CCFL prepares to kick off new season

The eagerly awaited new Combined Counties Football League season is about to kick off across the midlands. Teams have working hard to get ready, with the action starting this weekend.

All of the divisions look like they will be keenly contested and at this time it’s impossible to predict winners, but good competitive action looks guaranteed.

This is certainly the case in the Senior Division where last season’s winners Willow Park will be there or thereabouts again this year. However, they will be pushed all the way by fellow Athlone side St Peter’s who enjoyed a significant Cup double last time out.

Clara Town, winners the two previous years, have also strengthened over the summer and cannot be ruled out under any circumstances. Monksland United, Ballinahown and Birr Town should be competitive and are capable of taking points off the favourites.

For the first time in many years there will be three Laois teams in the top division - Mountmellick and Clonaslee, who were promoted last year, and Abbeyleix, who probably feel that they did not do themselves justice last season.

The big disappointment is that title challengers over the past three years Mullingar Town have withdrawn their team from the Senior Division and will concentrate on their Division 1 team for the coming season. The retirement of long serving CCFL player of the year Jason Charles and with other players also moving on means that they will use the coming season to regroup.

Division 1 Sunday is a really interesting division. The teams that finished in third and fourth places last year, Temple Villa and Mullingar Celtic will fancy their chances. The same could be said for Gallen United who had a tough season last year in the Senior Division, but the experience gained should hold them in good stead.

Other teams that have competed strongly in this division over recent years, Coolraine and Rosenallis, will also be strong. Division 2 winners last year, St Carthage’s will be looking forward to their first experience at this level. It will also be interesting to see how the second teams of Portlaoise, Willow Park and Monksland perform.

Division 1 Saturday sees Moydow defending their title. While they will start as favourites, this will be a strong division this year with Longford Town sides Shamrocks and Rovers both strengthening and Mullingar Town also likely to compete strongly with Ballymahon and Ballyboro always capable of beating anyone on their day. Division 2 also consists of an interesting group of teams this season. The second teams of Mullingar Athletic, St Peter’s and Willow Park look like they will be strong, but they will face stiff opposition from the likes of Grange United who did very well last time out and Stradbally Town, who are reorganising after being relegated last year.

Kinnegad Juniors and Moate Celtic will also be hoping they can continue to perform like they did last year when they won their respective leagues at Division 3 level.

Division 3 is again divided into three smaller divisions regionally based. There are some new and returning teams competing in these Divisions, most notably Melville United who return after being out of the scene for a while.

In Division 3A there are two names returning that were well known in the game for many years. Ballybrittas and Cappakeel both entered teams before and while these are new clubs, having very little association with their predecessors, it is nice to see these names back in football.

Division 3B also sees two new teams from the Tullamore area with Hollywood and Cloncollig organising themselves to enter teams for the coming season.

The Women’s Division will again consist of eight teams for the coming season. Bealnamulla, who won this league several times in the past, are back for the new season. However, on the negative side, Clara Town are not entering a team this time out.

With over 40 youths’ teams entering for 2024/25 season (a record), it looks like a very bright future for the game in the midlands. This includes some girls’ teams as the CCFL will be running an Under-17 Division for girls. This is the very first time the league has organised girls' football at this level - a significant step in the development of girls and women's football in the midlands.

Action gets underway for Senior Division teams and teams involved in the LFA Junior Cup this weekend. All other adult divisions are in action the following weekend while youths action starts on September 29.