Win one and who knows where journey will end

These are not normal days at Castlebar Celtic. For close on two years now, they have been the undisputed number one in Mayo but now it’s time for them to take the next step and, in the words of striker Jordan Loftus, right the wrong of last year.

The club did not have too many down days over the past 12 months but the defeat to Athenry on penalties last year in the Connacht Cup was certainly one of them. Instead of derailing them, however, it has inspired them to greater heights.

They went unbeaten in regaining the Super League title and their only defeats since the Connacht final were the Super Cup semi-final to Ballina Town and in the FAI Junior Cup to Pike Rovers on penalties.

“We let one go last year. We should have won that match, we all know that. Everyone knows that that was there, we just need to right the wrong now. We're a better side than we were last year. We have more motivation than we had last year,” said a bullish Loftus.

The defeat to Pike, who went on reach the Junior Cup semi-finals, was a painful one but the 29-year-old believes much of the young squad came of age that day.

“Even that day again, 2-0 down, came back, 2-2, character, men stepping up. You know, these boys, as I say, these boys have become men.

“We all spoke, we were all gutted in the dressing room. It was like unleashing the beast in a way because I saw the hurt in people's faces. Since then we've gone on a run that's been insane. We're unbeaten since and we're just going from strength to strength. We're getting better and better and this is truly the best side I've played in in many years.

Club captain Ioseph O’Reilly, the elder statemen of the group at 35, marvels at how this side responds to failure.

“I kind of said a few words after (Athenry) just hoping the boys would stick around and give the same commitment, hard work and dedication They've upped it by ten. Our performances are kind of showing it now.

“Even at the back, our main focus really through pre-season was we thought we were letting silly goals through. We've kept a number of clean sheets already. We've only conceded four goals in the eight league games, and scored lots (42).

“You can see boys kind of dwindle away after big defeats like that but these guys, it doesn't affect them. These young fellas, they don't have a care in the world on the pitch. It's great to see, they enjoy it so much and they love the hard work. You can see that even in games now, they just work for each other,” added O’Reilly.

“We should have beat (Pike) up there. We had two penalties to win it and it just didn't happen on the day but it has stood to us. I think it's a good marker for us to go next year and hopefully go further in the Junior Cup. Go and win a Connacht Cup this year and you never know what happens next year then.” 

Failure may be a strange word to use but the bar has been raised at Celtic Park the last two years and winning only one trophy last year feels like an opportunity missed for Loftus.

“It might sound harsh but I do think that was a failure. I said that to the boys, I'm on record saying that, the team is too good to win only one trophy. So this year we need to right that wrong.

“We're all very hungry, we want to win everything. Every cup, every game we play, every cup that we compete in, we want numerous trophies this year.” 

You can see where Jordan Loftus is coming from though when you see the strength in depth at Celtic’s disposal. Even with the departure of Player of the Year nominee Johnnie Cocozza last year, they have boosted with the returns of Liam Flatley in attack and Cathal Coyne in defence, while the signing of Dylan Edwards last year proved a masterstroke. Loftus himself faces big competition for a starting berth with Luke Kelly and Eoghan Hughes in red-hot form while in the middle of the park, he believes they have the ‘best player in the county’ right now in Ben Murphy, while he also mentioned Bahso Hay and Brian Walsh at the back.

“He goes completely under the radar,” said of Loftus of Murphy. “He's a phenomenal football player and he's been a mainstay on our team for the last year as well without people even noticing. Fionn Mahon is now stepping up, Oran Groarke is there also.

“The depth is frightening. The goals and assists already this season in eight games is incredible. I think it's 30-odd from the front four.

“Brian Walsh, our Player of the Year last year, he's kind of going up to left back now, competing with Mark Howley. It just shows the adaptability of the team, and the strength and depth again.

“Look at Bahso just coming back again (against Manulla last Sunday), arguably man of the match, two assists from right full. It's just a phenomenal sight. It's a really, really good sight. But again, we need trophies to justify this.” 

A unique challenge awaits them in Maree/Oranmore, who are appearing in their first ever Connacht Cup final, with Celtic in their 19th. The sides met a couple of years ago but it is a very different side to the one facing them now, with much of their side under 21. Loftus is expecting a big battle but believes Castlebar Celtic may have the advantage in experience and physicality.

“We expect a very good side there. We haven't won anything because we beat Athenry and Salthill, and we'd be very silly to think that.

“Maree/Oranmore are going to be ready, all guns blazing. Obviously, they've had a few weeks to sit on this as well. I don’t know if that’s a good thing for them or not, but they'll be ready. In cup finals, tactics sometimes go out the window. It's down to great determination, fitness levels.

“There'll be adrenaline rushes from players at the start of the game and who's gonna deal well with that? Their second wind, their third wind, et cetera.

“The physical advantage we may have because they're younger so we might be able to bully them a little bit, rough them up a little bit and hopefully we can show them physicality that they haven't seen through the Galway League.” 

Ioseph O’Reilly has played for the club for over a decade but this will be only his third final. He knows opportunities like this don’t come around often and it’s time for the side to deliver.

“I'm playing so long now, I just want to get that Connacht Cup under my belt. With the squad that's there now, with the quality. They're a young team bar one or two, there's a handful of us above 25. They're so young and they're so good, I don't think they realise how good they are.

“The world is their oyster. I think if we win a Connacht Cup this year, we could win another one next year. I think it's just to get over the line with it.”