WW/EC JUNIOR SOCCER LEAGUE

The first Sunday in December, Lismore at home defeated Killeagh 2-1 with goals from Seamus and Barney Prendergast, Youghal and Affane shared six goals (3-3) at Youghal. Brideview had two home wins, defeating Affane 2-1, followed with full points when defeating Grange 2-1. Lismore and Youghal drew 1-1 in a very evenly fought contest at the Castle Farm Ground. The Sunday before Christmas, Lismore defeated Affane 3-1 and completed the double over Affane the Sunday after Christmas 1-2, at Affane, with Sean Costin scoring the Affane goal. Brideview hammered Ballyduff 8-1 at Tallow. December saw Grange claim their first ever league point when drawing 1-1 at home to the high flying Lismore. Joe Salmon was the goal scorer after the Lismore ‘keeper fumbled a Sean Curran shot.

In early January, Brideview travelled to Youghal and won 0-1 to stay top of the table, as Lismore kept the pressure on with a win in Conna against Valley Rgs 1-2. Killeagh had taken over from Ballyduff as the nearest challengers to the top two, Brideview and Lismore.

The second last Sunday in January saw Brideview defeat Cappoquin at Tallow 2-1. Cappoquin took the lead here in the 23rd minute when a defensive mix-up saw Gossie Mason shoot past Pascal Prescod for the lead goal. Manager Mickey Curley had the sides level on 32 minutes and the winning goal was scored in the 62nd minute by Philly Curley. Lismore had to battle hard for their win 0-2 away in Ballyduff, with the goals coming from Paul Quinn and Pat Bennett. Then on Sunday, 27th January the game everyone wanted to see when the top two met at the Castle Farm Grounds and what a contest, as Lismore and Brideview drew 3-3. The report tells us this game had everything, six goals out of the top drawer, players giving 100% and some great attacking football. ‘Speedy’ Hogan had the league leaders in front after 22mins (penalty). Paul Quinn equalised in the 41st minute. The same player gave Lismore the lead in the 52nd minute, before Stephen Curley headed a Hogan corner to the net. Then we had the goal of the season in the 74th minute, when a ‘Speedy’ Hogan “scud missile” from all of 30 yards hit Busty Fitzgerald’s net for the lead. But back came Lismore 4mins later when Paul Prendergast scored the equaliser. But we were not finished, as the referee blew full time Stephen Curley was heading to the net, but the whistle had sounded and the points were shared.

Lismore - B Fitzgerald, P Fitzgerald, C Barry, F Power, B Shanahan, P Prendergast, T Pratt, B Prendergast, Donal Landers, P Quinn, K O’Gorman. Reserve - Dave Landers, M Wade.

Brideview - P Prescod, T McCarthy, T Sheehan, S Curley, M Hartnett, C Curley, G Hogan, M Curley, P Sheehan, E Cusack, Paul Curley.

The table at the end of January saw Brideview with 24 points from 14 games, Lismore 20pts (13 games) and Killeagh 19pts (12 games).

Sunday, 3rd February saw Brideview at home to third placed Killeagh. After a scoreless first half, Brideview took the lead when Mickey Curley scored in the 66th minute and he scored again six minutes later. In the 77th minute Eamonn Cusack scored the third goal to stay top of the table. At the same time, Lismore at home defeated Modeligo 3-1. Barney Prendergast scored twice and an o.g., while Nicky O’Donovan scored for Modeligo. The following Sunday, Grange had their first ever win in the league as they defeated Modeligo 3-2 at Grange, with David Condon, Anthony O’Sullivan and Dec Whelan the scorers. Martin Reddy scored both Modeligo goals, one from a penalty.

The following Sunday, Brideview could only draw away to Affane 3-3 and Lismore defeated Grange 5-2 in Lismore courtesy of a Donal Landers hat-trick and two goals from Barney Prendergast. Shamie McGrath and ‘Huckle’ Manahan scored for the visitors. Brideview went to Grange at the start of March and came away with the points after a very tough game (3-5) and this paved the way for the final league game of the season, when Brideview played Valley Rgs in Tallow.

Played on St. Patrick’s Day in Tallow, a Mickey Curley goal from a direct free kick went all the way to the net in the 15th minute and this was the only goal of the game. While it was not a good game, the large Tallow following did not mind as Brideview became the first club in the league to win back-to-back league titles.

When the 2nd Division commenced, Ardmore were favourites in most people’s eyes to win the division and promotion. However, as the season progressed we saw Inch becoming very strong candidates and at Christmas, one felt the East Cork Club would definitely be playing in the higher division the following season.

We apologise to our colleagues and friends in the Inch club and all the clubs that competed that season, as there is very little in the archives of the 2nd Division for season 1990/91. We are aware that the 1990/91 season was, in all probability, that best season the Inch club ever had in their history.

The archive tells us that Inch set the pace from the very start with Glenview and Cappoquin B having very good results in the opening number of weeks into November. In the middle of November, Brideview B travelled to Inch and it was in this game that we saw an Inch team that was on the up, as they defeated the Tallow side 5-2 having led well into the second half 5-0, but the visitors pulled two goals back through Anthony O’Rourke and Denis Flaherty. The Sunday before Christmas, Inch travelled to Cappoquin B and with both sides level at the top of the table, this had all the makings of the proverbial cracker. The report says it was a game of three penalties - Philip Bergin converted for Cappoquin after 15mins and minutes later, they doubled their score through Rhiney Walsh, which was his tenth goal of the season. Just before the break Inch were awarded a penalty and scored, to leave the home side in the lead at the break. The second half saw Inch go after the goal that would give them a share of the points and with minutes remaining, were awarded a second penalty which was converted and the points were shared - both stayed joint top of the table.

Into January - Cappoquin B drew away to Ardmore 0-0 and suffered two consecutive losses, away to neighbours Glenview 1-0 and at home in Tourin to Brideview B 1-2. These two defeats and the draw in Ardmore, while at the same time wins for Inch at home to Ardmore and away to Mogeely, saw the East Cork side open a lead at the top of the table, which they held until the end of the season. In the last league game of the season, Inch travelled to Tallow as champions and in an afternoon game on St. Patrick’s Day, drew with Brideview B 1-1. This then allowed Inch to concentrate on the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup.

The Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup kicked off at the end of January, with Modeligo defeating Youghal in Modeligo, but losing at home to Brideview B 1-2 in February. Other results saw Brideview A defeat Cappoquin B 0-3 at Cappoquin. Lismore travelled to Tourin and won 1-2 against the home side. A cup shock took place at Grange when the home side defeated favourites Ardmore 2-0. The home side took the lead in the 30th minute when a Dec Whelan free kick found Manahan who fired past Nicky Keating in the Ardmore goal. Ardmore were on top in the second half, but found O’Sullivan in the Grange goal in excellent form. Manahan scored again in the 80th minute to see Grange in the draw for the next round, but in the next round Lismore were too strong for Grange at the Castle Farm ground. Inch brought their league form to the cup and won at home to Brideview B 2-1. Brideview A won at home to Affane with two goals from Philly Curley, one a penalty. Ballyduff defeated Valley Rgs in Conna, but lost to Inch in the semi-final played in Tallow. We do not have a scoreline or report of the game. We do have a report of the second semi-final played in Ballyduff, where eight goals were scored with Lismore defeating Brideview 5-3 in a cracking cup game played before a large crowd. Lismore goal scorers were Tommy Pratt, Paul Prendergast, Barney Prendergast, Donal Landers, Seamus Prendergast and Pat Bennett. Brideview replied through Stephen Curley, Philly Curley and Mickey Curley.

The Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup final was played at Tallow on Sunday, 7th April, 1991 and Lismore were victorious, 3-0

The report tells us the fans flocked to the venue in big numbers and perhaps it was the largest crowd ever to attend a soccer match in West Waterford. Lismore were the cup specialists and Inch were the newly crowned Division 2 champions and promoted to the 1st Division.

Donal Landers scored for the winners after only 5mins, and minutes later Tommy Pratt’s fine effort came back off the crossbar. At the other end, Peter Savage’s shot just went the wrong side of a post and at half-time, Lismore were leading by the only goal of the game.

The second half saw Inch push forward and were awarded a penalty, but Norman Griffin’s spot kick hit an upright and was cleared. Minutes later, Fitzgerald brought off an excellent save from Griffin and in the 66th minute ,we had the goal of the game when Donal Landers rounded two defenders before sending a tremendous shot to the net. At the other end, Fitzgerald saved well from Mark Landers and then with 20mins remaining, a mix up in the Inch defence saw Barney Prendergast score from close range. Inch tried hard to the very end but could not break down a solid Lismore defence.

Lismore - B Fitzgerald, F Power, V Barry, B Shanahan, Dave Landers, T Pratt, P Bennett, B Prendergast, P Prendergast, S Prendergast, Donal Landers. Reserves - P Quinn for P Bennett, P Fitzgerald for B Prendergast, M Wade.

Inch - L Kelly, G Treacy, D Regan, T Treacy, P Flanagan, E Kent, T Regan, M Landers, P Savage, A Budds, N Griffin. Reserves - D Sexton for N Griffin, T Savage for M Landers, P McMahon.

Referee Eddie O’Shea, assistants Len Fraser and Rod Rogers.

Overall, a wonderful season for the Inch club, winning the 2nd Division and promotion and reaching the final of the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup. The Inch club had fantastic support at all their home games and especially at the cup final in Tallow. While the Inch club has won trophies since then, including the Premier league title in the 2010/11 season - in doing so, they became the first club from the WW/EC Junior League to represent the league in the new cup competition, the Munster Champions Cup. They drew top Munster team of the day, Waterford champions Carrick Utd, and the game was played at Sexton Park in September 2011 with Carrick winning and they in turn went on to play in the final at Turner’s Cross, losing to Killarney Celtic. But we believe, regardless of the success Inch has had, nothing will ever compare to season 1990/91

As we wrote at the outset, we apologise that, through no fault of our own, we are unable to give a full account and results of many games that took place.

Next week, we delve once further into the archives of the RHL/ WW/EC Junior League.