Fantastic double for the Waterford league at the weekend
Lismore was the only team in action last weekend in the Waterford league from ‘up west’, as they travelled to Waterford to play Ferrybank and lost to the only goal of the game.
The Munster Senior Cup 3rd round tie was played last weekend and the five League of Ireland clubs in Munster joined the competition in this round. The RSC had a very good attendance for the Waterford fixture against Cork opposition, Douglas Hall from the Munster Senior League and it took extra time before the Blues ensured their name was in the next round. Cork City lost out to Wilton Utd in a penalty shootout and Cobh Ramblers started their defence of the trophy with a victory over College Corinthians played at the Stephen Ireland Complex. Waterford and Cobh are now into the quarter-finals, which will be played before the first week in February. The Airtricity League will commence on Friday, 16th February.
We give a report on the Waterford League winning the Munster Youth Inter League final, defeating the Cork Youth League and Waterford defeating the Kerry league to win the Munster final of the Oscar Traynor Cup.
While our look back through the archives bring us some memories from the 1987/88 season, a historic season for the league with this season the first one to have the management committee elected by the clubs, as in former years it was the officers of Lismore AFC that formed the organising committee. Also, this season was the first season the RHL were associate members of the Waterford and District League, which they would be until 1999 when the league’s request to join the Munster Football Association was endorsed by the MFA.
WATERFORD LEAGUE Ferrybank 1 Lismore 0
Lismore was the only team in action in the Waterford and District League last weekend when they travelled to play Ferrybank in Division 2B and lost by the only goal of the game.
This was a disappointing result for the Cathedral town team, as they had enough chances to win the game but did not convert these into scores.
This coming Saturday, Lismore will be at home in the Castle Farm ground to play Kilbarry in Division 2B. Kick-off is 2pm.
Friday night will see Cappoquin/ Railway get the weekend games up and running when they have Kilmacthomas as visitors to the Danes Field in Division 3A, with a 7pm kick-off.
The big news from the Waterford and District League last weekend was the double success of both the Youth Inter League and the Oscar Traynor teams. The Youth Inter League team defeated the Cork Youth League 2-1 in the Munster Youth Inter League final played at Cahir on Saturday last. This was a great result for the as the Cork Youth League had defeated Waterford in two previous finals.
On Saturday, the Cork team took the lead early in the second half, after a scoreless opening half. Shortly after Waterford were awarded a penalty, the spot kick hit a post, but Tramore player Callum Barry reacted the quickest and sent the rebound to the net for the equaliser.
The winning goal came in the 84th minute and Waterford are now into the last four of the national competition.
On Sunday, the Waterford Junior League team defeated the Kerry League 5-1 in the Munster final of the Oscar Traynor Cup at Carrig Park, Fermoy. Waterford were leading 3-0 coming up to half-time, when Kerry pulled a goal back to give them a chance. But Waterford continued to attack and scored two more goals in the second half for a convincing victory.
Mark O’Keeffe scored a hattrick, with a goal each from Ben Daly and Rejix Madika. This was the first season the Oscar Traynor has been played for since before Covid. Unfortunately this season, the competition has not had the same number of leagues entered as in former years. We are delighted to see it has been revived as anyone who played on the winning team had a much sought after medal, next to the FAI Junior Cup medal.
Having won the Munster final, Waterford will now have home advantage when they play the quarter-final in a few weeks time.
A wonderful weekend for the Waterford League with such an important double in this, the centenary of the league. We will hopefully have more news soon on the date of the next rounds and who the opposition will be for the two inter-league teams.
AIRTRICITY LEAGUE
Friday night last saw Waterford play their first competitive game of the new season when they hosted Munster Senior League team, Douglas Hall, at the RSC in the 3rd round of the Munster Senior Cup. On a bitterly cold night and before a fine attendance, just under 1,100, the Cork team made the new look Blues battle into extra time, before Waterford won 2-0 with the goals coming in the last few minutes of extra time.
Waterford & District League 2 Douglas Hall 0
Waterford started this game with only three of the starting team that defeated Cork City in the playoff back in November and manager Keith Long introduced three of his new signings in the starting line-up.
Douglas Hall are second in the Munster Senior League and the Moneygourney based team have had plenty of games in league and cup competitions and were expected to make Waterford fight for the full ninety minutes. In fact, the game had to go to extra time and was heading towards penalties, until the Blues scored the two late goals.
The opening half was fairly even, with the visitors well organised and not many chances for either team. Waterford played some good football in this period, but were also sloppy in giving away possession. Keith Long made a few changes for the second half and gave a number of the academy players the opportunity to play senior competitive football.
Sargeant in the Blues’ goal was forced into a number of saves, especially from Bosnjak, who played very well up front for the Hall and in fact, could have won the game late in normal time when he intercepted a pass from Leahy and raced into the area, before firing high towards the corner of the goal, but Sargeant saved brilliantly diving full length to tip the ball behind for a corner.
Another striker to catch the eye was Jonah Obode. At the other end the visiting keeper, O’Donovan was also in action making a number of excellent saves, with one from McMenamy that was goal bound.
At the end of normal time there was no score and the game was drifting towards a penalty shootout in extra time when Douglas Hall felt they had a penalty, when Ronan Mansfield appeared to foul Bosnjak in the area, but referee Ian O’Keeffe waved play on. With two minutes remaining, Ben McCormack found the net and a minute later, Cameron Cresswell put the game out of reach for the visitors when he scored.
At the final whistle, Waterford were 2-0 winners and through to the quarter-finals.
The Waterford team: Sam Sargeant,
Joseph Forde, Dean Larkin, Adam Queally, Ryan Burke, Niall O’Keeffe, Dean McMenamy, Ben McCormack, Conor Parsons, Gbemi Arubi, Cameron Cresswell. Reserves: Jason Healy. Reserves used Darragh Leahy, Mikey Carroll, Ronan Mansfield, Kacper Radkowski, Romeo Akachukwu.
Waterford will now have home advantage as they play Wilton Utd of the Munster Senior League who defeated Cork City last Saturday. The game ended 0-0 aet and in the penalty shootout, Wilton came out on top 3-0. This was a shock result
The Waterford squad and a number of supporters flew across the water on Sunday afternoon and by the time our notes appear in print, will have played Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night. They will also have a game on Thursday night.
We are delighted to see Ronan Mansfield from Cappoquin/Railway getting game time with Waterford and he played well when introduced on Friday night.
The reserve goalkeeper on Friday night is underage international, Jason Healy and he has Lismore connections. His late grandfather Michael Healy came from New Street or as we all know the street, as Botany. Michael and this writer went to school together in Lismore CBS and both of us played on the Rice Cup winning team of 1959 and played under age football with Lismore AFC under the management of Trevor Enderson. Michael took up employment in Waterford and spent his entire adult life by the banks of the Suir. He was a wonderful Waterford supporter and always at the RSC to see the Blues in action and we always made it our business when at games there to meet him in his favourite spot in the old stand. There is no doubt he is very proud to see Jason involved, as he looks down from above the clouds. Speaking to his grandmother, Ann last year, we could see how proud she is of Jason. We look forward to seeing him when the season commences in a few weeks time.
Wilton Utd 0 Cork City 0 Wilton win 3-0 on penalties
Cork City fielded a youthful team, the U19 team, last Saturday in the 3rd round of the Munster Senior League against Wilton Utd at the Mayfield AstroTurf pitch and were defeated in a penalty shootout after the teams finished 0-0 after extra time. This was supposed to be the first competitive game for Tim Clancy’s team as he is building a team to go straight back up to the Premier division at the first time of asking, after last season’s relegation loss to Waterford, but the manager let U19 manager Stephen Bermingham take charge of the team, while he himself took in the game as an observer.
Season 2023 was very disappointing for the City faithful and the new manager has made some interesting signings for 2024. Greg Bolger has come back to the club having spent the last three seasons with Sligo Rvs and his experience in midfield should be a big asset. The signing of Sean Murray on loan until July from Glentoran is also going help the team, with Jack Doherty and Chris Lyons having signed from Cobh Ramblers. Some of last season’s players have re-signed including Dylan McGlade, Tunde Owolabi, Cian Murphy and making a return to City is Harry Nevin, who has spent three years with Preston.
Cork City and Tim Clancy are planning to be back playing Premier football come next November, but the 1st Division is difficult, ask Waterford, and it will mean getting the right results from the very start.
College Corinthians 2 Cobh Ramblers 4
Cobh Ramblers had a good win last Saturday in the Munster Senior Cup 3rd round when defeating College Corinthians 4-2 at the Stephen Ireland Complex. Matthew McKevitt with two goals and a goal each for Jack Kervick and Jack Larkin saw the Ramblers into a quarter-final tie away to Kerry at Mounthawk Park. The Ramblers are the current holders and have won the cup for the past two seasons and will be hoping to make it three in a row. Cobh will have a youthful team this season under new manager, Gary Hunt, as they lost a number of players during the close season.
Throughout the League of Ireland, we are hearing of clubs really going after new signings as the teams in the Premier chase Shamrock Rovers who are attempting a record five in a row league titles.
The big news last week was the transfer of Pat Hoban from Dundalk to Derry City. Hoban was also chased by Shamrock Rvs and we even heard his name mentioned with Cork City at one stage. He is a recognised goal getter and while on the wrong side of thirty years, is still a player that will get enough goals that could possibly see the Candystripes take the title from Rovers. The Hoops are also targeting players as Stephen Bradley attempts to strengthen his squad. St. Patrick’s Athletic appear to be Rovers biggest danger in the capital with the Pat’s management having made a number of very shrewd signings before Christmas and they want to build on the success of winning the cup last November.
The odds we hear on Waterford winning the title have been cut since the start of January and this is apparently because of the signings Keith Long has made.
LOOKING BACK AT LEAGUE AFFAIRS IN SEASON 1987/88
In last week’s Memories section, we took a look back through the archives of 1985 and 1986. When we looked though season 1986/87, we saw that at the AGM of 1st September, 1986, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Waterford and District League, as this was the first meeting since the Red House League had become associate members of the Waterford and District League. As was reported, many meetings had taken place between the two committees before it was agreed by both leagues and the MFA that the RHL become associate members. The Waterford League officers suggested the league continue for the coming season as it had since the very start and Waterford would have a representative at the delegate meetings in Waterford.
Looking through the archives of 1987, there is much we have covered before, but some items we did not put in our Memories segment. A quick resume of those items that we reported are that the organising committee of the league, Lismore AFC, decided at their AGM held in May 1987 that the committee of the RHL should be drawn from the league clubs and no longer by the
Lismore club.
At the AGM of the RHL on Monday, 29th June, 1987 the clubs present were informed of this and a new committee was elected from the clubs present. There were eleven of the sixteen clubs present, with Piltown, Killeagh, Grange, Shamrocks and Valley Rgs absent. The new committee elected - and we have written this before - was chairman Paddy Pollard, vice chairman Eddie O’Shea, secretary Paddy Mason, treasurer Len Fraser, assistant treasurer Paddy O’Donnell, PRO Liam Fraser, assistant PRO Paddy Pollard.
The chairman told the delegates that the league was awaiting the rules from Waterford and suggested the committee meet to discuss them and make a list of suggestions for the clubs, and maybe the clubs may come up with some improvements themselves. The rules would then be finalised for the league.
A committee meeting was held on Thursday, 30th July at the Red House Bar in Lismore attended by Jimmy Searson, vice chairman Waterford and District League, as well as John Fitzgerald, hon secretary and Noel Wallace, committee member. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the rules of the Waterford and District League and those rules that affect the RHL. Once again, it was stressed the RHL would have its own autonomy which the committee members felt was so very important to the clubs in the league.
Looking at the minutes recorded by Paddy Mason, hon league secretary, the meeting lasted a marathon three hours.
The committee then met a week later to continue looking through the rules that were relevant to the clubs in the RHL. The committee were also informed that both Eddie O’Shea and Paddy Mason had met with Michael O’Leary who had sponsored the two divisions the previous season and Michael agreed to continue his sponsorship of the two divisions that coming season.
At a delegate meeting on 24th August, 1987 which was attended by Noel Wallace of the Waterford and District League, the league chairman spoke on the new committee and then about a new underage competition. Youghal FC presented a cup to the league which was donated by Teresa O’Connell and would be named the O’Connell Cup to be played at U11 age group. At the time there were six U11 teams entered in the cup competition.
The rules for the coming season were examined in detail and Noel Wallace took questions from a few of the clubs. Noel would of course become the Waterford representative at all delegate meetings until the league had their application to became affiliated to the MFA endorsed in 1999. The RHL would have two representatives at the Waterford Delegate meeting at month end. After this, Eddie O’Shea would represent the league at all delegate meetings in Waterford.
The delegates were addressed by Mr. Sean O’Brien, Seaview Celtic, whose club were running a super draw and clubs were invited to take part.
At the October delegate meeting, the league chairman congratulated the four teams that pioneered our entry into the Munster Junior Cup - Cappoquin 2 Valley Rgs 0, Ardmore 4 Pinewood 5. Both Cappoquin and Pinewood would be beaten in the next round, but everyone in the league were proud of the four teams, the first from the RHL to play in the Munster Junior Cup.
A game on St. Stephen’s Day at Tallow between the 1st Division and the 2nd Division would be sponsored by Mr John Lyons, publican, Tallow.
At the February delegate meeting, the clubs were informed the RHL would play the Waterford and District League in an interleague challenge at a Waterford venue.
At the conclusion of this meeting, the league chairman spoke on the death of Pat O’Brien, president FAI. Pat worked tirelessly as an MFA executive for the RHL to ensure the league became associate members of the WDL and his help and input was invaluable.
At the final delegate meeting of the season held on 2nd May, 1988, the chairman thanked all those who had helped the league throughout the season - a season that saw the new committee elected by the clubs for the first time – and worked extremely hard, ensuring the league was an outstanding success. He was delighted to see the co-operation that existed between the clubs, the referees and the committee. Eddie O’Shea as chairman of the referees committee, was complimented for his work with the committee. Without the co-operation of everyone involved, the league would not be as successful as it was. Working with the Waterford League as associate members entitled the league to enter teams in the Munster Junior Cup in the past season for the first time and the four clubs that played in the competition could only benefit from playing against better opposition. He hoped other teams would follow the season after and also see teams enter the FAI Junior Cup.
The Waterford League and especially their representative to our delegate meetings, Noel Wallace, was always willing to help out if problems arose, that we as a committee needed guidance on. We must compliment ourselves, he said, as this problem only arose once as we were able to sort out problems ourselves. From the few meetings we held since becoming associate members, Noel Wallace had become a friend to us all and as he said himself, was only a phone call away.
While this was not the AGM, and normally we wait until that meeting to thank our sponsors and I would do when the AGM took place, it was important to acknowledge the sponsorship of Michael O’Leary and the Red House Lismore, Noel Faherty of the Dungarvan Tyre Centre, John Lyons Tallow for sponsoring the challenge game on St Stephen’s Day in Tallow and Jim Joe Landers for his sponsorship of the Tony Bolger Cup. Their sponsorship was crucial to the financial running of the league and for this, the league was so very grateful.
Finally, a special word of thanks to Mr. Dermot O’Leary, Cappoquin, for his continued coverage of our games in the local press at the time, in addition to our own league PRO, Liam Fraser.
This then concluded the 1987/88 season, which was the first season of the new committee and also as associate members of the Waterford League.
On the field of play, Affane won the 1st Division, which was the second time they became champions, having won their first title in 1980/81. Youghal won the 2nd Division in a playoff with Piltown and both teams were promoted to the top division for the new season, replacing Lismore and Pinewood who were relegated.
The Bolger Cup final, which was sponsored by JJ Landers, was played on Monday, 26th October, 1987. When we look at the report of the game, we discover that the final was to be played in Lismore, as per league rule, but when the teams and match officials arrived at the Castle Farm ground, to their dismay it was discovered that the pitch was not lined for the game.
A hastily convened meeting by the members of the Red House League committee who were present switched the fixture to Tallow and the game commenced twenty minutes late. Cappoquin defeated Pinewood 2-0 with goals from Michael Morrissey and Mick Walsh.
The PRO in the report noted the chairman and RHL committee wished to thank the Brideview club for agreeing to host the final at such short notice and allowing the league the use of their facilities. The league thanked both clubs, Cappoquin and Pinewood, for agreeing to play the final after the cock up in Lismore and also the match officials, who agreed to travel to Tallow thus ensuring the final took place.
The archive on this cup final with all that took place to ensure the fixture was played, brought back many memories to this writer of the day and showed the co-operation that existed with club officials, players and referees. Co-operation is a word that has been used many times when we retrace the history of the league and the various events that took place, be they on the field of play or in committee rooms. We believe this was a hallmark of the league through those early days and occasions such as what happened in that cup final nearly 37 years ago, will never be forgotten.
For the record, the players that lined out for the two teams were as follows:
Cappoquin - L Morrissey, E Walsh, E McLoughlin, J Morrissey, B Murray, D Lucas, M Power, J Mason, D Cummins, M Morrissey, B O’Shea. Reserves - M Walsh.
Pinewood - R Guiry, P Walsh, T Guiry, M Ryan, A Sheehan, M Guiry, J Coleman, J Walsh, J Sheehan, W
Kearney, A Gillman.
The Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup was won by Brideview who defeated Piltown in the final.
In the two semi-finals, Brideview defeated neighbours Ballyduff - played at Affane - 2-0, with Philly Curley scoring both goals. The referee was Eric Conroy, assistants were Paddy Mason and Eddie O’Shea.
The second semi-final between Affane and Piltown ended in a draw 2-2 aet, played at Tourin. The replay was played at Tallow and again ended in a draw, 1-1 aet. Piltown won the penalty shootout. Thus ended Affane’s dream of a league/cup double. The game was refereed by Tom Griffin, assistants were Len Fraser and Rod Rogers.
The final was played on Sunday, 10th April at Lismore with Brideview winning 3-1. The match report says it was a hard fought game, played before a large attendance on a bright sunny day and a very good surface for the game, but Brideview were the better team and deserved victory. This was Piltown’s third cup final since they played their first in 1985, losing all three finals.
The goal scorers for Brideview were Philly Curley, Dermot Henley and substitute David Henley, while Mike Shalloe scored for Piltown from the penalty spot.
Brideview – K Tobin, G Sice, K Murphy, P Prescod, L Moroney, G Hogan, Paul Curley, T McCarthy, S Curley, Philly Curley, Dermot Henley. Reserves - David Henley, P Sheehan, JJ Henley.
Piltown - T O’Keeffe, T O’Connor, G Hynes, T Power, R Hynes, B Power, K Mansfield, T Keane, Sean Allen, M Shalloe, Seamus Allen. Reserves - N O’Connor, M Burns, G O’Connor.
Referee Johnny Sheehan, assistants were Pat Condon and Tom Griffin.
We hope our ‘Memories’ section this week will bring back a few memories to former players, club officials and referees. Next week we will take another look through the archives.