By Christopher Conway
Ballymote Celtic have secured the biggest trophy in the club’s history after a dramatic late surge saw them defeat their opponents 4 – 2 in a thrilling Connacht Shield final, sparking celebrations across the town and marking a landmark moment for the club.
The Sligo side, founded in 1978, produced a performance full of resilience and quality, holding their nerve in a tense finish before sealing victory deep into injury time.
For club secretary Stephen Cannon, who has been involved with the team for many years, the achievement represents something unprecedented in the club’s long history.
“It’s massive for the club,” he said. “We’ve been going since 1978 and have never won anything this big before. I’m so proud of the lads. I’ve been with the team for years and never experienced anything like it.”
The build-up to the final had already generated huge excitement in the local community, with strong support evident throughout the week leading into the game.
“The atmosphere was unreal in the build-up,” Stephen explained. “It’ll probably go on for another week yet. You know yourself how these things go.”
On the pitch, Ballymote Celtic appeared in control for large periods of the contest. Leading 3 – 1 heading into the closing stages, they were forced to dig deep as their opponents fought back to make it 3 – 2, setting up a nervy finish.
“The team played very well,” Stephen said. “They were on top for most of the game. We were 3 – 1 up with about eight or nine minutes to go, but then it got nervy. A lot of decisions seemed to go against us, and we weren’t sure how much injury time there was.”
However, Ballymote showed composure when it mattered most, scoring in added time to put the result beyond doubt.
“Then we scored in the 98th minute, deep into injury time, to make it 4 – 2. Absolutely fantastic,” he added.
The scenes at full-time reflected the magnitude of the achievement, with supporters celebrating alongside players in what has been described as one of the club’s greatest ever days.
Stephen believes the success highlights the importance of the relationship between the team and its local support base, which played a significant role throughout the season.
“It’s very important,” he said. “You need that backing behind you at a big time like this. Everyone was behind us. There was a huge crowd in Castlebar.”
That support extended well beyond match days, with the entire town visibly rallying around the team in the lead-up to the final. Businesses across Ballymote displayed flags and colours, while volunteers helped transform the town in support of the squad.
“Every business had flags and something up,” Stephen said. “The committee and players all volunteered to put flags up around the town, hundreds of them.”
He also highlighted the level of local sponsorship and backing the club received, which contributed to preparations for the final.
“We got great sponsorship for it,” he explained. “Kelly’s provided a full new kit, Trevor O’Connor sponsored kit bags, and other local businesses like CJ Construction and the funeral directors all helped out. Even John Dodd provided new tops for the players.”
“Haley’s even supplied a teleporter to help put up all the flags and banners. There was a lot of support from the local community. It was unbelievable.”
Looking ahead, Stephen believes the victory could mark the beginning of a strong period for the club, particularly given the squad’s young makeup.
“That team is getting better,” he said. “It’s a very young team. We’ll hopefully bring in a few more local players as well. If we add to what we have, we’ll be very strong.”
While Ballymote Celtic have enjoyed success at local level in the past, Stephen admitted this triumph stands apart from anything the club has previously achieved.
“We probably won a few local cups and things,” he said, “but this is a big one. We haven’t seen scenes like this before.”
As celebrations continue, plans are already being discussed for a formal event to mark the achievement, with a dinner dance among the possibilities.
“We’ve had some celebration so far,” Stephen said. “It’ll probably go on for the full week, and we’re hoping to have something later on as well.”
For a club that has spent decades building its place in the local football landscape, this long-awaited breakthrough represents more than just silverware; it marks a defining moment in its history, and one that will live long in the memory of players, supporters, and the wider community alike.
Stephen thanked supporters for turning up throughout the season, saying, “I’d like to thank everyone for their huge effort. Through all sorts of weather, they kept coming”
