Mayo League One promotion race to be serious battle
KILLEEN SPORTS GROUND LEAGUE ONE PREVIEW
LIKE the divisions above them, Killeen Sports Ground League One looks set to be fiercely competitive this year.
Achill Rovers, Hollister, Killala and the B teams from Ballyheane, Castlebar Celtic, Claremorris, Conn Rangers and Manulla will be the eight teams fighting it out, and you can certainly make a case for half the division or more to be among those looking to be in among the Premier League sides in 2024.
A strong case can be made for Manulla B, who finished third behind last season’s champions Ballinrobe Town and Kilmore, to be the favourites. They finished a point off Kilmore in third and were beaten in both the Tonra Cup semi-finals and Premier Cup final by Ballinrobe Town in penalty shootout epics. Like many B teams, development of players to the A team is a critical part of it but they also have their own targets.
“Last year we had a very good season. We were very happy with it. The biggest success of it all was we got to develop six young players,” said Manulla B manager Damien Joyce.
“The standard (of the Premier Cup final) was very high for two League One teams in it. It was good football and nip and tuck all the way. We were disappointed the way we lost it after missing a few chances but we move on.
“Promotion is the aim and to get back into the Premier League. We want to develop more lads through the system and gain a bit of Super League football before the season is out.”
DEVELOPMENT
One club who have that down to a tee is Ballyheane, which has seen the likes of Darragh Duffy, Liam and Rory Morris and Shea McAtamney all establish themselves in the Super League side.
The Ballyheane B team were promoted from League Two and also beat Partry Athletic to win the McDonnell Cup last season. Their manager, Sean Kelly, reflected on a ‘fantastic’ 2022 for his side.
“We had a fantastic year. At the start we were looking to just be competitive. As it went on, we started winning more games, won the cup and (finished) second behind a strong Castlebar Celtic B team. Getting promoted for our team was a big success.
“In my opinion, the B team is used as a feeder team for the A team. I get on very well with Ashley Stevenson, the first team manager, and we have training sessions together. It turned out that the B team players who progressed into the first team were very important to help that team retain the Super League title. It couldn’t have gone any better for us.”
As to their own expectations this season, Kelly said: “We’ve a very young squad, even younger than last year. We’ll be looking at the likes of Alan Tuffy, the most senior player we have, to try and bring these young players on. We want to be competitive again. We’re under no illusions with Celtic B, Claremorris B, away to Achill. It’s a strong league and we’re just looking to be competitive.”
Another side with much strength is Castlebar Celtic B. They are going up as League Two champions and have former Castlebar Celtic and Snugboro United player Ronan McTigue as their new manager.
Although his first game in charge ended in a heavy 7-2 defeat to Conn Rangers B, they bounced back well last weekend with a 5-0 win over Ballyvary Blue Bombers.
Some of McTigue’s former Snugboro team-mates, Jason Ormsby and Dylan Felle, have joined Celtic B and he has experienced players like Nicky Canning, Cillian McNeela and Diarmuid Aherne at his disposal.
“I’m working with a great bunch of talented and experienced players. It’s a great club and there’s a great committee behind us. We’re looking forward to the season.
“It’s so hard to pick a squad of 18, never mind 11. The whole team is united together and I couldn’t ask for more from the lads from day one.”
“Last year was great. It was bit of a transition as we brought in a lot of Under 21s,” said Celtic B defender Ciaran Gavin. “For five of six lads, it was their first taste of league football so to go on and hit the ground running was really good for us. Our aim was to win the league. We had a few slip-ups but we managed to click and we had two huge additions in Liam Whyte and Ruairi Nevin.”
“The target is win every game we play,” said coach Daire Duffy. “We’ve still a lot of work to do, but the talent and attitude in the squad is there. I suppose we take each game as it comes. There’s a good mix of youth and experience, young lads like Adam Blake, Dylan Howley, Paddy Hopkins and Euan McGowan. There’s a really good mix.”