For any team in sport, there comes a moment, game or training session where you go and ask: do we want this or not? For this group of Castlebar Celtic players, it came last year – and they haven’t looked back since.
After defeat to Ballinasloe Town in the Connacht Cup semi-final, their league form stuttered, with losses to Manulla, Ballina Town, Westport United, Ballyheane and Glenhest Rovers. After a frank exchange of views after another defeat, the senior players decided enough was enough.
“It was after one result last season where we pulled a team meeting,” recalls Jordan Loftus. “It got very emotional in the dressing-room and at that point the senior players said, ‘We need to have a team meeting’.
“The penny dropped for everyone and we told people that no one has an obligation to play. We want to win things. We knew who was real and who wasn’t. People who didn’t want to commit, that’s fine. Everyone else got their heads on and said ‘this is what we want to do, if you want to play for Castlebar Celtic’.
“At that point, you know, it got more serious and more professional. It’s a big testament to Stevie (Gavin) and Declan (Flynn) but it was player-led. We pulled together from that moment onwards and since then we’ve had numerous meetings between management and players. The rest is history and we’ve been on a rampage since.
“‘In this together’ is our motto and it’s testament to the squad that every individual is giving that commitment.”
Rampage would be an accurate description. Celtic didn’t lose for the remainder of last season and finished with the Super Cup. Another trophy is within their grasp in the shape of the Connacht Cup when they take on Athenry in this Sunday’s final at Milebush, their first since 2014.
“This is my second Connacht Cup final and I’ve been playing since 2007. They don’t come around too often so it’d be nice to win one now,” says captain Ioseph O’Reilly. “Even for the younger players at this stage in their career, to win one would be massive. Who knows what happens after that?
“Athenry are there on merit. They just lost out on the league to Salthill Devon and beat them in the Connacht Cup. We have a good record against them but that goes out the window for the final.” Athenry has been kind to Loftus. He netted a half-volley from near the halfway line in the 90th minute to beat them at the last 16 stage in 2020 and he was also involved in a thrilling 6-5 win over Athenry in 2017.
A win for Celtic would be a tenth title for the club and a record in the competition. Loftus is a sentimental person by his own admission and he knows it would be particularly special given it’s the club’s centenary next year.
“It’s huge for the club and it has been too long. We should be competing every year. Castlebar Celtic is the biggest club in Connacht in my opinion. To do that in the centenary year, the stars are aligning in a way.
“The FAI Junior Cup is a dream but the Connacht Cup is a real achievable goal for us. It’s the pinnacle to win. It’s something I’ve had on my radar since we’ve come back.” Both men are well aware there is still a job to do. Even though they are joint top with Ballina Town in the Super League – and with a game in hand – no one is getting carried away just.
“Confidence is massive. It’s early doors in the league but we’re getting over the line,” says O’Reilly. “We’ve a 100% record at the minute but we’ve no trophy in front of us yet. Everyone can be talking but we’re not caught in the hype of a Connacht Cup final or being top of the league with a game in hand.”
Those sentiments were shared by Loftus.
“Right now, we haven’t achieved anything and I can’t stress that enough. We haven’t won the league and we haven’t won the Connacht Cup. If we win it, we’ll enjoy the celebrations and then we go again for the league but right now we’ve won nothing.
“We need to stay focused and keep our eye on the ball and take each game as it comes. Hopefully, we can come back with a few trophies at the end of the year.”