Colga put title on the line as Junior soccer season kicks-off

Colga were not anybody's fancy for title honours last season, but the Clarinbridge-Kilcolgan side went through the campaign unbeaten with 13 wins and three draws from their 16 games and collected a first-ever top-flight title.

For the duration, their main challenge came from Salthill Devon, while somewhat in the distance lay Maree-Oranmore and Mervue United.

Moyne Villa sat in mid-table during the campaign; while the relegation zone was well populated as Athenry, Craughwell United, and Renmore battled with Corrib Celtic to avoid the drop, before the latter were relegated.

The arrival of the new FAI National League, which kicked-off last week and which includes Salthill Devon and Mervue United amongst the 15 participants - has resulted in a lot of players moving in their direction. That of course will weaken some clubs, and none more so than Maree-Oranmore, who have lost their manager and almost all of their first team, having finished third last season, splitting Devon (2nd) and Mervue (4th) in the final table.

A managerial merry go round is also in vogue with the city clubs, with Hibernians' Stephen Walsh the only survivor from 2025/26, as Devon, Mervue, and Renmore have all new appointees.

The defending champions Colga will be attempting to maintain their high standards and bar Jorge Lopes, have retained all their squad from last season. They have strengthened with the addition of former Athlone Town striker Colm Doyle; while Alex Murphy and Jay McPhilbin have also moved in the direction of Clarinbridge.

Colie Kelly has replaced Emlyn Long as Salthill Devon manager and he is picking up the pieces after half his side moved to the club's new National League team.

Shane O'Rourke, Calym Crowe, Cole Connolly, Timmy Molloy, and Ben McDonnell all need replacing after they made the step-up to the National League side. Tommy Lillis, Sam Golden, Oisin McCartan, Noah Ward, and Caleb Lategan are some of the younger generation of players making the step up.

A cohort of experienced campaigners still remain, as Marc Ludden, Mick Lee, Mikey Fox, Alex Byrne, Enda Curran, Paul Scally, Colin Kelly, Darren Collins, and Cian Mulryan are all available for a side who won the Connacht Junior Cup last season, denying Colga the double when beating them 3-2 in the final.

Mervue United are equally decimated by the departure of a host of players like Peter Healy, Daniel Brennan, Milo O'Malley, Kody McCann, Aaron Neary, Charlie Concannon, Lewis Waweru, and Adam Healy, but they too will look towards some of the youth players who have served the club well at that level this past few seasons.

However, the likes of Conor Keady, Oisin Coyne, Mark O'Halloran, and Adam O'Halloran are now some of the experienced players who will be offering guidance to newcomers to this level, Michael Bradbury and Kalen Ainsworth.

For years Renmore hovered above the relegation zone and always survived under Stuart Donoghue, but he has moved on and taken over at Moyne Villa and he has been replaced by former Galway United Academy manager, Martin Devlin.

Two seasons ago, Hibernians were relegated for the first time in their history, but returned at the first time of asking when promoted after finishing as runners-up to St Bernard's in the Championship.

How both teams deal with the new higher level remains to be seen, for traditionally it is a bit of a struggle. Like with a number of clubs, some of Hibs players have moved on and the Bohermore outfit will be depending on the likes of Darren Sinton, Evan Browne, Shane Walsh, and Jack Flaherty to help them settle back to the higher level.

Six of the Premier Division teams are outside the city boundary as Colga, St Bernard's, Moyne Villa, Maree-Oranmore Craughwell United, and Athenry are all part of the top flight.

Moyne Villa are always capable of causing an upset along the way, but while they have the ability to score goals, they have an even greater tendency to leak them as well.

Now that he has finally retired, Cathal Fahy is taking over as manager of Athenry and with a cohort of young players they have the ability to surprise, with the likes of Cory Walker, Adam Molloy, and Callum Carroll to the fore.

Craughwell United did very well to survive in their first-ever season in the top flight last year, as a good start to the campaign was crucial to their campaign. St Bernard's are a side who have moved up and down between the divisions, but with talented players in the squad like Conor French, Matty Finn, and the three Nolan brothers - Darragh, Ryan and Ciaran - they have the ability to put anyone to the test.

Last season all the major honours were shared out as Colga won the Premier Division, Salthill Devon collected the Connacht Junior Cup, and Maree-Oranmore were Michael Byrne Cup champions.

Colga and Devon will be at the forefront again and it is difficult to see any surprise candidates challenging otherwise.