Castlebar Celtic’s long wait for ‘La Decima’ ahead of centenary year
by Caoimhín Rowland
CASTLEBAR Celtic have been waiting a long time waiting to claim their 10th Connacht Junior Cup crown.
Having lost three deciders since their last triumph in 2003, the Hoops are seeking to bridge a 20-year gap when they face Athenry in the final at Solar 21 Park, Milebush, Castlebar, on Sunday, a game which will kick off at 3 p.m.
Two decades is surely far too long a time for Mayo’s leading club to be left without a provincial trophy.
Celebrating its 99th anniversary this year, the Connacht Junior Cup holds a special place in the Hoops' history – and what a way it would be to commence centenary celebrations with the much-coveted trophy.
And they will certainly have to earn their place in the sun against an Athenry side that has been a dominant force in the province with five title wins since 2007, one of them being achieved against Celtic.
But there is room for optimism for the underdogs due to the manner in which manager Steve Gavin has restructured the side with a blend of skilful young and experienced players hungry for success.
Their attacking prowess was evident from their comprehensive annihilation of Mervue United in the semi-final, a 4-0 win in Fahy’s Field that surely gave great satisfaction to Castlebar Celtic supporters in preventing an all-Galway Connacht decider.
Upsetting the applecart is what Celtic do best and with an attacking trio of Jordan Loftus, Jason Hunt and Paul Walsh, they will surely give Athenry’s back four a headache or two throughout the 90 minutes.
Stevie Gavin’s expressive tactics allowed the trio to interchange across the front line, putting the Mervue United defence at sixes and sevens during the semi.
With midfield marshal Johnnie Cocozza breaking up opposition attacks, this season he has been head and shoulders above any other player in Mayo’s Super League.
His performance will be vital in securing victory and you can be sure the Foxford dynamo will rise to the occasion.
From the creative ranks of Celtic's middle third is playmaker Dylan Edwards, an almost sure thing from dead-ball situations (he registered three assists against Mervue). With an eye for a defence-splitting pass as well as getting on the scoresheet himself on occasion, he is definitely one to watch out for.
Up front, tricky winger Jason Hunt will look to get on the scoresheet for his hometown club.
He has been vital to adding the finishing touch to much of Celtic's good play in midfield. Against Mervue he showed his versatility on either wing, looking to play off the last defender and helping the Hoops spring quick counterattacks.
Beating his man is Hunt’s modus operandi; he's one of the most naturally gifted players to play in Celtic Park, and his determination and skill will be pivotal in deciding the eventual winners of the cup.
Throw in the experience of Ioseph O’Reilly at the heart of the Celtic defence, who kept the physically imposing Lewis Waweru quiet on the artificial grass in Galway, and it becomes clear that the Mayo county town club are strong in every department.
O'Reilly's bullet header from an Edwards corner in the second half of the semi-final against Mervue was integral in securing his club's spot in the final. With the armband strapped on, the commanding centre-half will be licking his lips at the possibility of writing his own legend.
Not to forget the composed nature of young 'keeper Stefan Hestor, the Kazakh-born number one hwo has secured his place between the sticks with impressive reflexes and evident comfort with the ball at his feet.
The 19-year-old typifies the modern-day goalkeeper, and is crucial to the way Steve Gavin likes to play the game.
This is surely one of the most exciting Celtic sides in recent memory. Gavin, however, will not be without a few selection dilemmas ahead of the final next weekend.
Former Castlebar Mitchels marksman Neil Douglas has been excelling in the green and white, scoring in the semi-final as a late substitute. His guile and experience could be vital in the starting XI.
With no fresh injury concerns, Gavin's charges will take to the field in their home town aiming to write their names in Castlebar Celtic's history books.
THE OPPOSITION
Celtic's final opponents, Athenry, have been slayers of one Celtic already in the Connacht Junior Cup, having emerged victorious from their semi-final against Sligo's Strand Celtic by a slim margin.
In the fifth minute of the game, Athenry's Cole Connolly scored the crucial goal, a glancing header into the net that gave his team a 1-0 lead and secured their spot in the decider.
Athenry can boast former Galway United full-back Shane Keogh within their ranks, and the experienced defender defied physics in clearing the ball off Athenry’s line late in the first half of that semi-final.
The Castlebar Celtic front men will certainly have a task on their hands to broach Maroon shot-stopper, T.J. Forde, who was sensational in the semi-final, pulling off several top-drawer saves throughout the 90 minutes.
A defensively compact side who like to play on the counter, they dug in and invited Strand Celtic on, looking for spells in the game to hit them with long balls up the field and score against the run of play.
You’d suspect a tactic like this wouldn’t augur well in front of the Hoops' vociferous home support and with so many talented ball players within Steve Gavin's squad.
Striker Callum Carroll will be a threat on the break. He works tirelessly across the frontline, chasing loose balls, harrying defenders and creating chances for finisher Adam Molloy.
Athenry FC will go in as favourites, despite the Castlebar advantage that Celtic will possess.
A Galway-Mayo clash always brings tempers to the fore and it may well be the side who finishes with the full complement that takes home the Connacht Junior Cup tomorrow afternoon.