ANALYSIS: A look at every Super League side as Mayo soccer primed to return

THE Mayo League season finally gets underway next weekend, with ten teams battling for the Super League title, under a new format.

The league will be split into two sections after everyone plays one another once. After that the top five will have two battles with one another with the title at stake.

The bottom five at the halfway stage, will also player each other twice, with the bottom club definitely relegated.

The second from bottom club could be relegated too, either automatically or through a play-off depending on what happens in the division below. 

Castlebar Celtic remain favourites to retain the Elvery’s Super League title that they have won for the past three seasons, but many commentators feel that key departures from Celtic Park could narrow the gap at the top and possibly open the door for Westport United.

Celtic will be without Cathal Coyne, Dylan Edwards, Jordan Loftus and Mark Howley for the new season, with Jason Hunt and Niall Brennan on the injury list.

They went through last season unbeaten in the league and they know how to win tight games.

But the champions look a bit stretched at the back this season and Loftus and Edwards especially, are huge losses.

THE CONTENDERS

WESTPORT have a new manager coming in, in a few weeks.

Jason McCartney is currently firing in the goals for Castlerea Celtic, and when the season finishes there, the 39-year-old will be taking the Westport reins.

They seem best positioned to challenge Celtic. They are a great footballing side, with most of their squad under 21.

They were physically a bit light in midfield last season, and that could be an issue this season, unless the new manager brings someone in to strengthen that area.

It will be a big ask for Glenhest Rovers to equal or better, their best ever Super League performance, which came last season when they finished third.

With the league splitting into two sections after the first round of games is completed, the key for Glenhest will be to be in the top section.

They have an excellent marksman in Paddy Mulchrone and with the highly talented Connor McCarthy beside him, they will be a threat.

Mick Duffy has pulled off a major coup by signing David Cawley for Ballina Town

Cawley has been there and done it all in the League of Ireland, with Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps, and will bring-on Ballina.

Whether he will bring them on enough to challenge for the title remains to be seen, but Ballina hope to have Jamie Cawley back, after his winter in the Galway League.

It looks like they will lose talented midfielder, Óisin Tighe, but most observers expect them to improve on last season’s fourth place.

TOP HALF

Despite a good start last year, Conn Rangers only managed fifth.

They had a small squad, spreading their players between three teams in the league, and were without some key players while others were out with long-term injuries.

Evan Reape and Colm Ruttledge are back from the US but they have lost Michael Lavin to Sligo GAA, while JP Collins has signed for Mayo FC’s Under 20s and Raff Cretaro hasn’t signed yet.

Rangers will be trying to stay in the top half when the cut is made, and see how they get on, from there. 

Ballyheane were sixth last year, but will be stronger this year with the return of Liam Irwin in midfield. Jack Tuffy and Cillian Redmond will be back too, and the younger players who came in last season, will have a year’s experience behind them for this campaign.

They’ll be challenging to get into the top half at the break, and many believe they will be pushing for a spot in the top two at the end of the season.

Ballinrobe Town have two seasons behind them now and finished seventh last year after a few scares along the way.

It is difficult to see them making the top half and could find themselves under pressure as the season goes on.

They have some fine players but on-field naivety cost them points in the past and they will have to learn quickly to avoid another worrying few weeks towards the end of the season.

SURVIVAL

Manulla have a fine team if they can get them all on the pitch at the one time.

They managed that towards the end of last season finishing eighth just above the drop zone, but they always seem to struggle to keep a consistent side.

They’re likely to find it hard to make the top half and could get sucked in to a survival battle again this year.

Ballyglass are one of the new comers to the Super League, and have no permanent manager in place after the departure of David McNicholas at the end of last season.

This is hardly the ideal preparation for such a big step-up, but on their day Ballyglass can match anyone. The question is, will they have enough on-days, to stay out of trouble.

Claremorris beat Ballyhaunis in the play-off last season, to claim a place back in the Super League.

They have struggled in this division in recent seasons with basically the same squad and 2026 could be another tough season for them.

They have lost their captain, Calvin Joyce to long-term injury which won’t help, but they have a couple of new players coming in, but they could find this season a long one.