FOOTBALL UP AND RUNNING

What a change and delighted we are, to be back reporting on games as the league recommenced last Sunday. Since the end of December we have had no football. Last Friday the Taoiseach let the country know that at last there was going to be some “freedom” for everyone. This is what we had all hoped would be announced and so, as the league games commenced on Sunday morning, we all felt in a much happier place.

The two favourites, in many eyes, to lift the league title at the end of the league - Brideview A and Valley Rgs A - got off to winning ways in the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier, while in The Avondhu 1st Division Brideview B and Cappoquin/Railway collected full points.

This coming Sunday, due to a shortage of referees, there will be two games in the morning and two games in the afternoon.

Our Blast from the past this week goes back a short few years to the 2016/17 season and we commence with the Bolger Cup and Bolger Plate group games and the two resulting finals.

DELEGATE MEETING

With the restrictions now lifted, there will be a delegate meeting this coming Tuesday, 1st February at the Community Centre in Conna hosted by the Valley Rgs Club. The meeting will commence at 8pm. Main items on the agenda will be fixtures, the shortage of referees and also clubs will be asked to nominate at least two members to help out on the committee.

The shortage of new members for the committee and the shortage of referees has now become a very serious issue for the league going forward. We hope to give a report on the meeting in two weeks time.

MARI MINA PHARMACY PREMIER Lismore 1 Valley Rgs A 2

This was a cracking game of football and our colleague Paddy took in the game for these notes. He told us it was a very enjoyable game and was a real local derby game, with strong tackling but played sportingly. It was a perfect morning for the game played on an excellent surface, as the pitch was perfect for a passing game.

On 9mins in the first real attack, a Steve Carr pass to Le Mac forced a save from David Prendergast in the Lismore goal. 2mins later, Maurice Shanahan was put through but shot over the bar. Maurice then saw Valley ‘keeper Facunda save well and play swung from end to end with neither team able to break down the opposing defences. In the 40th minute a mix up in the Lismore goal nearly allowed Valley in to score and with the half-time whistle about to blow, Facunda saved from John Roche. Half-time and the teams were scoreless.

The game was only 2mins after restarting when Prendergast saved from Rory Galvin. In the 52nd minute Lismore scored when John Roche took a pass from substitute Caelin O’Gorman who beat Facunda. Facunda then had to be alert to save from Roche who took a great pass from O’Gorman. O’Gorman’s entry to the game was making a difference for the home side.

Le Mac was beginning to cause problems for the Lismore defence and on 75mins Galvin was denied by Prendergast. The Lismore ‘keeper then made a brilliant save from Jack Lazack as he tipped the ball over the bar at the expense of a corner.

On 82mins, Ben Shanahan Quinn saw his effort just go the wrong side of a post. The introduction of player/manager Paul Geary pushed Valley more forward and the visitors were unlucky to see a goal line clearance by the home defence. With just a minute remaining, Geary passed to another substitute Tom Hartnett and he beat Prendergast for the equaliser.

With everyone present believing a draw was on the cards as injury time commenced, Steve Carr took a pass from Geary and rifled the ball high into Prendergast’s goal in the 92nd minute. Shortly after, the full time whistle sounded and Valley departed the Castle Farm Ground with three points and left Lismore wondering just what had happened in the space of three minutes, when it looked like they would be the winners.

Lismore - David Prendergast, Paddy Foley, Cian Aldred, Sam Ryan, Keith O’Sullivan, Ben Shanahan Quinn, John Roche, Fionn O’Gorman, Kyle Bennett, Maurice Shanahan, Finbarr Reaney. Reserves - Craig Tobin, Caelin O’Gorman, Jamie O’Keeffe, Jack Roche.

Valley Rgs - Facunda, Kevin Cotter, Ivan Ohrim, Rob English, Chris Kelly, Steve Carr, Edward Kenneally, John Noonan, Adrian Carr, Rory Galvin, Le Mac. Reserves - John Carr, Jack Lazack, Kevin Barry, Tom Hartnett, Kieran Kelleher and Paul Geary.

Referee Stephen Pratt played the advantage as much as possible and helped make the local derby enjoyable.

Colour scheme, both teams passed.

Man of the Match Award - Paddy says there were a few in the running but he selected John Noonan, Valley Rgs as his Man of the Match.

Next Sunday Lismore play at home again when Brideview A are the visitors and Valley Rgs A have Inch as visitors.

Inch 2 Brideview A 4

Both teams met for the first time since early December when Brideview defeated the East Cork side 4-0 at Tallow and knocked Inch out of the President’s Cup, a trophy Brideview went on to win two weeks later.

On Sunday in ideal but cold conditions at Sexton Park, Brideview attacked from the start and were rewarded on 9mins when Eoin McGrath scored. The visitors kept up the pressure and the game seemed to be over in a two minute period when David McInerney found the net on 22mins; a minute later Richie Ryan scored to give Brideview a three goal lead at halftime.

Inch to their credit fought back and created chances after the break and were rewarded on 62mins when Ciaran McNamee scored. A minute later the goal was cancelled out when Chris Murphy found the net to restore the three goal advantage. With 5mins remaining Inch were awarded a penalty and Matthew Murphy scored with the spot kick.

This was a good game of football from the reports we received on Sunday evening and both clubs will look forward to the rest of the league campaign. For Brideview, they will want to continue their great start to the season having won the Bolger Cup in October and the Pollard President’s Cup in December.

This Sunday, Inch travel to Conna to play Valley Rgs A and Brideview A travel to neighbours Lismore at the Castle Farm Ground on Sunday afternoon.

THE AVONDHU 1ST DIVISION Kinsalebeg 0 Cappoquin/Railway 3

We took in this game at Fitzgerald Park on Sunday afternoon, a fixture between these clubs we have seen on a number of occasions that rarely did not lift the spirits through the years. So, we were hoping for an exciting game.

On a cold afternoon, but on an excellent surface, the game unfortunately did not live up to our expectations. The teams met twice already in the Pollard President’s Cup with Kinsalebeg winning both legs in the group stage. When they met for a second time at the start of November at Fitzgerald Park, Kinsalebeg came out on top 2-1 in a very entertaining game.

Last Sunday’s game did not live up to that game and we saw on Sunday a young Cappoquin/Railway go on the attack from the first whistle. After only 5mins play, some loose marking by the home defence allowed Craig Dunne come in from the right wing and beat goalkeeper Aaron Joyce at the far post. This seemed to stir Kinsalebeg into action and it took a very good save by the visiting ‘keeper Andrew O’Connor when he tipped over the bar an effort from outside the area for a corner. From the resultant flag kick, Graham Guiry beat the defence with a header, but it just went over the bar.

Dave Lynch then had a chance for the home team but his effort went over the bar. Cappoquin/ Railway were controlling midfield and it came as no surprise when they added a second through David Cahillane. Shortly after this another move from midfield saw Cahillane pass to Craig Dunne and he beat Joyce but not the post and the home team escaped. At the other end, Kinsalebeg did have a few efforts, but O’Connor in goal dealt calmly with the efforts. Half-time arrived and the visitors held a comfortable 2 goal lead.

The second half was not long under way when Tommy McCarthy was put through for the visitors, but he hit over the bar when well placed. A corner kick to Cappoquin/Railway from the dressing room side saw a total mix up between two home defenders and Cahillane standing on his own had the simple task of tapping the ball to the net for goal number three. Joyce was called into action 10mins later when he saved brilliantly at the expense of a corner from Aidan Mansfield. The game petered out with Cappoquin/Railway making a number of substitutions and at the final whistle, were worthy winners.

For this scribe, a game that never lived up to expectations with the better team picking up the three points. The Kinsalebeg management will be very disappointed with the performance as they never got to grips with the opposition. Their passing game let them down allowing the visitors take possession too easily. In Graham Guiry at centre back, was one of the best players on the pitch and a player who used his experience in trying to bring his team more into the game.

We were impressed with a young Cappoquin/Railway team who had players who tried from the very start and never gave up for the 90mins.

Cappoquin/Railway - Andrew O’Connor, Joey Purtill, Enna Drohan, Aidan Mansfield, Evan Mansfield, David Cahillane, Liam O’Gorman, Tommy McCarthy, Sean Cullinane, Craig Dunne, Shane Dunne. Reserves - Rory Byrne, Michael Dalton, Bradley Keane.

Referee Eamonn Cusack gave players every opportunity to play the advantage rule in a sporting encounter.

Colour scheme Kinsalebeg passed, Cappoquin/Railway failed.

Man of the Match Award - There were a few that we could have selected, Evan Mansfield for the winners and Graham Guiry for the home team. We give the Man of the Match Award to David Cahillane, Cappoquin/Railway, not just for the two goals, but his overall reading of the game and bringing other players into the action from his midfield role.

Kinsalebeg will have home advantage on Sunday morning next when Valley Rgs B are the visitors, while Cappoquin/Railway travel to Leonard Fraser Park in the morning to play Brideview B.

Valley Rgs B 0 Brideview B 1

The second teams of both clubs met in Conna on Sunday afternoon and while there was only one goal scored, the reports are that this was a very good game of football played by two attack-minded teams. The first half saw chances created at both ends, but no one able to find the net and the same was happening in the second half. It did look as if a goal might decide the result here and this is exactly what happened when Shane Ryan found the net for Brideview in the 65th minute.

Valley tried hard to get the goal that would give them a share of the points but the visiting defence held firm and at the final whistle the only goal of the game saw Brideview take all three points.

This Sunday morning Valley B travel to Fitzgerald Park to play Kinsalebeg and also in the morning, Brideview B have home advantage against Cappoquin/Railway.

PREVIEWS

This Sunday, once again because of a shortage of referees (no rant this week, we will stay quiet!) there are two games in the morning and afternoon. We will become accustomed to local derbies every week throughout the season and next Sunday is no different, when Lismore and Brideview meet in Lismore.

All the teams that lost last Sunday will want to get a victory, as losing games early in the league campaign could very easily cost them their chances of lifting the title at the end of the season.

Lismore v Brideview A

The teams met the week before Christmas at Fitzgerald Park in the final of the Pollard President’s Cup with the only goal of the game scored by Brideview.

Last Sunday Lismore lost to Valley Rgs A with two very late goals, while Brideview got off to the best possible start with a win away to Inch, scoring four times and conceding two goals.

With two trophies already won this season (the Bolger Cup and the Pollard President’s Cup), Brideview are sending out a message that they will be difficult to beat, home or away in the next number of months. They have players who have years of experience and know what winning titles and cups takes.

Any time these two teams meet one can expect a game that will see attacking football played by both sides and they play the game we all like to see, ball on the ground and wingers crossing into the area. We believe it is still difficult to beat the old systems when the game is played this way and Brideview are definitely the masters of this art. Lismore will have learned from the cup final defeat and know what to expect from their neighbours.

There should be a large attendance when the game kicks off in the afternoon as any game between these footballing teams is of a high standard and always played in a sporting manner.

A prediction is difficult as Brideview travel in confidence following last Sunday, while Lismore know they have to win to avoid a second consecutive home defeat. But we think the points maybe shared.

Valley Rgs A v Inch

Buoyant from their last minute win away to Lismore on Sunday last, Valley Rgs A will expect to win this home tie against Inch who lost at home last Sunday to Brideview A. Although home advantage is always a help, Valley Rgs know Inch will never let up for the 90mins and they can expect a hard game from their Sexton Park neighbours. Inch were disappointed last Sunday with the result against Brideview and will want to come away from Conna on Sunday with at least a point.

This will not be easy, but Inch, if at full strength, will cause problems for any team, home or away. They have a mixture of youth and experienced players. They need points to start their campaign, but Valley on the other hand, having lost a Bolger Cup final and got knocked out of the President’s Cup during the group stage, will not want to drop points, especially at home, and we predict they will have their second league win on Sunday next.

Kinsalebeg v Valley Rgs B

The home team were very disappointed with the result and display last Sunday at home when losing to Cappoquin/Railway. Speaking to some after the game, it was acknowledged that the manner of the defeat was the worst from the team for the past season. The management will expect a totally different performance this Sunday morning against a Valley team that played well on Sunday last at home to Brideview B but conceded a goal late in the game that cost them the points.

For both teams the result this Sunday is very important as neither can afford to allow any other side gain an advantage so early in the league campaign.

When they last met at the same venue Kinsalebeg came out on top and we expect the home team to be victorious on Sunday.

Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway

The two teams on maximum points after their victories last Sunday - the home team won away in Conna and the visitors won away against Kinsalebeg.

Cappoquin/Railway fielded a young team last weekend that played well and had a few players that impressed this reporter. Brideview through the years have always given youth a chance by playing them in their second string and this has paid off season after season with the club that has had so much success in all competitions. They were, we were told, impressive in Conna and will hope to bring the confidence a win gives to next Sunday’s game. As we wrote, a few Cappoquin/Railway players we were seeing for the first time impressed us and we mention goalkeeper Andrew O’Connor who was confident throughout and the experienced David Cahillane.

We have not seen Brideview B play yet, but we give the nod to Cappoquin/Railway to take the three points.

FIXTURES SUNDAY, 30TH JANUARY

Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier - Valley Rgs A v Inch 2pm, K Hayes; Lismore v Brideview A 2pm, S Drislane.

THE AVONDHU 1ST DIVISION

Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway 11am, S Drislane; Kinsalebeg v Valley Rgs B 11am, E Cusack.

AIRTRICTY LEAGUE

Space this week denies us to give a rundown on the local teams, Waterford, Cork City and Cobh Ramblers in the Airtricity League which kicks off on Friday, 18th February. At present clubs are still signing players for the coming season and are also playing preseason games. Cobh hosted Waterford last Saturday with the Blues running out easy winners 0-5. Waterford play at home this Saturday to Dundalk with a 2pm kick off.

Unfortunately all these teams are playing in the 1st Division or the ‘ Southern Division’ as many are calling the division and next week we will take a closer look at the teams.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

This week we go back to season 2016/17. We commence with the Tony Bolger Cup that had 9 teams entered. Group A had 5 teams, Brideview A, Pinewood, Mogeely, Valley Rgs and Castlebridge. Group B had four teams, Brideview A, Clashmore, Railway Ath and Kilworth.

The competition commenced on 28th August, 2016. Some results from Group A - Brideview A 5 Pinewood 2. L McElroy had a hat-trick, with goals from Michael Curley and Chris Murphy for Brideview. Mogeely defeated Valley Rgs 3-1 with H Cashman scoring for Valley Rgs.

In the 2nd series, Castlebridge lost at home to Brideview A 3-6. A Spillane (2) and S Fenton for the home team, while Chris Murphy had a hat-trick and a goal each from L McElroy, M Curley and D McInerney.

There were seven goals scored at Ballymacarbry, Pinewood 4 Valley Rgs 3 - S Mangan, A Carr and J Cashman scoring for Valley.

In the third series of games Valley Rgs won the local derby at Conna with an Adrian Carr goal against Castlebridge. Pinewood scored 7 goals at home to Mogeely, Darren Guiry scoring a hat-trick.

September 18th, Brideview A lost to neighbours Valley Rgs at Tallow with a John Noonan penalty the only score in the game. At Castlelyons, there were 8 goals with the points shared 4-4 between Castlebridge and Mogeely. A Spillane had a hattrick and M Spillane scored for the home team.

The final round of games in Group A saw Castlebridge and Pinewood draw 3-3 at Castlelyons. D O’Donovan, S Fenton and Le Mac scored for the home team.

Brideview won away at Station Road 2-3 against Mogeely, with L McElroy (2) and Chris Murphy scoring for the winners.

In Group B, Clashmore had a big win at home to Brideview B 7-1. Pa O Rourke a hat-trick for Clashmore, while R Geary scored for the visitors. Kilworth scored 8 times away to Railway without reply - A Condon (4), E Condon (2) and a goal each from J Lane and G Heskin.

In the second series, Kilworth continued their winning ways away to Brideview B 2-4 - F Keniry and K Henley for Brideview and H Allen (2), J McCarthy and J Ahearne scorers for the winners.

Railway made up for their heavy defeat to Kilworth when they scored 7 goals at home to Clashmore’s 1 goal.

S Bennett and L O’Gorman with 2 goals each, along with goals from Killian O’Sullivan, K Hayes and D Smith.

Kilworth scored 9 times at home to Clashmore without reply - O Condon (4), A Condon and J Cahill 2 goals each and a goal from J Condon were the home scorers. Brideview B won at home 3-1 against Railway - D Mulcahy, K Henley and D Tobin for Brideview and L O’Gorman replied with a penalty for Railway.

In the quarter-finals, Railway lost at home to Valley Rgs 1-3 - R Galvin, A Carr and an o.g. for Valley and Killian O’Sullivan for Railway.

Pinewood defeated Brideview B at Ballymac 9-1 - K Walsh had a hat-trick for the home side, A Crawford scored for Brideview.

The two semi-finals were played on Sunday, 11th December.

Brideview A defeated neighbours Valley Rgs 7-4 at Tallow - Chris Murphy with a hat-trick and a goal each from M Curley, S O’Sullivan, J Henley and D Buckley; Rory Galvin had a hat-trick for Valley and J Roche with a goal.

The second semi-final was played at Kilworth with Pinewood winning 1-2 - Dylan Guiry with 2 goals for Pinewood and Paudie Lynch scoring for Kilworth.

The Tony Bolger Cup final was played on 30th December, 2016 at Cappoquin - Pinewood won 6-1. The Pinewood scorers were Keith Guiry (2) and a goal each from Graham Guiry, Dave Meehan, Dylan Guiry and Tholom Guiry. While Michael Curley scored for Brideview.

Pinewood - J Whelan, C Hennessy, B Guiry, G Guiry, Darren Guiry, A Lawlor, D Meehan, L Lawlor, K Guiry, Dylan Guiry, S Guiry. Reserves - G Peters, T Guiry, C Walsh, G Hallinan, T Barron.

Referee was Vinny Coonan, assistants Eamonn Cusack and Simon Drislane.

KILWORTH WIN PLATE FINAL

The Tony Bolger Plate final was played on 31st December at Leonard Fraser Park with Kilworth defeating Valley Rgs 3-1. Paudie Lynch (2) and Eoin Condon for Kilworth and Ray McCurtain for Valley Rgs.

Kilworth - A O’Brien, J Condon, James McCarthy, B Allen, J Aherne, J Cahill, A Condon, P Lynch, E Condon, S Shanahan. Reserves - Jason McCarthy, S Beecher, P O’Brien.

Valley Rgs - R O’Neill, R Carr, D Walsh, S Cogan, S Carr, W O’Neill, C Kelly, A O’Mahony, A Carr, S Mangan, R McCurtain. Reserves - P Barry, K English, P Keane, R English, P Geary, J Noonan, P O’Donovan.

Referee was JP Grey, assistants Eamonn Cusack and Keith Hornibrook.