1996/99
For up to date news visit the Connaught Telegraph website.
Pristine pitch creates the right impression
27 May 1998
INTERNATIONAL MATCH AT MILEBUSH DRAWS RECORD CROWD
Tom Kelly Reports
The big talking point was the pitch. Lawrie McMenemy, the Northern Ireland manager who has seen it all in football, suggested rolling it up and taking it back to England with him. Others believed the surface was probably more suitable for snooker than football.
For the many people in the 4,000 crowd who had never been at Milebush Park in Castlebar before last Friday's under-21 international match between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, first impressions meant everything.
If the Mayo Association Football League has reached a stage where it owns the invaluable resource of playing pitch of such immaculate quality, then surely it is going in the right direction.
It is a huge incentive for young players to know there is a fitting stage on which to display their talents on days of finals and inter-league matches.
But how was the carpet effect achieved? Care, attention, patience and knowledgeable advice.
The Mayo League hired the expertise of Dubliner Ian McMullen, the proprietor of Sportsground and Field Services Limited, Clontarf, following the inaugural F.A.I. (Under-17) interprovincial series in March, 1997, when the pitch was criticised by leading Irish soccer lights such as Brian Kerr and Ian Evans.
They pointed out, much to the irritation of the Mayo League, that the grass was 'too long along the wings.' The league had not been able to cut the grass during the week of the interprovincial games because heavy rains had softened the surface.
At that time, the league used a tractor-powered mower, a practise later described by Ian McMullen as disastrous.
McMullen, who earned a reputation for his work on the Croke Park pitch, prescribed a special treatment for the Milebush surface.
But the key factor in achieving of the best results was the purchase, from McMullen's company, of a sophisticated roller mower, the type used at all Premiership grounds in England.
FREQUENT CUTTING
The machine enabled the FÁS-hired ground staff at Milebush to cut the grass up to three to four times a week all year round, without causing damage to the surface in the way a tractor had done.
The frequent cutting also stimulated better growth, and spectacular improvements in the pitch were accomplished within a few months.
The cost involved was not burdensome by any means. But for an organisation paying off a significant mortgage on the existing facilities, the investment was not made without due consideration.
It can now be said, without fear of contradiction, it was the best money the league ever spent.
Mayo has a football ground suitable to host international football on a consistent basis, and the next objective is securing the go-ahead from the F.A.I. to stage a senior B international next year or the year after that.
The Mayo League is also facing up to the need to provide a spectator stand on the site.
A design has been drawn up for a facility with 800 seats, and this will form part of an application to the Department of Sport and the F.A.I. in the months ahead.
Funding is also being sought for a drainage system on the second Milebush Park.
The tarmacking of the carpark is viewed as a priority in the long term.
Mayo football won a lot of new friends on Friday evening, even if the game did not entirely live up to expectations.
A crowd estimated at 4,000 turned out to see Northern Ireland cause an upset by lifting the President's (Pat Quigley) Cup with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the deciding match in the Triangular (Under-21) Tournament.
It is understood to be the biggest attendance ever at a soccer match in the county, and a 53rd minute goal by Norwich City's Adrian Coote proved decisive.
The full details of the game were adequately covered in Saturday's national newspapers, and I don't intend giving another account here.
HISTORIC DAY
But it deserves to be said that, on an historic day for the island of Ireland, nobody begrudged the North their sweet success.
I spent quite a bit of time with the North of Ireland officials and players on Friday afternoon, and I was left with a lasting impression of their immense love for football and life in general.
They thoroughly enjoyed their stay at Knockranny Hotel in Westport, and were overwhelmed by the scenery and local hospitality.
They were very appreciative of the assistance given to them by members of Ballyglass Football Club who put their facilities at the team's disposal.
By the same token, the members of the Irish squad, who stayed in the Travellers Friend Hotel, found Castlebar very much to their liking, and they found the training ground at Manulla to be of the highest standard.
The Manulla pitch, of course, has also been touched by the magic of Ian McMullen.
GOOD VIBES
So, to put it in a nutshell, the vibes were good all round.
Before the game, Mr. Blackie Gavin, chairman, Castlebar Urban Council, presented an Address of Welcome to the visiting Football Association of Ireland and Irish F.A. parties.
The occasion was attended by many local dignitaries.
They included EU Commissioner Mr. Padraig Flynn; Mr. Pat Kilbane, chairman, Mayo County Council; Chief Superintendent John Carey; Mr. Michael Ring, T.D; Mr. Enda Kenny, T.D.; Senator Paddy Burke; Mr. Terry McCole, chairman, Ballina Urban Council; Mr. Pat Jennings, president, Castlebar Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Sean Hannick, Mayoman of the Year; Councillor Al McDonnell, Councillor Johnny Mee; Councillor Sean Bourke; Mr. P.J. McGrath, chairman, Mayo GAA Board, Mr. Sean Feeney, secretary, Mayo GAA Board, Mr. Aiden Brennan, P.R.O., Mayo GAA Board, Mr. Donagh Barry, president, Castlebar Rugby Club; and Fr. Paddy Curran, P.P., Castlebar.
All Mayo League club were represented by their secretary and chairman, while members of the Connaught F.A., Connaught Senior League, Roscommon F.A. and Galway F.A. were also in attendance.
The Mayo League paid tribute to everybody who helped make the match such a success, particularly O'Hara's of Foxford (Main sponsors), Rehab Catering, Castlebar Concert Band, NCF, Padraig Carney of Super Valu, Philip McManamon Haulier, Order of Malta, John Feeney of Chadwick's, Dr. Kieran O'Reilly, the FAS staff under supervisor Martin Roughneen and senior groundsman John Lavelle, Frank McDonald of PA systems, MWRfm, who transmitted the match live to their listeners via Willie McNeely, all the members of the local Press, Padraig Cresham and Ivan Dunne of Telecom Eireann, the printing staff of the Connaught Telegraph and Cashins, and the staff of the F.A.I.
A special word of thanks is also due to the Superintendent Joe Staunton, Sergeant Jim O'Connor and all the Gardai on duty during their game, as well as Seamus Murphy, Chief Fire Officer.
Friday, May 22nd, 1998, will be remembered as one of the most famous dates in the local game for all the right reasons.
