Double celebrations in Tallow as league trophies presented
Last weekend will go down as a weekend to forget for some clubs and two days of sheer joy for Brideview’s two teams. Having won both divisions, the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier and The Avondhu 1st Division, the club was in a celebratory mood with the expectations of playing their remaining game in the two divisions at Leonard Fraser Park.
Brideview A were scheduled to play Lismore on Saturday afternoon, the winners playing the runners-up, but on Friday morning league secretary Sean Sheehan received a call from the Lismore club saying they would not have a team on Saturday. A disappointment for the Brideview team and for the WW/EC Junior League - an embarrassment with the league trophy to be presented by the sponsor after the game.
Inch gave the Valley Rgs A side a walkover on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning Brideview B played and won their last league game, defeating Kinsalebeg in atrocious weather conditions and were duly presented with The Avondhu 1st Division trophy.
The league programmes in both divisions are now complete and this weekend will see the semi-finals of the new cup competition, the Dungarvan Leader Cup, and the semi-finals of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup, both taking place.
The league committee informed ourselves on Sunday afternoon that the two finals will take place on Sunday, 1st May with the Dungarvan Leader Cup final at Leonard Fraser Park with an 11am kick off and the Liam Fitzgerald Cup final at Fitzgerald Park at 2.30pm. We look forward to reporting on the cup games next week.
THE AVONDHU 1ST DIVISION Brideview B 6 Kinsalebeg 0
Played in atrocious conditions on Sunday morning at Leonard Fraser Park, newly elected league champions Brideview B, completed their league programme with a victory, maintaining their home record of winning all their games, when hosting bottom of the table team Kinsalebeg.
This was a game with nothing at stake for Kinsalebeg, and for Brideview to keep their home record intact.
The game commenced with heavy rain falling and referee Kieran Hayes after a pitch inspection, got the game underway. For the referee, players and those on the side lines, this was a miserable morning and we as the press reporters, were happy to view the game from the luxury of their cars.
Kinsalebeg commenced the game with eight players and played well defensively for 10mins until Brideview made the breakthrough from Kieran Crawford. The second goal arrived shortly after when the long serving Stephen Pratt took possession about 25 yards from goal and weaved his way into the area, giving James Flavin in the visiting goal no chance. The third goal arrived courtesy of Joas Almedia – 3-0 at half-time.
The rain eased as the second half commenced, but the pitch became very slippery as water started to appear in patches and Brideview continued their pursuit of goals. Kieran Crawford added his second and Brideview’s fourth. Alan Kelly was put through from a pass by David Lynch, only for Shane Martin in the home goal to make a wonderful save and the rebound to fell to Kelly who again was thwarted by Martin before the ball was cleared. This was a fantastic double save. Minutes later Kelly was in on goal again, but again Martin came to the rescue. The ball was cleared down field and Almedia raced into the area before scoring. The final score came from Crios Scarbella just before the end.
Brideview finished their league programme with just one league defeat, while winning all their home games.
For Kinsalebeg, they finish bottom of the league table but credit to the club and the players who turned up in Tallow to show their respect to the Brideview club, the league and their own club and the league sponsor with nothing at stake and probably the worst Sunday morning that has been encountered since the league campaign began in January. Well done to all in the Kinsalebeg club.
Brideview B - Shane Martin, Ethan Scotton, Shay Guildea, Andy O’Riordan, Tom McGrath, Crios Scarabello, Ryan Cahill, Stephen Pratt, Kieran Crawford, Joas Almedia, Adam Crawford.
Referee Kieran Hayes helped to keep the game flowing in terrible conditions and it must be added, helped by two sporting teams. Colour scheme - Both teams passed.
Man of the Match Award - There were a number of players on both teams who battled in the conditions worthy of the award. The evergreen and longest serving Brideview player in the league, Stephen Pratt for his goal and for the losers, Alan Kelly who was unlucky not to score for Kinsalebeg. However, as the conditions were so bad with players slipping and sliding, we feel it unfair to select any one individual player. In fairness, all players and the referee deserve an award for making the game enjoyable, even if the scoreline may give the impression of being one-sided.
This weekend Brideview B play at home to Cappoquin/Railway in the semi-final of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup and Kinsalebeg have Valley B as visitors in the second semi-final.
LEAGUE TROPHY PRESENTATIONS
The Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier League presentation took place at Leonard Fraser Park on Saturday afternoon with Brideview A receiving the trophy. The presentation was planned to take place after the Brideview A v Lismore league game, but the Lismore club contacted the league to say that they would be unable to fulfil the fixture due to a lack of players.
However, a number of Brideview players and the Brideview committee with the league secretary and a representative of the sponsor were in attendance for the presentation.
Sean Sheehan, league secretary congratulated Brideview on winning the league in this, their 50th anniversary year of the founding of the club. He said it was disappointing there was no game on the day but the best team in the league won the title. Sean thanked Mari Mina Pharmacy for their continued sponsorship and said Paddy Pollard was representing the sponsor.
Finally, Sean concluded by saying there is great credit due to the club and to Valley Rgs for having two teams in the league each season. For Brideview to win both divisions this season, great credit is due to everyone involved.
Paddy Pollard said that as Akram Hanna was not available, he was asked to represent the sponsor and said he was delighted to do so. Paddy said Mari Mina Pharmacy have been one of the main sponsors for many years and the Brideview club have won the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier on many occasions. This season however is special as the Brideview club celebrate their 50th anniversary and they end up with the two league titles and through the years he has presented many trophies to the Brideview club.
Paddy concluded by saying the league table never lies and the best team in the league were the champions.
Paddy then presented the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier trophy to Eric Hickey. Eric in his acceptance speech thanked all the players, the manager Paul Forbes and all those who helped each weekend.
Well done to all who turned out for the presentation.
TheAvondhu 1st Division Trophy presentation took place on Sunday morning following the Brideview B v Kinsalebeg league game.
Sean Sheehan welcomed both teams to the presentation and Kevin Howard from TheAvondhu and congratulated Brideview B on winning The Avondhu 1st Division, in addition to Brideview A winning the Mari Mina Pharmacy Premier the previous day. He wanted to thank the Kinsalebeg club and players for fulfilling the fixture on such a terrible morning with the heavy rain falling non-stop. Sean went on to say it is special occasion for the Brideview club to win both titles as they celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Sean thanked Kevin Howard and the TheAvondhu for their continued sponsorship and he asked Kevin to make the presentation, who then presented The Avondhu 1st Division trophy to Brideview B joint captains Andy O’Riordan and Stephen Pratt. Andy in his acceptance speech thanked all the players who gave a commitment each weekend, the managers Brian Donnelly and Aaron Pratt. He thanked the Kinsalebeg club and players for making the effort to fulfil the fixture with nothing at stake for the club and on such a terrible morning.
This concluded TheAvondhu 1st Division presentation.
No doubt with two league titles in the club in consecutive days, the celebrations were enjoyed by everyone involved with the Brideview club over the Easter weekend.
PREVIEWS
This weekend will see the semi-finals of two cup competitions taking place with the semi-finals the new The Dungarvan Leader Cup competition, sponsored by the Dungarvan Leader and the semi-finals of the Liam Fitzgerald Cup.
This season the committee have decided that as the season is so short, the Dungarvan Leader Cup will be played by the Premier teams only and the Liam Fitzgerald Cup will be played for by the teams in The Avondhu 1st Division.
The final of both cup competitions will be played Sunday week May 1st, with the Dungarvan Leader Cup final at Leonard Fraser Park and the Liam Fitzgerald Cup final at Fitzgerald Park.
Inch v Valley Rgs A
The opening game in the Dungarvan Leader Cup - as we complete our notes on Monday morning we are not sure of the date for this fixture as the fixture secretary tells us this game will be played mid-week or under lights in Cappoquin. Both clubs will be notified by the fixture secretary.
Both teams should have met last Sunday in the final league game, but unfortunately Inch had to give the Conna team a walkover as they did not have a team on the day. They have met twice in the league already with the points shared at Conna and then a surprise defeat for Valley when they met a few weeks back at Sexton Park.
The league campaign has been a disappointment for Valley as many expected them to win the title. But losing five out of nine league games was a real surprise. This cup competition is an opportunity for the Conna team to end the season with silverware, as they should be too strong for an Inch team who are finding it difficult at present to have their strongest squad of players available each weekend. We think Valley will win and be in the final on Sunday week.
Lismore v Brideview A
The league champions come to the Castle Farm Ground full of confidence having defeated Lismore twice in the league, home and away. When they met in Lismore, Brideview came out on top by the odd goal in seven and in the return game at Tallow, Lismore had no answer to the champions as Brideview won 6-1. The teams were due to meet in the last game in the league campaign last Saturday at Leonard Fraser Park before Brideview received their league trophy, but Lismore had to concede the game as they did not have enough players for the fixture.
Brideview have won every competition there is in the league and will want to add the new Dungarvan Leader Cup to their vast collection of trophies. Brideview to win.
Kinsalebeg v Valley Rgs B
Sexton Park is the venue for this Liam Fitzgerald Cup semi-final and the winner will play the final at this venue on Sunday week. Kinsalebeg played league champions Brideview B at Tallow last Sunday morning in atrocious weather conditions with an understrength team and played well until the stronger Brideview got on top and won easily.
Kinsalebeg ended the season bottom of the league and Valley Rgs B finished seven points above them in second last. Valley had three wins in the league, including two against the league runners-up, Cappoquin/Railway. We have seen them on a number of occasions and their league position does not do them justice as they play an attacking game and the players enjoy themselves and the games and this is what the league is all about. But we expect to see a much stronger Kinsalebeg team than last week and they should be good enough to book their place in the final.
Interestingly, Valley Rgs won the Liam Fitzgerald Cup when it was last played in the 2018/19 season and they defeated Inch in a penalty shootout in the final 6-5. The competition has not been held since as lockdown arrived in March 2020 and the league and cup competitions were cancelled. When the league resumed it was only the Bolger Cup competition that was played until this current season.
Brideview B v Cappoquin/Railway
The league champions play at home to the league runners-up. They have met three times in the league with Brideview winning twice and suffering their only league defeat to their opponents in Cappoquin. The visitors lost four league games in total, with the two defeats to Valley Rgs B really denting their league title aspirations. They ended their league campaign seven points adrift of the winners and if they could have reversed at least two of the losses, the league may have been very different for them.