Revealed: Western People Mayo Super League Team of the Year
It's been a year to remember for Castlebar Celtic, as they won a domestic treble as well as a record tenth Connacht Cup. The Hoops receive the most picks in the Western People Team of the Year with six. Picture: Castlebar Celtic FC
The Elverys Sports Super League is now wrapped and after much deliberation, the has picked its Team of the Year.
Champions Castlebar Celtic have had an unprecedented year of success and lead the way with six places. Ballina Town and Westport United each have two picks while the last spot goes to newly-promoted Ballina Town.
The young goalkeeper continues to go from strength to strength. One glaring error aside in Celtic’s defeat to Ballyheane, the 20-year-old shotstopper was a composed presence as the last line of defence for the league champions, keeping ten clean sheets.
Not just the best right-back in Mayo but arguably the standout performer across the Super League. He is as dangerous going forward for Celtic as he is an excellent defender, he has quickly become one of Celtic’s leaders despite his young age. He is the choice for Player of the Year.
The former Manulla and Ballyheane man may be in his mid-thirties but he still remains of the league’s top players. Since his positional switch from midfield, he has been Ballina’s leader at the back. Impressive performances in the league and cup finals may not have seen him awarded with any silverware, but he remains key to Ballina’s future title hopes.
As adept at left-back as he is at centre-back, Brian Walsh is as important as any defender the club. He is Celtic’s ‘Mr Consistency’ and while he may lack the pure size like many of his counterparts, he more than makes up for it in positional awareness and adept one-on-one defending.
The Coveys have an abundance of outstanding young talent coming through and Harrison Quinn has become an important player in a short space of time at left-back. Will be a big defender for Mayo in the Oscar Traynor once more.
The 21-year-old is a man of all trades in the middle of the field for the league champions. Can play either in the holding role or further up the park. A key component of Celtic’s success this year.
Ballina Town’s outstanding box-to-box midfielder. He can defend, score goals, run all day and pick out a pass. Another man who will be in the conversation for Player of the Year.
Another of Westport’s famed young crop who has come through the ranks at United Park, his devastating pace and accuracy in front of goal helped his club to a second place finish. Will go from strength to strength.
The dazzling forward has been such an integral part of the Celtic machine. His side’s chief creator, he led the assists column in the league with 15, as well as chipping in with 10 goals. An expert at dead ball situations, he and Jordan Loftus have developed a near-telepathic link up top.
Coming into the season on the back of ankle surgery, Celtic’s lethal number nine appears to be in his physical and mental prime. He finished as Super League top scorer with 23 goals while he was also third with assists (11). Another play in Player of the Year contention and will likely be a major part of Mayo’s upcoming Oscar Traynor Cup campaign.
If the legendary Ballinrobe man is planning on hanging up his boots, defenders across Mayo will rest much easier. The veteran striker has enjoyed a glittering career with Ballyglass and Westport United and he has played a pivotal part in his hometown’s club rise up the leagues, with his 12 goals this year and all-round game playing a crucial role in Ballinrobe’s Super League survival.
