Ballina Town make key additions in an attempt to go one step further
MAYO SUPER LEAGUE PREVIEW
IT’S been so near yet so far for Ballina Town over the past two seasons.
Were it not for the stunning exploits of Ballyheane during the last two years, you could make the case it would be Ballina Town going for the three-in-a-row.
A poor start last season, winning only two of their opening seven league games, left them always chasing the leaders.
Five wins in their next six games put them back in the hunt, and they also claimed silverware after beating Westport United to claim the Westaro Cup, but a draw away to Ballyheane and a loss at home to Castlebar Celtic effectively ended their chances of a first league title since 2018.
For Benny Lavelle, last season’s top scorer in the Super League with 24 goals, the aim for the season is simple.
“Our aim is trying to win the league. Hopefully, we can go one step further than last year.
“It’s always our aim. It has to be.”
ADDITIONS
Following Mark Beattie’s departure from the Ballina Town hotseat, the club appointed former Finn Harps first team coach Alan Henry as their new manager.
While the loss of rising star Conor Gorman to Sligo Rovers is a blow, new additions like Sligo Rovers legend Raffaele Cretaro and Oisin Tighe will be a major boost to the squad for the new season and Lavelle has been impressed by the club’s newest signings.
“It’s been good. Oisin has been excellent since he’s come in. We lost Conor Gorman to Sligo so Oisin coming back in was a great replacement. He’s an exciting player to play with and to watch.
“Raff is Raff. He has great experience and he’s great to have around the lads. We all look to Raff. We’ve a strong squad all round.”
Strong squads appear to be littered around the Super League this year and while the aim for Ballina Town is to go one step further, Lavelle expects a very strong league campaign from many sides and wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the promoted sides, Conn Rangers and Crossmolina, to make an impact like Kiltimagh/Knock did last season.
“I expect (Castlebar) Celtic to be strong. They’ve signed a good few lads. I expect them to be the team to beat this year, to be honest.
“But I think this year compared to other years, not to discount anyone, but there’s five or six teams who look really strong.
“Manulla lost a good few players, some of them to us, but they didn’t surprise me by how they’re doing.
“Kiltimagh/Knock are very strong and they came up last year. Teams coming up this year, you just don’t know what you’re coming up against,” Lavelle concluded.