that.”