Mayo champions Castlebar Celtic narrow gap with Conn Rangers win

ELVERYS SPORTS SUPER LEAGUE

Castlebar Celtic 3

F Mahon 48, E Hughes 62, L Kelly 76

Conn Rangers 0

In Castlebar

No club captain? No top scorer? No manager?

No problem.

It’s a sign of champions when a team is able to win so thoroughly when dealing from a depleted hand, and the Mayo champions were able to do just that on Thursday night when they put three goals past Conn Rangers to eat up the ground on table-toppers Westport United.

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The dogged Rangers side held off the home side for 48 minutes, but when Fionn Mahon rattled their net from distance, he rattled their resolve as well.

An injury to Tadhg O’Sullivan reduced the threadbare visitors to ten men for a stretch, and they buckled under the pressure. A fine team move ensured an Eoghan Hughes effort made it two-nil, and from there it was a canter, before sub Luke Kelly rounded the keeper to round off a memorable win

Celtic set out to cause headaches for the travelling soldiers, and did so within the first 30 seconds, when a daisy-cutter from Dylan Edwards was tipped behind. Seven minutes later, Mark Cunningham had the ball turned in from close range, but not before offside was called.

Cunningham was the stand-in captain for the night, with Iosaph O’Reilly unavailable. Unavailability was the theme of the day, with the reigning champions depleted on the pitch as well as on the sideline, with manager Stevie Gavin observing a touchline ban.

Conn Rangers were also heavily depleted and travelled to the county town with the bare bones to select from.

They cut their cloth to suit, and aimed to make life difficult for the Hoops. They did so to decent effect, and chances were thin on the ground.

The aforementioned Cunningham was a constant threat marauding down the right, and his 20th-minute cross to the head of Edwards was pinpoint. Unfortunately for the men from Celtic Park, his header was slightly off target.

Cathal Coyne’s fast-thinking from a quick free kick had Rangers at sixes and sevens, and his interplay with Cunningham sent Lerlah Hay through.

His shot was powerful, and Brian McMahon did well to repel it.

There were few times where the title challengers felt the force of the guests, and when Conn Rangers got their chance it was potentially the best of the half.

After 35 minutes, Eoin Prendergast’s effort ricocheted off a Celtic back and into the path of Tadhg O’Sullivan. The young attacker’s shot certainly didn’t lack venom.

Stefan Hester reacted well to ensure his goal wasn’t breached.

Three minutes after the changeover, the Celtic pressure told. Hughes held the ball up for Mahon, who unleashed a beautiful effort to breach McMahon’s net.

Their next real attempt also bore fruit. Edwards played Mark Howley down the line. His fizzed ball across the face of goal was well met by Hughes, who gave his side more breathing room.

Celtic kept the pressure on, and a Hay rasper forced a fantastic diving save from McMahon. However, the number one couldn’t keep the ball out after 77 minutes, when Cunningham got a well-deserved assist.

His through ball found substitute Kelly, who rounded the net-minder to find the target.

The comprehensive win now means the gap is narrowed to the minimum at the summit, and the Covies will be looking over their shoulders at a team sprinting for the finish line.

A full report, plus reaction, will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.