Mayo Football League awards night is an outstanding success

By Aiden Henry

CLOSE on 300 attended the Mayo Football League annual presentation dinner 2022 which was held in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, last Saturday night.

Throughout this special night, awards were presented to many players, teams, managers, volunteers and a number of very special recognition was given to people who have and still continue to give most of their life helping promote the game in their towns and villages as well as unrivalled help and time to the Mayo Football League over a very long number of years.

The MC for the night was Angelina Nugent and the large crowd was welcomed by Seamus Hughes, Mayo Football League chairperson.

In his address, Mr. Hughes said that 2022 saw a return to a full season of football. “2022 saw us return to a full season of football after the shortened season in 2021. We were treated to some great football across all divisions in the many and various Mayo League competitions, which this year included the Under 18 league which came under the jurisdiction of the Junior League this year.

“Again, we are delighted to have so many of our League partners join us for the celebrations. Without their financial support it would not be easy to keep the show on the road and for this we are very grateful.

“I would also like to welcome our four TDs in the county, Deputies Michael Ring, Alan Dillon, Dara Calleary and Rose Conway Walsh, as well as Connaught FA admistraitor, Gerry Tully.

“Finally, tonight the Mayo Football League is delighted to announce the launch of its coaching support programme.

“The programme is designed to make additional coaching available to clubs on a subsidised basis which will be of benefit to both players and club coaches alike. The coaches are Mark Togher, Joe Kelly, Simon Collins, Joe Murray and Chris McGauley, and all details can be had from Joe Faughnan, coaching officer, Mayo League.”

As the different awards were being presented, the entire function room were brought to their feet when Mayo Football League and Swinford FC legend Donal Benson was announced for a special recognition award, which was one of the limited medals brought out to mark 100 years of the national FAI. Mr. Benson, who has been involved in Mayo soccer since the 1970s, said it was a great honour to be presented with such a great award. When asked why and how long he has stayed involved with Mayo soccer, his answer was simple: “I loved the game, I loved seeing clubs develop and loved helping in anyway I could to promote the game in my own club Swinford and the Mayo League. And I still love it,” said Donal.

Others to see special recognition award were Damien McGrath to honour his achievement in refereeing the FAI National Men’s Cup final, and Gary Cunningham for helping Ireland qualify for the Regions Cup.

There was also a standing ovation when Vinny Coen (fundraiser supreme) of Hollister FC was announced as the recipient of the Hall of Fame award.

The two recipients of the Henry Downes Service to Football Award were Michael Cronin (Partry Athletic) and Noel Tuffy (Ballyheane), and the club public relations award went to Conn Rangers PRO Sean O’Sullivan.

The team manager of the year award went to Crossmolina’s Michael Canavan. Under Canavan’s leadership, Crossmolina have secured back-to-back-promotions and will be playing in the Super League this year.

It was a great night for Kiltimagh/Knock United as the club person of the year award went to Kiltimagh/Knock secretary Mary Niland. As the night progressed, it even got better for the east Mayo club as Jack O’Connor took the award for goal of the season. This award was judged by none other than Liverpool legend Phil Thompson. To round a great night off for O’Connor, he was named the Super League player of the year. What a magnificent achievement by such a young player.

The Young Footballer of the Year award went to Ballyheane’s Nathan Reilly Doyle.

The other Footballer of the Year awards went to the following: Danny Broderick of Claremorris (Masters, Division 1); Ballinrobe Town’s J.P. O’Gorman (Masters, Division 2); Alan Plunkett of Ballyglass (Masters, Division 3); Castlebar Celtic’s Stefan Hester (Under 21, Division 1), Ballina Town’s Ryan Moran (Under 21, Division 2); Castlebar Celtic B’s Liam Whyte (League Two); Ballinrobe Town’s Sean Shaughnessy (League One); and Crossmolina’s Stewart Griffin (Premier League).

The teams of the year for each of the junior divisions, Under 21 divisions and Masters divisions are as follows:

Elverys Sports Super League: Gary Cunningham (Westport Utd); Brendan Walsh (Kiltimagh/Knock Utd), Cillian Redmond (Ballyheane), Ollie Feeney (Ballina Town), Dara Ludden (Ballyheane), Kienan Smyth (Straide & Foxford Utd), Sean Kilcoyne (Ballyheane), Jason Hunt (Castlebar Celtic), Jack O’Connor (Kiltimagh/Knock Utd), Benny Lavelle (Ballina Town), Nathan Reilly-Doyle (Ballyheane).

CastleCourt Hotel Premier Division: Micheal Gibbons (Westport Utd B); John Judge Snr (Moy Villa), Stewart Griffin (Crossmolina), Owen McNamara (Conn Rangers), Colm Rutledge (Conn Rangers), Ian Gordon (Crossmolina), Darragh Jordan (Conn Rangers) Diarmuid Coggins (Crossmolina), Kevin Campbell (Crossmolina), Luke Ruane (Moy Villa), Niall Coggins (Crossmolina).

Killeen Sports Ground League One: Sean Shaughnessy (Ballinrobe Town); Padraig McGinty (Kilmore), Jake Mulcahy (Ballinrobe Town), Paddy Canavan (Manulla B), Jonathon Lawrence (Ballinrobe Town), Cian Benson (Manulla B), Sean Brogan (Kilmore), Danny O’Toole, (Ballinrobe Town), Shane Ryan (Ballinrobe Town), Martin Delaney (Hollister), Justin Healy (Kilmore).

McDonnell Construction League Two: Luca Meldrum (Ballyheane B); Shane Thomas (Ballyheane B), Ciaran Gavin (Castlebar Celtic B), Eoin Keane (Castlebar Celtic B), Shea McAtamney (Ballyheane B), Liam Whyte (Castlebar Celtic B), Ciaran Hennelly (Partry Athletic), Danny Broderick (Claremorris B), Gavin Brady (Claremorris B), Conor Joyce (Castlebar Celtic B), Cillian O’Brien (Ballyvary Blue Bombers).

TF Royal Hotel and Theatre Under 21 Division 1: Stefan Hester (Castlebar Celtic); Brian Durkan Conn Rangers), Cillian Redmond (Ballyheane), Mark Cunningham (Castlebar Celtic), Adam Gallagher (Conn Rangers), Oran Groarke (Castlebar Celtic), Dean Fadden (Ballyheane), Sean Holmes (Conn Rangers), Nathan Reilly-Doyle (Ballyheane), Luke Kelly (Castlebar Celtic), Kienan Smyth (Straide & Foxford Utd).

TF Royal Hotel and Theatre Under 21 Division 2: Dylan O’Brien (Claremorris); Jason Murphy (Claremorris), James Walsh (Glenhest Rovers), Sean Horkan (Ballina Town), Lewis Lally (Claremorris), Ted Rowe (Ballina Town), Conor Gorman (Ballina Town), Tiernan Tighe (Ballina Town), Danny O’Toole (Ballinrobe Town), Nathan Ring (Claremorris), Ryan Moran (Ballina Town).

Westaro Masters League Division 1: Kieran O’Malley (Ballina Town); Chris Moore (Ballina Town), Shaun Tagg (Westport United), Danny Scahill (Westport United), Danny Broderick (Claremorris), Steven Moyles (Ballina Town), Jesper Frisch (Westport United).

Westaro Masters League Division 2: Michael Kilgallon (Ballyvary Blue Bombers); Ashley Stevenson (Ballyheane), Conor Maloney (Ballinrobe Town), Brendan Nallen (Iorras Aontaithe), Joey Maloney (Ballinrobe Town), Simon Cloherty (Ballyvary Blue Bombers), JP O’Gorman (Ballinrobe Town).

Westaro Masters League Division 3: Pat Delaney (Ballyglass); PJ Gibbons (Ballyglass), Paul Kenny (Swinford B), James Killeen (Ballyglass), Patrick McDonnell (Swinford B), Alan Plunkett (Ballyglass), Rory Gallagher (Killala).