10 September 1997
New Boys Manulla add to Mayo Interest in
Provincial Series
Established trend unlikely to be buckled
Top football writer Tom Kelly gives his verdict on the eve of the new Connaught Senior League season
The Galway stranglehold on the Connaught Senior League championship title is unlikely to be broken this season. Only four times in the 17-year history of the series has the crown rested outside the city of the tribes. It came twice to Mayo (Castlebar Celtic in 1989 and Straide & Foxford in 1995) and Sligo Rovers had the pleasure of its company on two occasions.
I cannot see the trend of Galway dominance being upset in the 1997/98 season, and I expect the winners to be either Mervue United, the defending champions, or Salthill Devon.
A total of 12 teams are taking part in this season's campaign. Manulla are the newcomers to the league, while Gentex have returned after a season in the wilderness.
The league's administrators have rightly put their foot down by insisting that University College Galway start their campaign at the same time as everybody else. Traditionally, they were permitted a month's grace to facilitate students returning to college. But the courtesy infuriated other clubs who believed U.C.G. were being given an unfair advantage. What other league in the world would allow one of its members such an exemption?
The big question, from a Mayo point of view, concerns how Manulla will perform. They will do quite well, but they won't be in the final shake-up come next March or April.
Mayo's best bet for glory is Straide & Foxford, the side with the most effective defence last season, conceding just 18 goals in 20 league matches. In comparison, Mayo's two other representatives were not at the races.
Castlebar Celtic conceded 43 goals and finished in a creditable enough sixth place with 27 points while Ballina Town let in 37 goals as they secured 19 points to finish third from the bottom of the table.
The point being made is that a team cannot expect to get anywhere in the senior league without a solid defence, and it will be very interesting to see how Manulla perform in that regard.
Castlebar Celtic will do much better this season under disciplinarian Mick McDonagh, while Ballina Town will struggle to improve their lowly position.
