LEAGUE CHAMPIONS CLASHMORE LOSE OUT IN CUP

We are now coming to the end of the current season as we follow the former teams from the WW/EC as they play in the Waterford and District League. Last week we wrote of the success of Clashmore Ramblers who were crowned champions of Division 3 B with one league game remaining. On Saturday last they lost out at home to the Villa in the quarter-final of the cup. The club will be presented with the league trophy at the end of the last game, away to Ferrybank.

Lismore’s home fixture against Tramore on Saturday afternoon last was called off by the Waterford League committee as there was no referee available.

In our ‘Memories’ slot this week, we take a look back at how the league grew from the small number of teams to a three division league with 24 teams and sadly, dwindled to the number of teams that were affiliated in the last year.

Going back through the archives we learn how the then Red House League, after affiliating to the MFA, became known throughout the country in a short space of time and the many events that were undertaken through the years.

WATERFORD LEAGUE Clashmore Ramblers 2 The Villa 4

On Saturday last the Pablo Park the newly crowned league champions of 3B, Clashmore Ramblers, lost to the Villa 2-4 in the quarter-final of the cup. With 1st Holy Communion in the village on Saturday, the Ramblers were short a few of their regulars, but still had a strong and competitive team on duty.

The visitors scored early and doubled their score from the penalty spot. But Clashmore reduced the deficit themselves from the penalty spot through Johnny Walsh and this was the score at half-time.

The second half was more of the same and the Villa scored twice for a 1-4 lead. But Clashmore fought back, with Walsh scoring his and the Ramblers’ second goal. The Ramblers introduced two of their younger players and both acquitted themselves very well as the referee played 15mins of injury time in this half, but Clashmore could not get through the visiting defence and at the final whistle, bow out of the cup.

Clashmore have just one league game to play against Ferrybank, which is away, and they will be presented with the 3B trophy after the game. This fixture will probably be midweek in two weeks time.

Lismore’s home game last Saturday in Division 2B against Tramore, was called off on Friday by the Waterford League committee as there was no referee available.

The next league game for Lismore is at home to Tramore Rgs on Monday, 8th May with a 6.30pm start.

FAI JUNIOR CUP FINAL

The FAI Junior Cup final between St. Michael’s of the TS&DL and Newmarket Celtic of the Clare League was played at Jackman Park, Limerick on Saturday afternoon. Before an attendance of 2,357 and in very wet conditions, the game ended 1-1 and extra time failed to add to the score. The penalty shoot-out saw the Clare team come out on top 5-4.

Both teams had current amateur internationals playing, with Jimmy Carr for St. Michael’s and Eoin Hayes for Newmarket. Michael’s had former internationals, in goalkeeper Adrian Walsh and centre half Paul Breen.

The conditions at Jackman Park were difficult for both teams and both had a few chances as the opening half went along. On 30mins Newmarket scored when they were awarded a penalty and Cullinan beat Walsh from the penalty spot – 1-0 at half-time.

The second half saw Michael’s attack strongly as they went in search of the equaliser and the goal arrived 15mins after the restart when Breen flicked the ball to David Slattery who hit the net with a powerful drive. With the rain lashing down both teams found the conditions more difficult as they both tried hard to get the score that may give them the trophy. With four minutes remaining, Paul Breen received a second yellow card followed by a red card and the Tipperary team had a player less.

Full time arrived with the teams level 1-1 and then into extra time. St. Michael’s played the 20mins extra time with 10 players and held out to the final whistle. It was then onto penalties and with the score 4-4, St. Michael’s saw their fifth spot kick saved by Newmarket keeper Shane Cusack and the Clare team’s Jack Kelly beat Walsh and Newmarket Celtic became the winners of the FAI Junior Cup for the very first time in the club’s history. Disappointment for St. Michael’s who lost out, having won the trophy on four different occasions to date.

The Newmarket Celtic club is having a wonderful season so far. They are also in the final of the Munster Junior Cup playing Limerick League team Regional Utd this month. They will play the Intermediate Cup winners, Rockmount in the Tom Hand Cup and will also meet the Irish FA Junior Cup winners in the all-island President’s Junior Cup final. There are some great times ahead for the Clare League champions.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE

By the time our notes appear in print, Waterford will have played three league games in eight days, away to Treaty Utd and Bray Wanderers and at home to neighbours Wexford.

On Monday week last at the Markets Field, Waterford played Treaty Utd in a rescheduled league game. The original fixture on 14th March was called off due to the Markets Field being unplayable from all the rain that had fallen.

There was an attendance of just under 900 spectators on Monday night with approx. 150 Waterford fans. The “away” stand that saw all the problems back on 4th November last year when Waterford played Galway in the 1st Division play-off final, where the Blues’ fans had to be removed because of safety issues with the structure, was back in use on Monday night, although there were some Blues fans who refused to go into the stand and were then allowed enter the main stand.

The game was 18mins old when Waterford were awarded a penalty and goal scorer in chief Ronan Coughlan scored with the spot kick. Minutes later Coughlan doubled his and Waterford’s lead when he scored from a Dean McMenamy cross and this was the score at half-time.

Treaty pulled a goal back shortly after the break to cut the deficit, but this was short lived as Waterford hit back on 60mins to restore the two goal advantage when Barry Baggley crossed for Ryan Burke to score. Minutes later Coughlan scored to complete his hat-trick and add to the four goals from the previous Friday against Athlone Town, making a total of twelve goals scored already in the league.

The final whistle saw the Blues take another three points and cut Galway’s lead at the top to seven points. Waterford were by far the dominant team on Monday night, much too good for Tommy Barrett’s team. The Limerick team, as we have written many times before are a young team that will progress through the season, are very much off the pace at present. This was another good victory for the Keith Long and Alan Reynold’s team. An interested spectator in the main stand was John Caulfield, manager of league leaders Galway. John was running his eye over the Blues before they visit Eamonn Deacy Park this Friday evening. John has told us Waterford are the danger team to Galway’s hopes of automatic promotion. Friday’s game we believe will tell us how much Waterford have progressed since the teams met last March.

On Friday last, Waterford hit the road with a large following once again, this time to the Carlisle Ground to play a Bray Wanderers team that has not lost at home this season, and are in third spot behind the Blues. When they met in February at the RSC, the game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Waterford conceding their two goal lead for a share of the points.

The game was only 3mins old on Friday night when a corner kick to Bray resulted in a goal. The flag kick taken by Joe Power was headed to the net by their leading goal scorer, Cole Omorehiomwan for a shock lead. This took the Blues’ some time to get to grips after conceding so early in the game, and more importantly from a set piece. Credit the team, they eventually started to play their normal attacking game and it must be said, it took the experienced home goalkeeper, Stephen McGuinness, to keep Waterford from equalising with two very good saves from Parsons and Coughlan as Tunmise Sobowale was having freedom to attack on the right wing. McGuinness was definitely the busier of the two goalkeepers in this half and at the break, Bray were leading by the only goal of the game.

The second half started and it was obvious Waterford were upping the pace and pressurising the Bray defence and with ten minutes almost gone, Bray lost Max Murphy to a red card (for two yellow cards, one in either half). Bray immediately changed their formation, going to a 4-4-1 to try and quell the Blues’ attacking formation. But goal scorer in chief, Ronan Coughlan beat McGuinness from a Niall O’Keeffe pass ten minutes after the restart and Waterford were level.

They started to play as we have seen them in their last five games, attacking and running at defences from midfield passes. Bray in fairness depended on two of the most experienced defenders in the league, Dave Massey and substitute Conor Fitzgerald, who when he came on, created a few problems, not many, for the Blues’ defence. With 16mins remaining, a Ryan Burke cross was headed to the net by Coughlan, for his 14th league goal of the season and the lead for the Blues. McGuinness did have to be alert as Baggley tested him and when Eoghan O’Shea blew for full time, Waterford had the three points and Galway’s lead was reduced to seven points.

Two games played in five days and six points and six consecutive wins in total since the new management took control.

Three days later, Monday, Wexford were the visitors to the RSC and the neighbours from the South East lost on Friday away to Athlone Town 3-0. When Waterford played Wexford at Ferrycarrig in the first league game of the season, the Blues ran out easy winners 0-3. A repeat performance on Monday last, and the Blues will be in a great position as they travel to Galway on Friday.

Galway will have played 12 league games by Friday, including last Monday away to Longford, and while we do not have that result, they have won the previous eleven league games, making John Caulfield’s team the only team in the two divisions to have won every league game since the season began. We remember when the teams met on 3rd March at the RSC with Galway winning by the only goal of the game. The Waterford performance on the night was very disappointing and never seemed to cause Galway too many problems. Hopefully, Friday night will see a totally different Waterford display and a performance that we hope will yield three points.

Cobh Ramblers travelled to Eamonn Decay Park on Friday last to play the league leaders and after a fighting display came up short by the only goal of the game. Our Cobh colleagues tell us that the opening 20mins were quite even and the league leaders only threatened Ramblers’ keeper, Lee Deacy on 20mins.

Cobh depended on breaks and our favourite player, Jack Doherty, did cause problems for the home defence.

There was no score at half-time, but within a few minutes of the restart Vince Borden scored from the edge of the area to give Galway the lead. This settled the league leaders and they created a number of chances but failed to find the net, with Cobh only having a few chances but not causing Brendan Clarke in the home goal too many problems. At the final whistle, Galway had their eleventh victory in the league and a seven point lead over Waterford.

Cobh will have two home fixtures this week. They will have played Kerry FC last Monday and this Friday Finn Harps will be the visitors.

Cork City made the trip to Tolka Park on Friday to play Shelbourne, but lost out to the Dublin team by the odd goal of three. Shels went into the game following four unbeaten games, and also one remembers defeating City at Turner’s Cross on St. Patrick’s Day. Cork City went into the game having lost at home to Derry City the previous week and the results to date have Colin Healy’s team in second last position. Daniel Moynihan made his league debut in goal for City and hearing from our City colleagues, played well and could not be faulted for the two goals that he conceded. Cork City did create the first chance of the game when on two minutes Ruairi Keating forced a save from Shels’ keeper, Conor Kearns at the expense of a corner kick, which yielded nothing from the flag kick. In this half, Kearns made a few good saves from Keating - at half time there was no score.

The second half saw Shelbourne up the tempo and within two minutes of the restart they scored and this was the score to the 80th minute when Shels found the net again for a two goal lead. With three minutes remaining Cork City scored through Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, which was only a consolation score.

Speaking to a few City fans on Saturday, they are very disappointed with the season so far, and feel changes need to take place sooner rather than later.

Monday last will have seen Cork City make the trip back up the motorway, this time to Dalymount Park to play the Premier League leaders Bohemians, who could only draw with UCD on Friday night.

This Friday night Cork City will have St. Patrick’s Athletic as visitors.

LOOKING BACK AT THE 1980’S

Because of chance meetings at two Airtricity League games at the RSC and Turner’s Cross, with two former players in the Red House League, one later became a well known club manager, we have for the past two weeks dwelt on the 1980’s era when the Red House League became associate members of the Waterford and District League, and the Lismore club handed the running of the league to an independent committee elected by the league clubs on 31st August, 1987. Indeed, when we look back at the years to 1990, we see the number of clubs affiliated to the RHL went from 14 in September 1987 to 17 in 1990.

In February 1986, Jack Charlton was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland and the success that followed the Irish team saw the growth of association football throughout the country. The Red House League was no different as all of a sudden clubs started to appear in small rural area and when we look through the archives, we see that when Jack resigned as Irish manager in 1996 there were 20 clubs and in September 1996 Kilworth joined the league followed by Dungourney twelve months later.

This was a fantastic time for everyone involved in the game in West Waterford-East Cork and the league committee of the time proposed the league be split into three divisions. This was done and the three divisions were sponsored separately.

When we speak to young players of today, they find it difficult to understand how the number of clubs dwindled from those heady days to the number of clubs that were registered in the league two years ago. There are so many factors, to give an answer would take so much time and so much space that the editor may not be too happy taking up so much space! We know for certain there are plenty who read our notes and were involved in the league as players, administrators or referees who are disappointed not to see a WW/EC Junior League at present. But times are so different nowadays.

Last week in this very section of Memories, we relived the era in the ‘80s and ‘90s when there was an explosion of clubs throughout the country including West Waterford and East Cork. All of this helped the league reach the goal the committee had worked hard to achieve, become an affiliated league on our own to the Munster Football Association in June 1999. We wrote on this two weeks ago, but we cannot forget the years 1985-1999, when the league was associate members of the Waterford and District League. This was a very important period in the league’s history as everyone, league committee, clubs and players, all were governed by the rules of the MFA and FAI.

The league did have their own autonomy, but at each delegate meeting there was a representative from the Waterford League present, and at the Waterford and District delegate meetings, the Red House League also had a representative. Eddie O’Shea represented the league at the meetings in Waterford and the Waterford representative at the meetings in Lismore was Noel Wallace. The Wallace name was synonymous with association football in Waterford, as Noel’s father was a director of Waterford in probably the best period of football in the League of Ireland in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, when the Blues were the kingpins of the league. Noel’s brother, Christy played with Waterford during this unforgettable time for all of us Waterford fans.

Before Noel took over as the Waterford representative, John Fitzgerald who was chairman of the Waterford League and the MFA and became FAI Junior chairman, came to the meetings in Lismore and was a major help in the early days of associate membership. Other Waterford chairmen who came to the meetings included John Sheehan and Tom Power. But it was Noel Wallace who gave so many years travelling to the delegate meetings and was a wonderful ambassador for the Waterford league at these RHL delegate meetings and listened attentively to the clubs’ representatives’ questions from the floor and went out of his way to help all present at the meetings. As we wrote last week, he was a wonderful mentor to this author and was always available to take a phone call, days before mobiles, at home when advice was needed. In the season 1993/94, Noel presented a trophy to the league for an U16 tournament in his name.

Through Noel Wallace’s experience of visiting the Red House League every month, he was able to communicate back to the Waterford League, the advancements that had been made by the league, the standard of football that was being played each week, the work that clubs were putting into improving their pitches and facilities and the interest that there was in the league in general. This led to the meeting in June 1999 at Ozier Park, Waterford between, the officers of the Waterford and District League, the officers of the MFA and three officers of the Red House League, that saw a boundary drawn up between Waterford and the Red House League. That said boundary lasted until last season.

In July 1999, the Red House League became affiliated on its own to the MFA that saw a representative from the RHL attend all MFA Council meetings and also had a representative on the FAI Junior Council. We wrote on all of this over the past two weeks.

This representation at Munster and FAI Junior Council, saw a new chapter for the league. From then on, the name of the RHL became known, not only in Munster, but throughout the country. The league entered inter-league teams in the Oscar Traynor Cup, the FAI Youth Inter League, resulting in interleague teams travelling throughout Munster, playing the Munster leagues in Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, Kerry and Clare. The inter-league teams travelled to Sligo to play the Sligo/Leitrim League, to Letterkenny to play the Donegal League, to Kilkenny to play the Kilkenny League.

When we looked back through the archives we were reminded of the many events, sporting and otherwise, that were held by the league. A few came to mind immediately and we researched them to be doubly sure as the memory is no longer what it once was.

In November 2005, the WW/EC Junior League hosted the Munster Region draw for the FAI Junior Cup which took place at the Sportsman Inn, Cappoquin.

The 30th September, 2005 at the Quality Hotel, Youghal, the league made history with the appointment of a Regional Development Officer to work within the league area and funded by the league. Michael Looby became the WW/EC Junior League RDO.

In 2006, the WW/EC Junior league was asked by the FAI Junior Council to host the FAI Junior AGM. In the middle of June 2005, representatives from all over Ireland attended the AGM which was held at the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal and was an outstanding success.

We continue to the following month, July 2006, when the FAI suggested the league become one of three leagues in the country, Mayo and Kerry being the other two leagues, for a pilot scheme known as the Local Football Partnership, geared to bring all affiliates within the league together and go forward as one.

The pilot scheme was launched at Ballyrafter House Hotel on 13th July, 2006 and it is worth mentioning that during the launch, the history of the league was traced back to the very start in 1972. We learned from the archives that in 1986 there were 16 clubs and 380 players registered. 20 years later in 2006, there were 19 clubs with 24 teams and three divisions and over 500 players registered. It is worth reading these figures again!

We go back to the end of 2004 and the start of January 2005 when a suggestion was put to the committee of the WW/EC Junior Committee that a Fashion Show be organised with the co-operation of the clubs for two charities. This required many hours of planning and the committee approached Lismore Castle and the Duke of Devonshire for permission to hold the fashion show at the castle. Permission was granted and the fashion show took place over two nights, 4th and 5th March, 2005. The two charities that benefitted were the West Waterford Hospice and the Youghal Hospice. RTE’s Nationwide filmed the second night when the programme planners heard a soccer league was organising a fashion show for charity in a castle. The league went on to organise a further two more annual charity fashion shows, with charities in West Waterford, East Cork and North Cork.

In June 2012, the WW/EC Junior League hosted the AGM of the Munster Football Association, held at Lismore House Hotel with representatives from all of the leagues in the province present.

This is a very quick synopsis of the various events surrounding the league, one may say on and off the field of play. We are sure the events will bring back memories to our readers, who themselves may remember other events that we have not touched upon. As we have written many times in the past number of years, if any past players reading our notes have photos they would like us to share with our readers, we will be only too delighted to include them any week.

Next week we will take another stroll down ‘memory lane’.