Underage a greater priority

promoted which if it came to pass would put us only one division off Premier soccer again, but that’s hypothetical for the moment and obviously the health of everyone involved in the KDL must come before anything else right now.

“I think when you see clubs coming and going in the KDL as they so often do in today’s times and some very well established and traditionally bigger clubs struggling for numbers like we have seen in recent times then we aren’t doing too bad at all to still be here 30 plus years on battling away and offering a service to our community whilst retaining our competitiveness.

“We have taken on three Premier A sides in cup competition in the last twelve months [Listowel, Classic and Castleisland] and more than held our own I felt, conceding five and scoring three ourselves.

“Two of those games went to extra-time and one to penalties so there is plenty to be positive about. We have scored 41 goals and only conceded 13 goals this season too so great work has been put in by all. I still retain hope that if we can get back on the playing fields by July or August then the season could be finished but some might dismiss my notions as a pipe dream.

“We got a great man in Pat O’Connor in as Chairperson at the start of this season (he replaced another brilliant clubman Kevin Giles who held the post for four or five seasons and is now Treasurer) and he has put a lot of great work in as have all the new committee to propel us forward hopefully.

“The 30th Anniversary held last November was a great success and a lot of work went into it by everyone to re-connect with the local community, soccer fraternity and to keep us on a sound financial footing also which is vital to maintain operations.

“It is a great source of pride of mine to be involved in Castlemaine United and to keep a smaller community in Kerry on the map in terms of sport.

“I think if you look at the top divisions nowadays most the areas represented are the ones with the bigger centres of population or those with the larger membership bases with a lot of bodies putting work in at academy levels to ensure continuity of playing members.

“However, whilst acknowledging all that we are striving to be able to compete at as high a level as we possibly can, the top levels aren’t exclusive and aren’t out of reach for any side that puts the hours in on the training ground.

“I look at MEK Galaxy and use them as a case in point as I know Darragh O’Regan and know how hard they have worked to come from a small setup with limited numbers to a situation now where they train twice a week and are in Premier A with two senior teams functioning.

“It wasn’t that long ago they were in Division 1A and 1B and we were playing them regularly so it goes to show what can be achieved by any club. We probably are always hampered a little in the sense that most our players are involved in GAA and Soccer so are dual players and this can create issues at times as both sports want their own slice of the cake, but whilst GAA may be more serious now in terms of preparation etc than it was for some of our past members back 20 odd years ago both sports have always worked side by side and with co-operation

Founded: Home ground: Club golours:

Colours)

HISTORY

August 1989

Castlemaine Community Sportsfield Sky Blue & White Stripes (Argentina

Founding members:

Charlie Boyle, Tom Flynn, Sean Costello, Mike Carroll, Albert Boyle, Noel Lawlor and Andrew Boyle.

Main drivers behind the club in past 30 years:

Giles brothers (Alfie, Jason, Kevin and John (R.I.P), Flynn brothers (current senior team manager Kieran, Derry and Mike, Boyle brothers, Andrew & Albert, Laurence O’Dowd, Charlie Boyle, John Lenihan, Pat O’Connor (Present Chairman), David O’Neill, Johnny Fitzgerald, Tim Foley, Noel Lawlor, David Clifford, Timmy O’Connor, John James Griffin, Mike Carroll, Sean Costello, Tom Flynn.

Coleman Cronin’s Circle

Main sponsors over the years:

K Service Station, Castlemaine

ROLL OF HONOUR

Senior ‘A’, Winner of 1989/90 Kerry District League Division 4; Captain: Sean Costello

Winners of 1995/96 Kerry District League Division 2; Captain: John Lenihan

Winners of 1996/97 Kerry District League Division 1; Captain: Derry Flynn

Senior ‘B’ winner of 1994/95 Kerry District League Division 5, Captain: Tim Foley

Winners of 2016/17 Kerry District League Division 2 Captain: Wayne Coffey

2012/13 & 2016/17 runner-up in the Tommy Healy Memorial Cup

2014/15 runner-up in the Reserve Cup Final

Winner of 1994/95 Youths League, Captain: Tony Ladden Winners of 1997/98 Youths League, Captain: Alfie Giles Winners of 1998/99 Youths League, Captain: Alfie Giles

Winners of 2002/03 Kerry Schoolboys League U-16 Division 1, Captain: Kevin O’Shea

Winners of 2013/14 Kerry Schoolboys League U-16 Division 1, Captain: Jonathan O’Sullivan/Gavin Horan can continue to do so.

“There are plenty dual clubs operating in the higher echelons too of Kerry soccer so it can’t be an excuse for us for remaining static and I’m sure it won’t be. It is and has always been true I believe that nobody has found it an easy fixture when travelling to Castlemaine and my hope would be that always remains the case as we are very proud of our club and representing it to the best of our abilities at all times.

“We have won all six league games at home this season, our only loss being 1-0 to Castleisland ‘A’ in the Celsius Menswear League Cup which is no shame at all.

“It hasn’t always been rosy and there are always challenges to keep ourselves going as like any organisation you need fresh faces to come in and inject new impetus at times to give others a break and that probably comes easier in more highly populated areas than to ours, but we punch above our weight, all row in together as a community to get things done and make do with what we have and put our best foot forward.

“Going forward its always hard to know what the future holds, take every day as it comes as they say I suppose, but if there is one thing I’d like to see happening that is I would love to bring back underage soccer of some form within the club as I believe the Keel / Castlemaine / Milltown / Ballyfinnane area is crying out for it with seven schools (Keel has two, Castlemaine has two, Ballyfinnane has one and Milltown has two) including a Secondary school so the playing numbers are there without question.

“It’s just a matter of sitting down as a club, setting out structures, getting the bodies to drive it and aspiring to get it done and that’s something I’ll be lobbying hard for in the coming years as for any rural club to sustain you can’t rely on the same senior players forever.

“Some will say maybe the facilities need improving and of course they do to attract the players, but I think you have to work on both fronts and take one step at a time as many top players have come from smaller clubs to represent Kerry and Ireland at all levels and that’s what keeps us all going, waiting for that next big talent.”