Originally Posted by
gufcfan
"This includes the eventual setting up of a Connacht Senior League, and a Board for the single Galway club composed of a broad spectrum of football and business interests in the Galway area."
The O'Connor Report also suggested that, for a single Galway team to come into existence, the re-establishment of the Connacht Senior League was essential in providing both Devon and Mervue with an outlet for their senior sides.
While all focus has been on the domestic league side, the first steps towards a unified team was actually putting the structures in place for the Connacht Senior League, and that is now set to go ahead in October. Letters were sent to clubs in all four leagues in the jurisdiction of the Connacht FA - Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo/Leitrim - and Art Friel of the Connacht FA has confirmed to Tribune Sport that seven clubs have at least eight teams involved, and as of now it looks like we already have seven. I am still waiting to hear from a number of clubs, and if we can go up to 10 teams being involved, that would be great," said Friel.
John Delaney has previously confirmed that a sponsorship deal has been struck for the CSL on an initial three-year deal, which would give the new league plenty of time to become established. The Connacht FA didn't want to be drawn on the names of the seven clubs that have confirmed and interest, but Devon and Mervue are almost certainly two of those, while it is also likely that both NUI Galway and GMIT would look carefully at the proposal.
A fifth Galway club is also likely, but it may not be a reserve side from the new unified Galway club, which would be left to focus on putting it's foundations in place. Instead, Ballinasloe Town are strong contenders for involvement in the CSL - the east Galway club players in the Roscommon District League, and it needs just one point from its remaining four games to clinch the Premier Division title for a second successive season.
Mayo clubs such as Castlebar Celtic, Ballina Town and Westport United would also be likely contenders for the new league, as would the other League of Ireland clubs in the western area - Sligo Rovers, Longford Town and Athlone Town.
Sligo Rovers recently rejected an invitation to joins the Ulster Senior League, but when contacted about the CSL proposal this week, a spokesperson said the club had no comment to make on the matter.
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