A clash of tradition and ambition as Castlebar Celtic seek to retain Connacht Cup
by Caoimhín Rowland
It’s a clash of tradition versus ambition in this weekend’s Connacht Junior Cup final as Castlebar Celtic, chasing their 11th provincial crown, face a talented and unbeaten in the league Mervue United side in what promises to be a compelling decider in Headford today (k.o. 3 p.m.).
Celtic, marshalled by the meticulous and ever-focused Stevie Gavin, arrive with the weight of history behind them but perhaps a lighter weight of expectation too after last season’s ‘La Decima’ victory.
For all their dominance in the Elverys Sport Super League and a flawless Connacht Cup campaign to date, there is little sense of complacency in the Hoops camp.
This is a group that knows how quickly success can turn sour if focus slips. Gavin and Declan Flynn will surely leave no stone unturned in their bid to keep their players grounded and guarded against a Mervue side that has an abundance of youth, pedigree, and buckets of League of Ireland experience.
Castlebar Celtic’s form this season speaks volumes. Sitting second in the Elverys Sport Super League but with two games in hand, they have banged in 29 goals while conceding just one.
That defensive solidity, thanks to ‘keeper Stefen Hester, centre-halves Cathal Coyne and Ioseph O’Reilly are as impressive as their attacking flair.
Add in the full-back play of the talented Brian Walsh and the tenacious Mark Cunningham, a former Mervue United player in his youth, and you can see the bedrock to Celtic’s success.
Much of the spotlight will inevitably fall on Celtic’s frontline, with Paul Walsh and Luke Kelly both returning to the fore at just the right time.
Walsh looks to be returning to his best following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but it’s Kelly who has lit up the Connacht Cup this season. Five goals in four games from the wing tell only part of the story.
His movement, intelligence in tight areas, and clinical finishing make him one of the most feared attacking threats in the west. Mervue will have circled his name in red.
With captain Jordan Loftus a fitness doubt after missing Celtic’s last two outings, the leadership and guile of the returning duo will be all the more vital.
The same can be said for the midfield trio of Johnnie Cocozza, Dylan Edwards and Oran Groarke.
While Cocozza and Edwards have been consistently lauded for their creativity and control, Groarke’s recent form has arguably been the most influential of the three, driving Celtic forward with purpose and tenacity at a time when the margins are at their finest while scanning for any defensive threats, as former Spanish manager Vicente Del Bosque famously said, you watch the game, you won’t see Busquets; watch Busquets, you see the whole game.
The same can be said for Groarke who is revelling in this Celtic side and is vitally important to how they play.
Yet for all the pedigree in Celtic’s camp, Mervue United will arrive unbeaten and unbothered by the Mayo outfit’s reputation.
The Galway side, under the guidance of Ollie Neary and Damian Brennan, have built a formidable squad, youthful in age but seasoned by experience at underage national level, where Neary and Brennan managed them to national titles.
The likes of Luke O’Gorman and Cody McCann bring energy and dynamism to the midfield, while the attacking threat is spearheaded by the in-form Enda Curran, only recently released from League of Ireland First Division side Treaty United.
Curran, who notched a hat-trick in Mervue’s latest demolition of Athenry in the league, has become something of a talisman for the men in maroon.
With support from Jason Molloy, Lewis Waweru and Charlie Concannon, who all found the net in that same fixture, Mervue have the firepower to trouble any backline, no matter how tight.
Celtic’s defenders will need to be wary of McCann in particular, whose pace and directness on the right flank could prove a decisive outlet.
It’s those small matchups, McCann vs Brian Walsh or Cunningham, Curran vs Ioseph O’Reilly or Coyne that could ultimately tilt the balance in a final expected to be cagey early on but frantic by the end.
A slight worry for Mervue is the fitness of Aaron Neary, son of manager Ollie and a standout performer en route to the final. His availability remains unclear, and any absence would be greatly felt.
For both sides, the stakes are significant beyond silverware. Mervue are bidding for their eighth Connacht title, their last coming in 2018, while Celtic are not just eyeing number 11, but back-to-back cup triumphs for the first time since the late 1980s.
That sense of history, of emulating teams of old, will not be lost on the men in the Castlebar Celtic dressing room.
With both teams unbeaten in their respective leagues, this is a meeting of Connacht’s best, a heavyweight clash in junior football terms.
Celtic, seasoned and savvy, know what it takes to lift trophies. Mervue United, full of running and belief, won’t fear the occasion.
Verdict: Castlebar Celtic — just.