Academies gone mad
The biggest entry ever to the schoolboys/girls league since it began, stated chairman Brian Donnelly. It’s going to give the committee headaches regarding the pitches and fixtures.
“We have 51 entries from age 7 to 11 year olds so it’s going to be a busy season. The weather can play an important part in getting games played”, added Donnelly. “The league committee have given this some thought as to where we go going forward”.
“This season it’s winter football but we will monitor the weather as we go along. Many parents have stated that the cold wet weather is no time for these young players to be playing”.
“Indeed when the league started first we played the famous calendar football”, stated Donnelly, “maybe now is the time to look at this going forward for the academies. We will see how we go.
“First we have to sort out this year’s fixtures which will not be easy. The league teams from 12 to 16 year olds is up and running. For how long we do not know.”
PLAN IN PLACE
“We have a plan in place for the coming season should we run into problems with Covid-19. Hopefully everything will go alright for the coming season”, added Donnelly.
“Already we have cancelled a joint venture with South Tipperary at U16 level, due to Covid-19. Again it’s a project still on the cards and depending on the virus we may be able to kickstart this in March or April”.
NEW REFEREES
We currently need new referees to now cater for our new extra numbers. We appeal to younger boys, in or around 18 years of age to get involved with the whistle. They can begin with the academies to get them used to the whistle. So boys or girls can get in touch with any committee member.
Another thing to remember is one can earn a few euro when you become a referee. Just said I would mention that!
HOW THE ACADEMIES WILL RUN
The U11 academy sees 16 teams entered. This caused problems. The main one is the number of pitches required. Add in games for U7, U9, U13 and U16s all taking place on the same weekend and you can see the problems. However, the committee will overcome these but there is a starting up date for the above including all academies.
All clubs will receive an email during the weekend. As mentioned at the beginning of the notes, this is the biggest number of teams ever for the academies, which is great for the league going forward.
CLUBS PLEASE TAKE NOTE
The league committee would like to ask all clubs, players, parents, guardians and supporters to abide by the HSE and Government laws and advice. Arrive togged out and leave straight away after the game. No shaking hands at the end of the game.
Make sure the players sanitise their hands before and after the games and keep a full list of who attends these games along with their phone numbers. An email has been sent to all clubs again during the week advising them of this. Any club with a problem please get in touch with the league right away.
GEARY ON FIRE FOR INCH Inch Utd 9 Brideview Utd 0
Captain of Inch Ben Geary led by example on Saturday morning last when he scored all nine goals for the home side in the Round Tower Hotel U13 premier league. Throughout the game he tormented the visitors defence.
Geary was not alone however. This Inch side were great to watch and manager Trevor Murphy must have been a happy man after the game. Yes, he was and indeed very happy after the game and was delighted with the effort from all the players.
The opening goal came in the fifth minute when Murphy’s cross into the box saw Geary volley to the net. Geary took over in this half and further goals in the 10th, 15th, 20th and 28th minutes saw the home side go into the break leading 5-0.
Brideview needed to raise their game in the second half and to be fair they did. They were unlucky in the 35th minute when Whelan set up King but Farquhar denied him.
Whelan tested the Inch keeper in the 39th minute, again Farquhar saved well.
At the other end O’Brien saved well when Murphy again broke through but O’Brien got down well to save. Geary struck for goal number six in the 45th minute when Power set him up.
The Tallow side had their chances when they got on top for ten minutes during this half. A great move started by Sheehan to Whelan who set up King but his fine effort saw Farquhar push it out for a corner. Then in the 53rd minute both Pratt and Whelan both failed to connect with an open goal for them.
Brideview tired after this and Geary added three more goals in the 55th, 58th and 60th minutes to round off a marvellous display of how to put the ball in the net.
Inch Utd: G Farquhar, C Power, P Dineen, D Fitzpatrick, C Brenna, C Delaney, T Power A Howey, B Geary, A Brenner, R Murphy, B O’Connor, S McDonnell.
Brideview Utd: D O’Brien, D Henley, L Madej, S Mangan, T McCormack, I Almeida, A Pratt, B Sheehan, R Whelan, E King, G Murphy, M Murphy, L Guildea.
Referee: K Vaitkunas.
No doubt many of these players from Inch will be on development squads for the coming season.
LISMORE WIN DERBY Brideview Utd 0 Lismore 4
This local derby in the East Cork Oil U16 premier league saw the visitors come out on top and clinch all three points. It took the teams a while to get going but as the wind increased both sides upped their game.
Jack Henley, William Kenneally and Josh Good all missed good chances for Utd. In Henley’s and Kenneally’s chances both were denied by good saves by Lismore’s keeper Joe O’Keeffe.
The only goal of the first half came in the 31st minute when Ben O’Sullivan scored and the sides went in at the break with O’Sullivan’s goal separating the sides.
The second half was only three minutes old when Owen Aldred shot home to increase the visitors’ lead. Then in the 50th minute a penalty to Utd. O’Keeffe for the visitors made a terrific save to deny Henley and again he denied Twohig on the rebound.
Lismore made it 3-0 when captain Duffin scored a fine goal on 53 minutes. Both sides went close before Duffin rounded off the scoring in the 74th minute and seal a fine victory for them.
Utd (all played): J McDonnell, I Martin, C Sheehan, F Meaney, A Hurley, C McCarthy, A Bennett, J Good, W Kenneally (captain), A McSweeney, J Henley, M Kiely, T Twohig.
Lismore (all played): J O’Keeffe, A Heise, O Aldred, S Barry, M Pickford, M Burke, J Hegarty, T Duffin, J Motherway, B O’Sullivan, C Martin, O Kelleher, C Shanahan-Quinn.
Ref: David Kingston.