No football until end April/early May

We learned at the weekend that there will definitely be no sport allowed by the Government and Department of Health until April at the very earliest. There was no doubt, all involved in sport, outside of elite sport, were disappointed when the Taoiseach relayed the news last Thursday night. Disappointed yes, but understandable as the virus is still very much alive throughout the country.

But we all hope that when April arrives, there may be an easing in the restrictions that will allow the commencement of training and this will lead to games taking place. Everyone would like to see children back out playing sport, regardless of what game it is.

Leagues have not been able to hold meetings, except though Zoom, etc. and the WW/EC Junior League has not had its 2020 AGM, which should have taken place last June and in all probability will not take place now.

More than likely, the committee will be able to meet in April and decide what is the way forward for the rest of 2021. Much of course will depend on directions from the FAI.

This week’s Blast from the Past see us concentrate on season 1990/91, with Brideview becoming the first club in the league to win consecutive league titles (1989/90, 1990/91). Inch won the 2nd Division, Lismore won the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup and Cappoquin won the Bolger Cup.

SYMPATHY

We were saddened on Friday night to hear of the death of Donie McCarthy, Youghal who died on Friday afternoon last. Donie played with Youghal in the Red House League in the 1980s and early ‘90s.

To his wife Yvonne, son Patrick and daughter Noreen, brothers Christy, Patrick, Olan and the extended McCarthy family, the WW/EC Junior League extends sincere sympathy.

Ar dheis Dé ar a anam.

MILLENNIUM TEAM

In January, we mentioned we would be delighted to hear from any of our readers their selection of players that played from 2000 to 2020. We were hoping that we may get a few team selections and we extended the date for receiving selections. As we did not receive any selection by the weekend, we are disappointed and so we do not have a team from the millennium. We will print our own selection in a week or two.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE

The commencement of the Airtricity Premier League is only two weeks away from next Friday when it kicks off on 19th March followed a week later, 26th March with the start of the 1st Division.

At present challenge games are taking place with permission of the FAI with Government clearance to commence playing friendly or challenge games, provided the games are contested by the 20 league clubs.

We are hearing of games taking place involving Waterford FC, Cork City, Cobh Ramblers and the new club from Limerick, Treaty United. We are delighted to see four clubs from Munster in the national league, but it is a pity that only Waterford will be playing in the Premier Division, the other three are in the 1st Division and this will see the Munster derbies still taking place. In fact, on Friday, 26th March Cork City will play Cobh Ramblers at Turner’s Cross in the first series of games in the 1st Division.

Sunday last Cork City travelled to Tallaght Stadium to play Shamrock Rvs and after a very good challenge game for both teams, Rovers won 2-1. Waterford will be playing challenge games against Cork City, Cobh and against Limerick’s Treaty Utd.

The headlines have been dominated with club signings and transfers and probably one of the big transfers is the return of Richie Towell back to the Airtricity League. Towell was a member of the Dundalk team that won two league titles and a cup final before going to Preston. He is currently at Salford and will join Shamrock Rvs during the summer. This is a real coup for Rovers.

A player we felt was full of potential when he played with Derry City and Sligo Rvs, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwfl has signed for Dundalk who have lost many of the players that have won so many trophies in the past five years. One of these players, Waterford’s Paddy Barrett, who went to America in the 2018 season from Dundalk, has signed for his old team mate Stephen O’Donnell, who is the manager at St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Unfortunately, as with all other sports, there will be no supporters at the Airtricity League games, but hopefully we will see some of the games before the end of the season.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

This week, we are taking look back at season 1990/91. The AGM of the Red House League was held on Monday, 30th July, 1991 at the Red House Bar. The reports of secretary Paddy Mason and treasurer Leonard Fraser were adopted. The Waterford League was represented by chairman John Sheehan, secretary Jimmy Barnes and Noel Wallace, Waterford representative to the RHL. Four clubs were marked absent - Ardmore, Ballyduff, Killeagh and Youghal.

RHL chairman, Paddy Pollard in the course of his address, paid a special compliment to local correspondent Dermot O’Leary who retired from reporting at the end of the previous season. Dermot had been covering games in the RHL since its formation and his reporting was always of the highest standard and would be missed.

The election of the new committee saw just one change from the previous season, with Eddie O’Shea taking over from Liam Fraser as PRO. The committee was – Chairman Paddy Pollard, vice chairman Eddie O’Shea, secretary Paddy Mason, treasurer Leonard Fraser, PRO Eddie O’Shea. The post of assistant secretary would be filled at the first delegate meeting of the new season in September.

At a delegate meeting on 10th September, the draw for the Tony Bolger Cup took place. There were 16 teams entered, with four groups of four. Before the draw was made, the league chairman welcomed Piltown back to the league and noted that Brideview would enter a second team - both Brideview B and Piltown would play in the 2nd Division.

The position of assistant secretary was filled when Michael McBride was proposed by Liam Fraser, seconded by Joe Tobin and Michael duly accepted the position.

The Bolger Cup group stages kicked off on Saturday, 22nd September 1990. Unfortunately, we do not have all the results of the games played as it transpired at a delegate meeting in November, the PRO informed the club delegates he was not receiving results of the games and this applied to Bolger Cup and league games. When we look at the games played after Christmas, we see some clubs continued to ignore the rule of phoning in the results. At a subsequent delegate meeting, it is recorded in the minutes, the league chairman referred to “some clubs in name only”, as their input into the league was as little as minimal or lower! It is also recorded that he went on to say “those are the clubs that week after week criticise referees and when asked to nominate a club member for the referees’ course, they fail to do so”. Since that time we have seen, and we speak from experience as the current league PRO, that all clubs contact us with their results and in many cases, give us a brief match report which is always helpful. The refereeing situation unfortunately is an area that has not changed in all those years, as the league at present has only five referees to officiate at games each weekend. Hopefully, when we can get back playing again and holding delegate meetings, we can discuss the shortage of referees. All for another day.

Back to the Bolger Cup, Ballyduff started with a home win against Grange 5-4, Brideview B defeated Inch in Tallow 2-1, while Pinewood at home drew with Affane 2-2 and in their following game, Affane scored 5 times at home to Ardmore. Grange travelled to Carriglea and won 1-3.

In the semi-finals played on Sunday, 21st October Cappoquin A defeated Lismore 3-0 at Modeligo to book their spot in the final for the second consecutive year, while in Tallow, Youghal defeated Affane 1-0.

Unfortunately, we do not have a report of the Bolger Cup final played at Lismore which Cappoquin A won, making up for their loss to Brideview the previous year.

The RHL 1st Division kicked off on Sunday, 21st October with a local derby in Ballyduff that saw Ballyduff and the league champions, Brideview share the points (1-1). Killeagh had a good win at home to Grange 4-0 and the following week Grange conceded 4 more goals, this time at home to Ballyduff. Cappoquin and Lismore drew 1-1 at Cappoquin, with the visitors taking the lead in the second half through Barney Prendergast and with 10mns remaining the home side scored when Donagh Cummins found the net. Modeligo travelled to Tallow and conceded 8 goals to the reigning champions, with Philly Curley scoring a hat-trick, Mickey Curley and Martin McCarthy with 2 goals each and Ger Hogan (x1), while Martin Reddy scored for Modeligo from the penalty spot. Valley defeated Grange in Conna 1-0. Brideview continued their winning ways with an away win to Cappoquin 2-4. The visitors were leading 0-4 with only 4mins remaining, but Cappoquin pulled back two goals in the 86th and 89th minutes, but it was too little too late.

Towards the end of November, Brideview, Lismore and Ballyduff were in the top three positions and then Lismore came to Tallow. Lismore took an early lead, but a wonderful team goal involving Martin McCarthy and Ger Hogan saw Mickey Curley score the equaliser and in the 40th minute, a penalty to the home side saw Mickey Curley’s spot kick saved by the Lismore ‘keeper. The second half had only restarted when Mickey Curley scored from a McCarthy pass and the same player scored again in the 57th minute to increase their lead. Lismore fought back and cut the deficit, but Brideview held on to take the points and stay top of the table. The last Sunday in November saw Brideview lose away to Killeagh 2-0, while Lismore with goals from Dan Geoghegan and Mark Wade, won at Modeligo.