Super League this Sunday

THE top level in the Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League (SLDSL), the Sligo Southern Hotel Super League, begins this Sunday. Holders Carbury FC, who are going for a sixth successive title, have home advantage for their clash with Leitrim’s Manor Rangers. Cartron United, last season’s runners-up, take on Cliffoney Celtic. The are six Super League games taking place – Aughanagh Celtic, who have been reinstated in this season’s competition, have a first round ‘bye’.

Aughanagh missed the registration deadline but subsequent appeals, initially through a social media post, led to the SLDSL asking the other 24 clubs (12 Super League and 12 Premier League) to decide Aughanagh’s fate.

Clubs voted in favour of Aughanagh being allowed back into the Super League, meaning this season’s top tier will have 13 teams, with one team inactive every week.

In its initial statement on the situation, Aughanagh admitted that they missed the registration deadline due to “an unfortunate administrative error”. It turned out that they missed the cut-off point for registration by 11 days.

The statement also added that if Aughanagh were not allowed compete in the Super League for the 2022-23 season – which is now not the case – that it would “jeopardise our young adults’ mental health”.