Mayo Super League 2009

ye are going back into this discussion again! treat it with caution?? why?? if mervue did that last year where would they be now?? every team with players good enough and ambition and a good underage setup should always try and play at the highest level they can for the players. otherwise you would only be losing all your players who are good enough to be playing at a higher level with better football and playing in better grounds. i don't know any player that wouldnt want to test themselves at the highest level they can if they're good enough!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leveller

It is a good point Paddy, however I would treat the A league with caution for the moment.

With the times that we are in, and with the costs involved in fielding the teams (the costs of entry in the league transport costs etc) many of these former Junior clubs (i.e. the Tralee Dynamoes, Castlebar Celtic etc) will struggle under the financial pressures of being involved or get fed up with not being promoted in these leagues and pull out.

The whole A league in my opinion at the moment, is a fad for Junior clubs, which will wear off, and will eventually turn into a league of ireland reserve league as the smaller clubs pull out one by one.

---

I am not trying to be smart here. Leveller what do Westport see as a higher level. Is it Connaught senior league if it reforms or eircom league. Where does Westport see itself as a club in 10 yrs say.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

I am not trying to be smart here. Leveller what do Westport see as a higher level. Is it Connaught senior league if it reforms or eircom league. Where does Westport see itself as a club in 10 yrs say.

---

Not wishing to answer for Leveller but I would imagine that clubs should take one step at a time. Clubs should have proper underage structures in place to ensure the long term future of the club with some degree of success on the field. I would imagine that Westport have that in place. The entire process should be thought through, and planned out well. For that to happen it would mean that a proper Senior League structure was put in place, and not like what happened before. The lead must come from the top.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spot Kick

Not wishing to answer for Leveller but I would imagine that clubs should take one step at a time. Clubs should have proper underage structures in place to ensure the long term future of the club with some degree of success on the field. I would imagine that Westport have that in place. The entire process should be thought through, and planned out well. For that to happen it would mean that a proper Senior League structure was put in place, and not like what happened before. The lead must come from the top.

---

Thanks Spot Kick, that was a well thought answer, I would agree with everything you said.

I think Westport would be better off staying junior and, as spot kick said have proper underage structures in place to ensure the long term future of the club with some degree of success on the field.

I am not sure if being in the LOI is the be all and end all, look at the state the top clubs are in now and that is under the guidance of the governing body, all the top clubs are essentially part time now, the standard is higher, but not that much, most of the top teams are in financial difficulties and have lost their best players, we beat a LOI div 1 (well bottom of the table) side to win the Connachht Senior Cup, and we did this with an all local team.

I dont think there is much to gain by trying to get in the LOI (the LOI recruit alot of players from junior clubs) , it is not sustainable in the long term for a club or the players (who have day jobs and families) from a town of 5000 people to compete in such a league.

I think the people at Westport United are being realistic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leveller

I am not sure if being in the LOI is the be all and end all, look at the state the top clubs are in now and that is under the guidance of the governing body, all the top clubs are essentially part time now, the standard is higher, but not that much, most of the top teams are in financial difficulties and have lost their best players, we beat a LOI div 1 (well bottom of the table) side to win the Connachht Senior Cup, and we did this with an all local team.

---

Which team is it that yee beat? Thought it was athenry!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leveller

we beat a LOI div 1 (well bottom of the table) side to win the Connachht Senior Cup, and we did this with an all local team.

---

How can you be taken serious with comments like the above. Connaught senior cup come on please.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

How can you be taken serious with comments like the above. Connaught senior cup come on please.

---

Your team was in it too (Celtic) and they didn't win it so whats your point?

Mervue were the team they beat.

Levellers point is realistic on the financial side as there are alot more overheads involved with the A league rather than just junior football. Westport are not willing to risk this commitment.

Fair play to Celtic if they stay playing at this level, they must get the crowds going to the games to fund it all though...

Point is. A question was asked, but as usual it was fluffed over with the same old garbage "financial commitments" " A league is going nowhere" "the sky is falling down". If Westport are such a good team are they not cheating their players and supporters by not trying to find a higher level whatever that may be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

Point is. A question was asked, but as usual it was fluffed over with the same old garbage "financial commitments" " A league is going nowhere" "the sky is falling down". If Westport are such a good team are they not cheating their players and supporters by not trying to find a higher level whatever that may be.

---

As I said I think the club is being realistic about things, there are financial commitments involved and big ones too.

I dont think the sky is falling down opinion is a bad one considering the recessionary times we are in.

Again look at the top LOI clubs, look at the mess they are all in, and that was under the guidance of our governing body, and that was with all clubs meeting their "criteria" to enter the league.

I wonder if one of the "criteria" on entry was to publish the yearly accounts of the club, where the club is only allowed to spend a percentage of their turnover on players.

It is clear that the clubs were overspending on wages to players, how was this allowed to happen?

I think the people involved with Westport United Football Club would be cheating the players and the supporters entering such a league, spending a fortune travelling all over the place and on expenses, you will find any of your better players will be cherry picked by the LOI clubs anyway (you have already lost two - oops sorry they were originally from Westport) which will prevent your club or any of the other junior clubs involved making progress in this league.

Why should Westport jump straight in anyway? See how you get on first.

The league is a fad, many clubs will get fed up when the ring of saying - "we are a LOI club" wears off , when they dont progress in the league and the funds dry up (they will), and then you will see them pull out, once one goes, the others will follow.

If Westport are not interested what is the big deal?

Very reasonable answer. I would love to see however just how far this Westport team could push it if they were to face high level game week in week out. It just seems they have lost some of the enthusiasm of previous years.

I think Leveller has a point. Westport are right not to jump blind into the A league.

Castlebar Celtic are in a far stronger position as a club, they have their own ground and a very well established & sucessful underage set-up.

Whither or not the A league proves to be a sucess or a total flop, it is a natural move for Celtic to make.

At a very basic level the culture and attitude within a club like Celtic, where development, growth and the future are obvious priorities, can only be good for young players coming through.

There is no doubt the E.L. has been ran rather questionably in terms of clubs financial dealings in the last couple of years, and many clubs are now suffering as a result of this negligence. (The E.L. is the not the only industry suffering of late as a result of questionable financial management.) This, however, is not reason enough to put a cap on ambition and scorn all attempts a club makes to step up a level.

The A league may prove a great big nonsense, and if it does I will be the first to hold my hands up and say "Thats a shame, I thought it was a decent idea."

If Celtic end up back in the S.L. in a couple of years, I for one will be dissapointed because it means their project has not worked out, and we won't have a Mayo team in the E.L. On the other hand, with all the talk of the poor standards in the S.L. of late, should Celtic return to the S.L., they will bring experience and some new ides to the party, this can only be a good thing.

I can see where Leveller is coming from, in relation to spending a huge chunk of the clubs finances funding travel expenses in an as yet untested league, but I think its a risk worth taking. The worst that will happen is they will end up where they started, a top S.L. Club.

Each to their own, what is the big deal if Westport don't enter the A league? Maybe in a couple of years they will, or maybe it will be a Conn senior league then.
The point is, this A league is not about a current crop of players, it is about the holistic development of a club from top to bottom - U-8's to the senior team.

In the mean time, Fahy Rovers hope to be on their new pitch in Fahy next season, with two underage teams and absolutely no aspirations for the Eircom League. Yet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by paddyirishman

Ye play ballina on sunday and S&F played them off the park in the semi final until the ref made a balls of that game with red cards and some brutal decisions.

---

:eek:
Just because nobody from Ballina Town really posts on here it doesn't mean they dont come on to read and have a good laugh at some of the stuff!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cannon Balls

:eek:
Just because nobody from Ballina Town really posts on here it doesn't mean they dont come on to read and have a good laugh at some of the stuff!

---

There's always going to be people who are totally partisan posting here... some fans or players can't see beyond their own club, which should be obvious from a quick glimpse at this thread. I would say, in general, everyone respects Ballina as a Super League team..

Another point well made by leveller regarding the A Championship is the burden put on the fans... Westport have great support, who follow them to every match, not just home games. This is pretty much unprecedented in Mayo Football. Regardless of weather, opposition or gaaaa, they want see their team play. When their team is playing in Derry at 2.30 or the likes, this incurs a lot of cost, or travelling or both.
So in that regard Westport are keeping faithful to their fans.

I totally see the point of Rava and the other Celtic boys' argument regarding ambition, but Norm is right in saying the club is not at a place to consider the move just yet. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that it would be very interesting to see how they would do at that level, because they do seem to a bit bored of the league this year, despite their wealth of talent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

Another point well made by leveller regarding the A Championship is the burden put on the fans... Westport have great support, who follow them to every match, not just home games. This is pretty much unprecedented in Mayo Football. Regardless of weather, opposition or gaaaa, they want see their team play. When their team is playing in Derry at 2.30 or the likes, this incurs a lot of cost, or travelling or both.
So in that regard Westport are keeping faithful to their fans.

I totally see the point of Rava and the other Celtic boys' argument regarding ambition, but Norm is right in saying the club is not at a place to consider the move just yet. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that it would be very interesting to see how they would do at that level, because they do seem to a bit bored of the league this year, despite their wealth of talent.

---

Thanks for that Fahy Forever, both your responses were top class and well balanced on both sides. Thanks.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

Another point well made by leveller regarding the A Championship is the burden put on the fans... Westport have great support, who follow them to every match, not just home games. This is pretty much unprecedented in Mayo Football. Regardless of weather, opposition or gaaaa, they want see their team play. When their team is playing in Derry at 2.30 or the likes, this incurs a lot of cost, or travelling or both.
So in that regard Westport are keeping faithful to their fans.

I totally see the point of Rava and the other Celtic boys' argument regarding ambition, but Norm is right in saying the club is not at a place to consider the move just yet. One thing I think everyone can agree on is that it would be very interesting to see how they would do at that level, because they do seem to a bit bored of the league this year, despite their wealth of talent.

---

Thats a total contradiction.

On the costs of entering the A Championship. The only cost is 1)Entry fee to the league 2)Travelling to the 8 away games (3 within 1 hour) 3)Match Officials. By getting the current sponsors and new sponsors to give a bit of money, get home game sponsored and with gate receipts, I don't think the A Championship is a step too far for Castlebar Celtic in their current situation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

There's always going to be people who are totally partisan posting here... some fans or players can't see beyond their own club, which should be obvious from a quick glimpse at this thread. I would say, in general, everyone respects Ballina as a Super League team..

---

No doubt about it. Ballina are a good side who play very nice football but looking at the Mayo website it looks like they are missing half a team for Sunday. I am afraid that it looks like Westport again but as you say, you have to respect Ballina.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 1882

Thats a total contradiction.

On the costs of entering the A Championship. The only cost is 1)Entry fee to the league 2)Travelling to the 8 away games (3 within 1 hour) 3)Match Officials. By getting the current sponsors and new sponsors to give a bit of money, get home game sponsored and with gate receipts, I don't think the A Championship is a step too far for Castlebar Celtic in their current situation.

---

It's not a total contradiction, My point is that within the Mayo League Westport have a great following, surpassing any other club. If they were to go into the A Championship it would mean people missing work and incurring a fair bit of expense. I think you understood that too but decided to be obstinate. How many supporters do Castlebar get at an average away fixture? (Please do not take`this as anti Castlebar Celtic, it's not.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

It's not a total contradiction, My point is that within the Mayo League Westport have a great following, surpassing any other club. If they were to go into the A Championship it would mean people missing work and incurring a fair bit of expense. I think you understood that too but decided to be obstinate. How many supporters do Castlebar get at an average away fixture? (Please do not take`this as anti Castlebar Celtic, it's not.)

---

Can anybody from Fahy tell me why they had to call there game against snugboro off tomorrow

pitch flooded

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MayoToffee

pitch flooded

---

Must have had some bad weather that side of the town today,were there no alternatives?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Score

Must have had some bad weather that side of the town today,were there no alternatives?

---

we tried to get to get the game changed to snugboro but they wouldn't play it there.

Elvery’s Mayo Super League

Sunday 30th August 2009 – Ballina – Kick Off 2.30pm


Will Sunday’s Top of the Table Clash decide League Title?

Next Sunday’s top of the table Super League clash between Ballina Town and Westport Utd (Kick Off 2.30) at Belleek could very well decide the outcome to the 2009 Elvery’s Super League title – that is not however how the two managers see it. With only 3 points separating the sides and Ballina Town with a game in hand, both managers see the battle going the full course of the campaign irrespective of the outcome of Sunday’s clash.

Ballina Town manager Brendan Kenny acknowledges that should Westport come out on top that this would give them a huge advantage in the “run in” for the title, but he has every confidence in his side to seriously challenge for the title this season – he says “We fully accept that Westport will be favourites to win this game. They are a quality side with the best players in the county. They have won competitions because they have simply been the best side around for some years now. They have quality players with the like of Cameron, O’Malley, Lawless and many more that would adorn any side in the country. We know the task that is ahead of us, but we will be prepared and give it our best shot.”

Kenny admits however that it will be more difficult on Sunday without the services of Michael Knight, Malachy McCarron, and Mark Beattie through suspension, and with injury concerns over Philly Devers and Tom O’Connor it may leave his site somewhat depleted. Kenny can however feel satisfied that ace marksman, Mick Duffy, is regaining full fitness and has found his goal scoring touch once again. Kenny adds “We will also be without the service of Peter Duffy and Sean Kelly who are both out of the country presently, but we have a big squad this year and will have able replacements to fill the gaps. We expect these kinds of things to happen, and need to be prepared for any eventuality if we are to be serious challengers. I expect all the new lads coming in to do a job for me, and if they all play to their full ability, I am satisfied that we can achieve a good result. There will be little in it, but our games so far this season suggest that we will have goals in the game, and I feel that the fans that turn up will be guaranteed goals.”

Ballina have often been described as the “perennial underachievers” who have promised a lot, and then failed to deliver on that promise. This season however has seen Ballina Town win their first domestic competition since 2001 with their recent win in the Westaro Cup final. Brendan Kenny believes that the tide has turned for the club – “We have had a difficult period for the club over the past few years. The club was very much involved in developing their facilities, fundraising, and promoting the game at underage level. This may have taken away from the football side of things at senior level as a lot of the same people were playing and involved in other club activities. We also had the tragic loss of Pete Murray during the year. A club the size of Ballina Town should always be up with the Castlebar Celtic’s and Westport Utd’s in terms of achievement because of its population base, and we hope to rectify that this season.”

Westport Utd’s team manager Padraig Burns also sees Sunday’s game as a serious challenge for his squad. Westport Utd were somewhat shocked just a few short weeks ago with surprising league losses to Ballyheane and Snugboro. These losses allowed Ballina Town and Iorras Aontaithe close the gap and exert some pressure on the champions.

Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s game Padraig Burns maintains that every point needs fighting for in the remaining matches – he says “No League campaign is won with 6 matches and 18 points left to play for. We want to win this league as much as ever, and the players want to win the League with every effort going in to win the remaining games. The hunger is still there with the players.”

Westport may not have been pulling on all cylinders during the course of this League campaign due possibly to the loss of influential players through injury. Westport have been without the services of Danny Scahill, and David Horkan because of injury and the likes of Dessie O’Malley, Gerry McLoughlin, Colm Navin and David Hoban have also been out in recent times due to suspension and non-availability. Sunday’s encounter may very well be a headache for manager Burns with Horkan and Scahill returning to the playing fields last weekend – “This will be the first time in a long while that I will probably have a full squad to choose from, and it poses a selection headache. It is a nice situation to be in rather than what we had to endure in recent times, but most clubs have similar difficulties.” Burns is satisfied that his team can perform better, and have recovered well from the Ballyheane and Snugboro setbacks with good performance and he looks forward to the encounter knowing that the League is far from over.

Looking at both sides on paper one might feel inclined to favour Westport on sheer quality and experience with the likes of Joe Lawless, Martin Geraghty, David Cameron, Dessie O’Malley, Danny Scahill and David Horkan at the helm but so too have Ballina with Eugene Gorman, Tom O’Connor, Derek Tansey, along with the youthful Ross Kenny and Brendan Lavelle showing terrific form this season. Ballina can also rely on their influential goalkeeper Emmett Peyton in any crisis. Ballina have already beaten Westport in the cup competition but Utd turned the tables on their opponents some 48 hours later in a 3 – 2 League victory at the Sports Park. One thing we all can be assured of is a great football game with two managers who strictly adopt the passing game, and look forward to a feast of football with a goal or two to keep us all happy knowing that no game is won or lost on paper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cloggs

we tried to get to get the game changed to snugboro but they wouldn't play it there.

---

Spoke with a guy involved with snugboro and he told me that the they were giving there pitch,but they got notification at 11am yesterday morning saying game off

I left the Ballina Westport match with ten minutes to go. The score then was Ballina 3 Westport 0. Ballina went one nil up early in the first half from a goal in which the striker was about three yards offside. I was directly in line with the striker and so it seemed was the linesman, but the flag stayed down and the goal counted. Terrible decision, but nothing we're not all well used to by now. The lineman must have known this himself as on the half hour mark he flagged for off when this time the striker was well on and one on one. The trend continued in the 35th minute as Mick Duffy was denied a penalty I thought was definite. Either way, he should have scored. Dessie O Malley had two great chances just before half time, one a volley from a chested down ball from a corner which went over and another effort which hit the post. As half time came, it seemed Westport would claw back the deficit.

Ballina were solid at the back and seemed the more up for it of the sides, with Martin Geraty the only one to really distinguish himself for Westport. Two goals in a short period of time put Ballina in the driving seat for the match, and, unless something sensational happened in the last ten minutes, for the title as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

I left the Ballina Westport match with ten minutes to go. The score then was Ballina 3 Westport 0. Ballina went one nil up early in the first half from a goal in which the striker was about three yards offside. I was directly in line with the striker and so it seemed was the linesman, but the flag stayed down and the goal counted. Terrible decision, but nothing we're not all well used to by now. The lineman must have known this himself as on the half hour mark he flagged for off when this time the striker was well on and one on one. The trend continued in the 35th minute as Mick Duffy was denied a penalty I thought was definite. Either way, he should have scored. Dessie O Malley had two great chances just before half time, one a volley from a chested down ball from a corner which went over and another effort which hit the post. As half time came, it seemed Westport would claw back the deficit.

Ballina were solid at the back and seemed the more up for it of the sides, with Martin Geraty the only one to really distinguish himself for Westport. Two goals in a short period of time put Ballina in the driving seat for the match, and, unless something sensational happened in the last ten minutes, for the title as well.

---

I agree with you on the first goal, it was a mile offside, a few of theirs should have been booked in the first half, overall it was a fair result.
I am not surprised at the result, last week Westport beat a weak S&F and everybody was going on about the great football we played, it is easy to play good football against a weaker team.

The title race is not over, it is Ballinas to lose, I can see them dropping points, but the way we are going so are we.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Score

Spoke with a guy involved with snugboro and he told me that the they were giving there pitch,but they got notification at 11am yesterday morning saying game off

---

Game called off at 11am the day before the match... Fahy contacted Snugboro during the week trying to get the game switched... I heard the same that Snugboro would give the pitch but they were notified Saturday that the game was off.... All sounds very suspicious....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by No. 7

Game called off at 11am the day before the match... Fahy contacted Snugboro during the week trying to get the game switched... I heard the same that Snugboro would give the pitch but they were notified Saturday that the game was off.... All sounds very suspicious....

---

Suspicious in what sense? I can assure you that we wanted that game to be played that this week in case you're inferring we didn't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

Suspicious in what sense? I can assure you that we wanted that game to be played that this week in case you're inferring we didn't.

---

Can I ask then why was the game called off on a saturday as opposed to sunday morning?And if Snugboro were willing to give there pitch why was that not availed of.Im not having a go here but it is a little weird for a game to be called off the day before as oppesed to the day of the game

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Score

Can I ask then why was the game called off on a saturday as opposed to sunday morning?And if Snugboro were willing to give there pitch why was that not availed of.Im not having a go here but it is a little weird for a game to be called off the day before as oppesed to the day of the game

---

the game was called off on sat because the pitch was unplayable and could not be marked, please put this to rest as it was not fahys fault.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FahyForever

Suspicious in what sense? I can assure you that we wanted that game to be played that this week in case you're inferring we didn't.

---

Typical Fahy! First they nick Notts Countys Crest.. Now this :D:p

this was sent out to all clubs after workshop in october
if two non b teams fininish in top two of premier both will be promoted with bottom two in super league relegated.
if one b team finishes first or second in premier only one team will be promoted and one relegated,
if two b teams finish in top two in premier there will be no promotion but mayo league can decide to relegate two teams to make super league 8 teams for 2010 season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pinero

this was sent out to all clubs after workshop in october
if two non b teams fininish in top two of premier both will be promoted with bottom two in super league relegated.
if one b team finishes first or second in premier only one team will be promoted and one relegated,
if two b teams finish in top two in premier there will be no promotion but mayo league can decide to relegate two teams to make super league 8 teams for 2010 season.

---

seems like good news for S+F :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gunner1

the game was called off on sat because the pitch was unplayable and could not be marked, please put this to rest as it was not fahys fault.

---

Just going by the other quotes here,Why ask the opposing team for thier pitch then.If a pitch is unplayable thats fair enough.

Anyway enough about that...Is it Ballina league now?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by pinero

this was sent out to all clubs after workshop in october
if two non b teams fininish in top two of premier both will be promoted with bottom two in super league relegated.
if one b team finishes first or second in premier only one team will be promoted and one relegated,
if two b teams finish in top two in premier there will be no promotion but mayo league can decide to relegate two teams to make super league 8 teams for 2010 season.

---

This was only a circular to put the idea out there. As far as I am aware the clubs were never informed that the above was been adopted as a rule. Well done to the league they have have managed to totally **** up two divisions with 5 games left to play. What interest will any of the chasing pack in the premier or lower half of the super league have for the rest of the season if the above has been adopted. Surely someone has contacted the league about this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 1924

Just going by the other quotes here,Why ask the opposing team for thier pitch then.If a pitch is unplayable thats fair enough.

Anyway enough about that...Is it Ballina league now?

---

We asked to play it in Snugboro because we had the desire to fulfill the fixture...

I am still gonna go with Westport for the league, if they can beat us this Sunday :D

Ballina will drop points and maybe Erris can play their way into the shake up too...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

Surely someone has contacted the league about this?

---

We have and youre only promoted if you finish in top 2 positions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Don

We have and youre only promoted if you finish in top 2 positions.

---

And what about relegation. Is the superleague going to a 8 team league.
I think we are on the verge of becoming a glorified pub league.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

And what about relegation. Is the superleague going to a 8 team league.
I think we are on the verge of becoming a glorified pub league.

---

Dont know. Dont know.
Just a little bit of a over reaction dont you think.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rava

And what about relegation. Is the superleague going to a 8 team league.
I think we are on the verge of becoming a glorified pub league.

---

If that happens it will effect all other divisions. Will there be 12 teams in the premier???.