Back with a Bang-or! Hibs set their sights on the future after Mayo League return

With a 6-0 win on their travels away to Ballyvary Blue Bombers 'B', Bangor Hibs may have title aspirations on their mind following their return to the Mayo Football League.

The dreams were renewed, the white jerseys sparkling new and adorned with the sponsorship of Kilker Construction but some of the faces were familiar. Brian McHale rolled back the years and netted four goals and Kyle Holmes helped himself to a brace.

Success may be coming further afield for Hibs as well with their Masters team neck and neck with Partry Athletic at the top of the table coming in the closing weeks of the season.

But for those involved with the running of the renewed club, it is about so much more than the McDonnell Construction League Two and the Westaro Masters Division Three titles. “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over,” once quipped Conor McGregor. For Bangor Hibs, taking over would be a bonus. It is more important to them that there is a Bangor Hibs Football Club for local soccer heads young and old to compete with in the years to come.

About five years ago, Bangor Hibs exited the Mayo Football League in a move universally regarded as a real pity in the local soccer scene. It was 2019, the end of a decade where Hibs had won two League One titles (in 2011 and 2015) and then suddenly, they were gone.

At the recent launch of the Umbro-Mayo Football League deal, League Chairman Seamus Hughes said they felt a connection to the iconic sports brand because they were founded following a conversation between two brothers at their local bar: much like so many of Mayo’s local teams in years gone by. Bangor Hibs's return began in a similar fashion and with a walk down memory lane.

At the recent League Two launch night, Bangor Hibs A team manager Johnny Nicholl told the Western People how Hibs started again from scratch.

“There was a tournament on the astro down at Bangor Hibs and a load of people came up for it. After the tournament was done, we went up to the local and the boys were reminiscing about the days they had with Bangor Hibs and wanted to get it up and running again.”

“I took it on and we started training one day a week, on a Monday. The numbers showing up started getting ridiculous and then we had to go from Monday to Wednesday and it rolled on for about eight months.”

“It was constant, lads kept turning up and turning up and we knew then that there was something there and a chance of getting the club back.”

There was a good foundation there for getting a team back into the Mayo League but Johnny and the likes of Martin John Carey and Phil Thompson wanted more for this reinvigorated Bangor Hibs football club. It is turning into a real soccer stronghold across the Bellacorrick bridge with Iorras Aontaithe returning in style last year and Kilmore playing in the second tier.

“What Erris did was unbelievable last year and I love the foundations they have set with a lot of young kiddies, a lot of underage teams and that is something we aspire to as a club. And Kilmore have been brilliant as well,” said Johnny.

“It is important for us as a club to get things right and we do it our way and the right way. What we’re doing right now, we feel is the right way. We want to have teams for the kids and we want to have a women’s soccer team as well for Bangor. I want this club going and firing on all cylinders.” “If you haven’t got kids coming up through the ranks, it’s a dead duck.”

Being involved in the playing side, coaching side and the administrative side of things at Bangor Hibs as a committee member has given Martin John Carey insight into all of the goings on.

“It is exciting to get back at it again, we’re a long time away,” said Carey.

“There is such a great atmosphere and we seem to have the sort of numbers at training which probably we never had before so that’s a good sign.”

“We faltered before because we didn’t have underage teams going. There was no real setup in the club, just the odd camp or something. No proper foundation built in all the way through.”

“Now we’re hoping with new committees, new coaches and new everything, we’re starting from scratch and getting it all going so that we have underage players with a pathway into our senior team.”

“Then us old fellas can be let go to pasture and retire,” he joked.

If silverware is to follow Bangor Hibs, there will no doubt be joyous celebrations and bonfires lit on either side of the Oweninny River sweeping through the town. But whether or not Mikie Sweeney pips Johnny Russell to the Masters Division Three Golden Boot or their senior team stays the course against that scary-looking Ballina Town B attack of Ryan Moran and John Durkan who netted seven between them in their opener against Westport United C, none of that will matter if there is no longevity in the Bangor Hibs phoenix that has risen from the ashes.

“Our accolades will not be measured by how successful we will be on the field. It will be measured by our player's sons getting to play for this club,” said Johnny.

“Maybe that will be another 10 or 15 years away but that is the moment we will walk down to that pitch and tell ourselves that what we did was successful.”