Ballyduff become first club to complete league and cup double in 1988/89 season
On Thursday morning last we learned that Level 5 will probably run into early April. This of course means that there will not be a return to football until after Easter and more than likely, this will mean May. Speaking to a few colleagues from other leagues, all feel we will be lucky if the current season will be completed in time for the new 2021/22 season to commence.
Our own view has been and still is, that we try and complete the Bolger Cup. With only one group round to play (only four games), we are then into the semi-finals followed by the final. Depending on when those games can take place, there should only be three weekends, and if we are into May then we can play midweek, meaning the competition can be completed over two weekends.
The few conversations we have had with any of our own clubs, there is general agreement on finishing the Bolger Cup. However, we will have to wait on guidance from the FAI on when there will be a return to football. We do believe that it is important that all underage football should return, if only for training, just to have the children out on the pitches again. This applies to all sport in our opinion.
We listened to an All-Ireland GAA medal winner, who is a school teacher, speaking on national radio last week and he said if he is to go back into a classroom with at least 20 children, why are they not allowed out onto the sport fields! A valid point and we find it difficult to understand why they are not allowed train in small hubs as they did last year.
Over the weekend we had a conversation with a well-known and experienced coach in the amateur game and also at underage football. His views on the current situation were very interesting. He stressed to us that it is so important that children get back out onto pitches, and this includes all sport, as he believes the current lockdown will unfortunately be felt by those children for many years to come. We agree entirely with this and while much of the talk is - and quite rightly - about the underage players, one must not forget those players who are at youth level and those between 18-25 or as it was pointed out, young adults. His own view is leagues throughout the country should, when permission is granted by the FAI, make every effort to complete the current season before the new season commences next August/September.
Indeed, there are mixed views and opinions on this as we discovered when speaking to a few colleagues from other leagues and one in particular, who told us on the phone on Friday that he has already suggested to his league to cancel the current season and prepare for the new season, hoping it can commence in early August.
The many views are worth listening to, but as we wrote earlier, we believe that the underage sections in all sports should be allowed back out into the playing fields. We feel sorry for the small ones who cannot run around with their friends, playing the games they love.
When we look back to last year and there were hubs allowing underage training, we did not hear of transmissions from these training sessions, as they were held in a controlled environment.
We agree with a well-known sports columnist over the weekend when he wrote that all underage players be allowed out on the playing pitches again, training and playing games. More important still is that they start to talk and laugh again, because that is all gone at the moment. How so very true.
In our Blast from the Past this week, we are back to season 1988/89, when Ballyduff FC became the first club in the RHL to complete the double.
POSITIVE FAI
It does make a change to read of some positive news regarding the FAI. Since March 2019 there has been very little positivity emanating from Abbotstown, but at last we can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Jonathan Hill was appointed CEO of the FAI three months ago and in the past few weeks, all the leagues throughout the country received an update or newsletter from the CEO. The lengthy newsletter explained the many changes that have taken place within the organisation, starting with the new board of directors that was already in place before his arrival. A change that is to take place in the next few months will be a general assembly, which will replace the senior council. To have this change take place, there are rule changes and these will take place at an EGM.
He’s embarking on a sector-wide listening tour, that will give everyone who wants to express their particular hopes, views and concerns for the Association going forward.
He accepts that there has been much coverage and comment that has had an effect, not just on the overall morale, but also the media and public’s perception of the Association generally.
It is his aim to have the best in class organisational and governance structures in place that are transparent and democratic, conforming to FIFA and UEFA requirements and will enable the Association to gain trust and confidence of all stakeholders, inside and outside of football.
In the newsletter, the CEO informed the leagues that the Airtricity League will commence on 19th March for the Premier Division and 26th March for the 1st Division and he is delighted that Airtricity have agreed to continue their sponsorship for another season.
We were delighted to read what is definitely a lengthy newsletter, but is letting everyone involved in the game at all levels know what is happening.
TEAM OF THE MILLENNIUM
A few weeks back we asked our readers if they would nominate their best eleven players in the past twenty years, 2000-2020 before the middle of February. As we compile our notes on Monday morning we are disappointed to write that so far we have not heard from any of our readers. However, we will wait until the coming weekend and hopefully someone will contact us.
OSCAR TRAYNOR 2001
Referring to our recent notes and the Red House League team that played their very first game in the Oscar Traynor Cup on Sunday, 21st January, 2001 at Ozier Park, Waterford, losing 6-1 to the Waterford and District League.
The RHL team on the day was: Shane Fitzgerald (Valley Rgs), Paddy O’Mahony (Inch), Denis Martin (Brideview), Peter Horgan (Mogeely), Chris Hegarty (Castlebridge), Stuart Barry (Brideview), JP Grey (Brideview), Shane Kearney (Valley Rgs), Camen Radley (Blackwater), Anthony Aherne (Ardmore), Darren Sheedy (Castlebridge). Reserves: Leonard Byrne (Gortroe) for Radley, George Leech (Castlebridge) for Sheedy, Tommy Seymour (Kilworth) for Horgan. Joint managers were Jim Foley and Sean Kerins.
SYMPATHY
We were saddened on Friday afternoon to hear of the death on Friday morning of Willie O’Callaghan, Lisduggan, Waterford. Willie was a former League of Ireland and local league referee, a former chairman of the Waterford and District League and succeeded the late Jimmy Searson as its president. He was delighted when he became president and when we spoke with him, he told us it was his greatest honour to be elected to the post.
A true football person and gentleman, he loved the game and attended all the Waterford FC home games at the RSC along with his brother Martin, himself a former referee and referees’ observer.
The WW/EC Junior League extend sincere sympathy to his wife Angela, sons Michael, Brendan, Alan, Niall, daughter Bernie, brothers Martin and Sonny and the extended O’Callaghan family.
Ar dheis Dé ar a anam.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
As promised last week, this week we are looking back at season 1988/89, a season that saw the league and the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup both won for the first time in the history of the league by the one club. Last year in our notes, we mentioned the success of Ballyduff FC who were the first club to complete the league/cup double in the one season. This week we look at the complete season, starting with the Bolger Cup and going onto the league’s two divisions and the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup and finishing with what used be the annual St. Stephen’s Day clash between the two divisions, that used take place at the Tallow venue.
At the RHL AGM held on 13th June, 1988 at the Red House Bar, the reports of the hon secretary, Paddy Mason and the hon treasurer, Len Fraser were adopted. The financial report showed the league to be in a sound financial position.
In the chairman’s address, he complimented the league team that travelled to Ozier Park and defeated the Waterford League and thanked the joint managers, Jim Foley and Johnny Sheehan, for the time and effort both gave to preparing the team for this annual event.
The chairman also thanked Ml. O’Leary, Red House, Lismore for presenting the league with a new trophy and the “old” trophy to be played for by the juvenile league - accepted by Liam Fraser on behalf of the juvenile league.
Representing the Waterford League at the AGM were Jimmy Searson and Noel Wallace, two great friends of the Red House League. In their respective speeches, both complimented the league and the management committee on the way the league was so well organised and run.
The draw for the Tony Bolger Cup took place at a delegate meeting on Monday, 5th September, 1988.
There were 17 teams entered in the Tony Bolger Cup which commenced 11th September. Cup holders Cappoquin A started their defence with a 6-0 win in Tourin against Inch, while the B team drew away to Mogeely 2-2, with Michael Looby scoring both Cappoquin goals. Lismore, at home to Grange, scored 13 times with Brian Shanahan getting a hat-trick. Affane, the league champions, were understrength for the visit of Ballyduff and lost 0-4 with Maurice Geary scoring two, Michael Walsh and Brendan Dunlea a goal apiece.
In the next round, Lismore scored another 13 goals, this time at home to Pinewood Rgs. The big winners in this round however were Brideview who scored 14 goals away to Inch, with Philly Curley scoring 6 goals. Ballyduff at home defeated Youghal 2-0.
The semi-finals saw Cappoquin A play Lismore in Tallow and Ballyduff play Pinewood Rgs in Affane.
Holders Cappoquin A got the better of Lismore with a goal scored by substitute Fintan Murray in the 34th minute and in the final, they would play Pinewood Rgs who defeated Ballyduff with two goals from Mike Guiry, one from a penalty.
The Bolger Cup final was played at Lismore on bank holiday Monday, 31st October 1988, as reported hereunder.
Cappoquin A 0 Pinewood 3
Pinewood are the new holders of the Tony Bolger Cup after defeating the holders Cappoquin A at Lismore on Monday, 31st October 1988. While it was a good game of football, Pinewood deserved their victory.
With the sides scoreless at halftime, there was no indication of the goal rush after the restart. Within 8mns of the second half kicking off, Pat Walsh headed past Liam Morrissey from a corner kick for the opening goal of the game. Cappoquin started to chase the goal that would bring them level and this allowed gaps in their defence and Walsh took advantage to score his and Pinewood’s second goal.
The third arrived when Walsh again found space in the Cappoquin defence and this goal killed off any hope the cornerstone club had of retaining the trophy.
Overall it was an effective team performance by the Ballymac team, with Walsh the hat-trick hero, Michael Ryan, Walter Kearney, Richie Crowe and team captain, Tom Guiry all making an enormous contribution to the win.
Pinewood - R Guiry, J Sheehan, M Ryan, A Sheehan, W Kearney, R Crowe, G Coffey, T Guiry, S Ryan, J Hogan, P Walsh. Reserve - B Fahey.
Cappoquin A - L Morrissey, S Fraher, E McLoughlin, M Morrissey, M Walsh, M Power, J Mason, D Moore, D Cummins, F Murray, G Morrissey. Reserve - B Murray.
Referee Paddy Mason, assistants Len Fraser and Tom Griffin.
The league kicked off on Sunday, 2nd October 1988 with Ballyduff scoring the only goal in a win at home to Killeagh. Piltown lost at home to Affane 0-2, Valley lost in Conna to Cappoquin A 2-4 and Youghal had an easy win at home to Ardmore. In the next series of games, Ballyduff had another win, this time at home to Brideview 4-1, Killeagh at home beat Piltown 4-3.
As the games progressed, Ballyduff were definitely the most consistent, drawing at home to Affane 2-2 and then travelling to the newly crowned Bolger Cup winners on Sunday, 6th November winning 1-4. Some other results from that same day saw Cappoquin defeat Brideview at Cappoquin 3-1, Ardmore and Valley drawing at the seaside venue 1-1, Affane losing at home to Killeagh 1-3 and Piltown winning at home to Youghal.
As we came into December, Ballyduff were setting the pace and remained unbeaten. A win in Conna 0-1 saw Ballyduff head into Christmas in a commanding position, and especially when an injury hit Brideview lost at home to Piltown 1-2. Then, just before Christmas the local derby in Tallow saw Brideview draw with Ballyduff 1-1. The league committee were informed that Youghal were withdrawing from the league and would not fulfil their fixtures in the second half of the league, but hoped to have a team competing the following season.
January 1989 arrived and Ballyduff continued to lead the table and remained undefeated and it became obvious the league title was their’s to lose. Brideview and Cappoquin, followed by Killeagh, tried hard to put a stop to the village team, but come the end of March, Ballyduff were crowned champions and were able to focus on the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup. As Youghal had withdrawn from the league half way through the campaign, only one team was to be relegated, namely Ardmore.
The 2nd Division commenced on 2nd October and Lismore, playing in the division for the first time following their relegation the previous season, travelled to Ballymacarbry and had an easy win 0-8 against Pinewood.
Glenview won at home to newcomers Mogeely 4-1 and Modeligo won at home 3-2 against Grange. In the middle of October, Lismore were defeated at home by Modeligo 1-2. However, two wins on the trot by Lismore saw them go top of the table. A local derby at Lismore saw the home side defeat neighbours Glenview 2-1 in a very good game played on a soft pitch, with goals from Brendan Lawton and Brain Shanahan to a Philip McGrath goal. It took two great saves from Lismore ‘keeper Seamus Prendergast to deny Glenview a share of the points.
The second win was away in Mogeely where Lismore, leading 0-2 at half-time, were pulled back level early in the second half, but then scored five times in the last 25mns for a comfortable victory and top of the table. Glenview won away in Grange 2-3 and Modeligo scored five times for victory in Mogeely.
December arrived and Lismore continued to set the promotion pace from Modeligo and Pinewood. Wins against Pinewood had Lismore on top at Christmas. Glenview’s big win in Mogeely saw the Melleray side move into a challenging position. But into 1989 and Lismore were still top of the table and a win away to Glenview and home to Mogeely, followed by a home win against Inch and it was only to finish out the league and they would be back in the 1st Division, after just a year in the lower division. A win against Ballysaggart and then away to Cappoquin B 1-4, confirmed Lismore as league champions. Glenview in their last league game defeated Modeligo away 1-3 to finish runners-up and were promoted to the 1st Division after a very good season.
Unfortunately, we do not have all the results from the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup, but have the two semi-finals and the cup final reports.
In the semi-final, cup holders Brideview defeated Mogeely 6-0 with 2 goals each from Dermot Henley and Paul Curley and a goal each from JJ Henley and Timmy Sheehan.
The second semi-final saw Ballyduff continue their wonderful season defeating cup specialists, Lismore 3-0, with goals from Paudie Prendergast, James Scanlon and Brendan Cotter and setting up a final with the holders, Brideview to be played in Lismore.
The Dungarvan Tyre Cup final between Brideview and Ballyduff was played on the Lismore Cricket Pitch on Sunday, 7th April, 1989 – report as follows,
Ballyduff 3 Brideview 1 aet
Lismore AFC hosted the Dungarvan Tyre Cup final on Sunday, 7th April and in anticipation of a large crowd, received permission from the Lismore Cricket Club for the use of their ground. One of the largest crowds to have attended a cup final, the setting was ideal with railings all-round the pitch and the playing surface one of the best, if not the best, that any of the players would have previously played on.
The game was exciting, played at a fast pace throughout and Brideview had the best start any team in a cup final would take when a JJ Henley cross was turned into his own net by Ballyduff defender, Pat Ryan after only 2mins play. The cup holders dominated the opening half with Ger Hogan in brilliant form in the middle of the field. But the dominance and possession did not translate into scores as Richie Walsh and Shamie Daly held the Ballyduff defence together. Half-time arrived with Brideview leading by the only goal of the opening 45mns.
The second half saw Ballyduff attack straight from the restart and they were rewarded when Brideview partly cleared from their own defence and Sean Prendergast scored from inside the area. James Scanlon and Sean Prendergast began to take control at midfield, but the Brideview defence held firm and after 90mns, it was level 1-1.
Extra time then started and in the 99th minute, a brilliant free kick from just outside the area by James Scanlon went directly into the Brideview net, giving Kevin Tobin no chance and the lead for Ballyduff. In the 103rd minute a Sean Prendergast corner kick was headed to the net by Mike Walsh and at the final whistle, Ballyduff became the winners of the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup to add to the league title they won the previous week and in doing so, became the first club in the RHL to complete the league and cup double.
Ballyduff panel - J Quirke, S Daly, M Leamy, P Ryan, R Walsh, S Prendergast, P Prendergast, M Walsh, M Geary, B Cotter, J Scanlon, D Bolger.
Brideview panel - K Tobin, P Sheehan, K Murphy, S Curley, G Sice, T McCarthy, Paul Curley, G Hogan, B Henley, Dermot Henley, David Henley, L Moroney.
Referee Rod Rogers, assistants Eddie O’Shea and Paddy Mason. Kevin Tobin, Brideview was nominated Man of the Match.
Tina Faherty on behalf of her father Noel Faherty, Dungarvan Tyre Centre, presented to Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup to Ballyduff captain, James Scanlon.’
The annual St. Stephen’s Day challenge between the two divisions took place and ended in a win for the 1st Division. The game was sponsored each year by John Lyons Bar, Tallow.
The selection of the two teams was undertaken by the referees. The 1st Division managers were Paddy Mason and Len Fraser and the panel was - T O’Keeffe (Piltown), M O’Dowd (Affane), P Prendergast (Ballyduff), G Sice (Brideview), Ml Walsh (Cappoquin), Barry O’Regan (Valley Rgs), K Galvin (Killeagh), P Walsh (Pinewood), Ml Shalloe (Piltown), T McCarthy (Killeagh), Sham Denn (Affane), Ml Guiry (Pinewood), Eamonn O’Shea (Affane), J Scanlon (Ballyduff).
The 2nd Division team managers were Ml. O’Neill and Johnny Sheehan and the panel was – J Sheehan (Glenview), Ml Fitzgerald (Lismore), J Power (Glenview), D Whelan (Grange), T Pratt (Lismore), G Horan (Glenview), J Denihan (Mogeely), P Bennett (Ballysaggart), N O’Donovan (Modeligo), B Lawton (Lismore), R Walsh (Glenview), V O’Donovan (Modeligo).
At a subsequent delegate meeting of the league held on 9th January, 1989, the Lismore delegate asked if the Lismore club was the only club fined, as a Lismore player did not turn up for the game. He was told the Lismore player was the only player not to notify the league of his unavailability and hence, was the only player fined as at the delegate meeting held 14th November, 1988. Again at the delegate meeting on 5th December, all clubs were informed that any selected player who did not turn up without contacting either the selectors or the league itself, their club would be fined.
The Cappoquin delegate complained that some teams were not represented on the squads selected for the game. In reply, he was told that the referees were selected by the club delegates themselves as managers of the two teams at a previous delegate meeting. The minutes of the meeting recorded the chairman of the RHL stating, that regardless of the two panels selected by the respective managers, someone would find fault, as happened with the team selected to represent the league on Easter Monday against the Waterford League. The league chairman concluded by saying the “knockers” were answered with the display and victory of the RHL team, managed by Jim Foley and Johnny Sheehan, when they defeated the Waterford League at Ozier Park.
At the same meeting, Liam Fraser PRO of the underage league, wished to thank all the sponsors and as the cup competition was sponsored by the Inch Inn, the cup final would be played at the Inch venue and the draw for that cup then took place.
That concludes our ‘Blast from the Past’ for the 1989/99 season and next week, we will delve once more into the archives of the RHL and the WW/EC League.