Super final set in store for Mayo's soccer heavyweights
Castlebar Celtic’s Mark Cunningham and Westport United’s Sean Heaney in action during the FAI Junior Cup at Celtic Park earlier this year. Picture: David Farrell Photography
The undisputed top two teams in the Mayo Football League write the latest chapter in their storied rivalry when they vie for the Mayo Super Cup on Sunday afternoon.
This will be the 40th ever Mayo Cup Final and Celtic lead the way with eight victories, the latest coming when they beat Ballina Town in last year’s final to complete a domestic clean sweep, with United one behind seven, the most recent success being in the 2021/2022 season when they denied Ballyheane a domestic treble.
This will be the fifth meeting of the pair this season. Celtic won the league fixtures home and away on their road to a perfect league title - and the three-in-a-row - while they also met for the very first time in the last 32 FAI Junior Cup earlier this year, which saw the Hoops defeat United 3-2.
United did get the better of Celtic in the Benson Cup, blowing away Celtic 4-0 on the night on their way to winning the trophy and United will hope to send Celtic a message that they will be the ones to end their league dominance next season by beating Celtic in another cup competition this season and complete a cup double.
Since Anthony O’Neill’s arrival as manager and director of football, the progression of United has been clear. As well as ending a two-year wait for a trophy – a significant period given United’s proud tradition – he has got playing United an attractive brand of football that can carve teams apart.
One only had to watch how they patiently took Ballinrobe Town apart in the Benson Cup final to see it in full flow and Celtic’s strong rearguard will always need 100% concentration to stop Dylan O’Malley, Darren Browne, Mikey O’Brien and Kevin Kitterick running riot.
In addition, United have cut out many of the silly defensive mistakes that has blighted the previous two years and that back four of O’Brien, Noah Massey, Cillian White and Harrison Quinn (should they all start) will need to do so again to stop a Celtic team that, quite simply, have had total supremacy in Mayo and Connacht the past two years.
As well as three straight Super Leagues, they have also won back-to-back Connacht Cups in what has been one of the most dominant periods in their history and recently competed in the FAI Senior Cup, going down bravely to league of Ireland First Division side Longford Town.
Only the FAI Junior Cup mountain remains for the Hoops to conquer and while that competition will get underway in the coming months, they will want to ensure their domestic dominance remains intact.
From top to bottom, Celtic have some of the best players in the county. Right-back Mark Cunningham looks odds-on to be Footballer of the Year, and makes a fearsome defence alongside Ioseph O’Reilly, Cathal Coyne and Mark Howley, while Brian Walsh has been a more than able deputy at left and centre-back.
Oran Groarke and Johnnie Cocozza have been consistent presences in midfield, with Ben Murphy and Fionn Mahon strong backup after Niall Brennan’s season-ending injury.
Jason Hunt has joined Brennan on the shelf, but their frightening attack of current Footballer of the Year Dylan Edwards, Super League top scorer Luke Kelly and 2019 Footballer of the Year Jordan Loftus have a telepathic understanding up front.
With Eoghan Hughes and Dylan Felle also to spring off the bench, or possible start, the wealth of talent at Stevie Gavin and Declan Flynn’s disposal is unmatched.
A big crowd is expected to descend on Umbro Park to see the two best go it, and it would come as no surprise should this go to extra-time or penalties. When these two meet, a classic is never far away.
