Disappointment as cup final postponed

We were hoping to be writing this week of the Dungarvan Leader Cup final which was to be played last Friday night at Cappoquin between the holders Brideview and Clashmore Ramblers.

Unfortunately the cup final had to be cancelled on Thursday morning due to circumstances beyond the control of the organising committee, which was a big disappointment for everyone concerned, especially the organising committee and the players of the two teams, and the sponsors of the competition.

As we compile our notes on Monday morning we do not know the date of the rescheduled final, but hopefully we will have some news of a new date for our notes next week.

We were hoping that the cup final on Friday night would start off a great weekend of sport. Having got over this disappointment, Saturday saw the final of the United Rugby Championship taking place in Cape Town, South Africa and all eyes were on Peter O’Mahony’s Munster as they beat the Stormers of South Africa in a gripping final game of the season.

We were in the Markets Field on Friday night at an Airtricity League game, and the main conversation amongst the fans was the rugby game the following day. While there is a debate amongst the rugby fraternity whether Limerick or Cork is the home of rugby in the province and depending where you are at that particular moment, one agrees with who you are in the company of. But we, like many more in Munster, watched the game and won’t deny, cheered when Munster scored the winning try!

We then looked forward to Sunday and a day of high drama in GAA circles and the Premier League across the water. Visiting family that have Cork connections and who are avid Everton fans was exciting enough, without watching any game unfold on the television. There was disappointment for them when Limerick defeated Cork and then some nail biting, waiting to see if Everton could survive and be playing Premier football again next season. After 10mins of injury time and ten fingers still intact, relief when the final whistle was blown and happiness that Seamus Coleman is still a Premier League player.

Overall, after a disappointing Friday night, we had a wonderful sporting Saturday and Sunday, and overall a wonderful sporting weekend.

In our ‘Memories’ segment this week, we continue with a look back to the so called golden era and go back to 1985 when the Red House League became associate members of the Waterford and District League.

In our Airtricity section we continue with the league games that took place last weekend as Waterford chase league leaders Galway, Cobh Ramblers drew away to Bray and Cork City recorded a brilliant win at Turner’s Cross against league champions Shamrock Rovers. Unfortunately, the Turner’s Cross game has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons, for events that took place after the game.

DUNGARVAN LEADER CUP

On Thursday morning last we received word that the final of the Dungarvan Leader Cup between Brideview and Clashmore Ramblers to be played on Friday evening last at the Cappoquin/Railway ground was cancelled, due to circumstances outside the control of the organising committee. This was very disappointing for everyone concerned.

As we compile our notes on Monday morning we are unable to let our readers know when the final will be played. While we ourselves would have been unavailable to attend due to Airtricity League duties, we had made arrangements that the game be reported on for our notes. We received a phone call on Friday enquiring if there was ever a cup final cancelled or called off, as was the case on Friday. In the history of the Red House League and the WW/EC Junior League, the very first cup competition was played in 1982 which was the Dungarvan Tyre Centre Cup with the final played in Tallow and Lismore defeating Youghal 2-0. Since then, there have been many different cup competitions in the WW/EC Junior League and as far as we can remember, all finals were played on the dates set out by the committee of the day.

As we are no longer involved we depend entirely on word from the organising committee, and we know from speaking to them over the weekend they are very disappointed with what has happened, as everyone was looking forward to this cup final between two teams that have had a good first season in the Waterford League. The committee are also disappointed for the sponsors of the competition, the Dungarvan Leader, who have been wonderful sponsors to the league through the years.

We hope to receive a date for the re-fixture for our notes next week.

INTERNATIONAL FOOOTBALL

The Irish U17 team were playing in the UEFA European Championship in Hungary for the past two weeks. Having lost to Poland 5-1 in the opening game, the Irish team defeated Wales 3-0 and then defeated hosts Hungary 4-2 to qualify for the quarter-finals. On Saturday Ireland played favourites Spain and were defeated 3-0. The Spanish played some wonderful football and deserved to win.

We must of course mention the Lismore connection with the team as the Irish goalkeeper is Jason Healy, who is attached to the Waterford FC Academy. Also in the team is another player from Waterford who had a good tournament, Romeo Akachukwu.

Jason Healy’s Lismore connection is through his grandfather, the late Michael Healy from New Street, or as was known to us going to school, ‘Botany’. Michael Healy and this scribe went to school together at the old CBS and both of us played on the 1959 winning Rice Cup team that hammered the famed Mount Sion in the final. We both played for Lismore AFC with Trevor Enderson as manager and coach. Michael Healy worked for many years at ACEC in Waterford and followed Waterford in GAA and League of Ireland. We used to meet Michael at the RSC as he was a season ticket holder and he often had Jason with him.

Late last year we met Michael’s wife, Anne, who told us how Jason had been capped at underage level and how proud she is and how proud Michael would be if still alive.

We look forward to seeing Jason Healy make the Waterford team in the Airtricity League in the coming years.

INTERNATIONALS

On the international front, the Irish Women’s Senior team in preparation for the World Cup will play two challenge games at Tallaght Stadium. On Thursday, 22nd June Ireland will play Zambia and on Thursday, 6th July Ireland will play France in what will be their last home game before the World Cup which starts on Thursday, 20th July against the host nation Australia in Sydney.

The Irish men will continue their UEFA European Championship qualifying rounds when they play away to Greece on Friday, 16th June and play at the Aviva the following Thursday, 22nd June against Gibraltar.

There is definitely plenty of football to whet the appetite during the summer.

BEST OF LUCK

Through our notes, we wish the very best to the Brideview club on Saturday next when they open their new dressing rooms at Leonard Fraser Park. Former Irish international Ray Houghton will be present. The club has worked hard for this day since a fire destroyed the dressing rooms two years ago and the club will have other events taking place over the weekend – see the Brideview FC notes.

PRESENTATION NIGHT

We received an invite to the Clashmore Ramblers presentation night on Saturday last at the Old Still when the club had their annual presentation night. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend but from what we hear there was a wonderful turnout. The players were presented with their medals having won Division 3B of the Waterford and District League.

The Player of the Year Award was won by Graham Guiry, the Young Player of the Year Award went to Daniel Lenane, and the Golden Boot award for most goals scored during the season was won by Daniel Lenane.

Clashmore have one more game to play to complete their season and that is against Brideview in the final of the Dungarvan Leader Cup.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE

Last week saw Waterford making the football headlines off the field of play as news came through from England that club owner, Andy Pilley has been remanded in jail on a fraud conviction at Preston Court and is awaiting sentence at the start of June. He has stepped down from his post at Fleetwood Town, while his son Jamie takes the reins at the RSC. It was reported during the week that former club chairman, Mitch Cowling is attempting a takeover. He has allegedly said if he is successful he will bring back former manager Marc Bircham. We wonder where does that leave the current manager, Keith Long and his assistant, Alan Reynolds? The team at present, while chasing the runaway leaders Galway, have been playing well since Long’s appointment, winning eight out of eleven games.

To all the Blues fans the headlines in the past week have felt like the proverbial “downer”. The crowds are back at the RSC each week making the attendances second only to Cork City at Turner’s Cross, and City playing home games against the top teams in the Premier division. A well known Blues fan said to us last week, with Waterford, you expect some headline each season and nearly always not good news. This season we believed the club was making progress, but now all every Blues fan can do is wait and see what the next headline will be.

On the field of play, Waterford travelled to Bishopsgate on Saturday last to play Longford Town and had to settle for a share of the points in a scoreless draw. The Blues knew before the game that Galway had increased their lead at the top of the table the previous night when easily defeating Athlone at Eamonn Deacy Park by 3-1, to open up a 13 point lead. Waterford were without top scorer Ronan Coughlan who was suspended for picking up five yellow cards.

When the teams met at the RSC back in March the points were shared as Longford literally shut up shop after scoring. Saturday night was no different and while the travelling Blues fans did their best as they roared on their team, overall in our opinion it was a dour game and Longford brought Waterford down to their level, not allowing the Blues too many chances and once again inviting Waterford to try and break down the home defence. Chances were few, but Shane Griffin did hit the woodwork in the second half and the Blues did also have the ball in the net, but ruled out for offside.

At the end of a frustrating night for Waterford, they had to settle for a share of the points and the point secured sees Galway increase their lead over the Blues to 12 points and twenty league games to play. What the result highlighted to us is Waterford depend on Coughlan to hit the net in each game, and when he is not playing, as was the case on Saturday night, there appears to be no one else capable of taking over the striker’s role, although Connor Parsons has scored a number of goals in the league.

We often write that football is a funny old game and anything can happen from week to week and while Galway’s lead does look insurmountable at present, we believe the visit of Galway to the RSC on 11th August and the result of the game will have us in a better position to make predictions for the remainder of the season.

This Friday, Treaty Utd are the visitors and this is definitely a must win game for the Blues. We saw Treaty at the Markets Field last Friday night losing to Finn Harps 0-3. The Limerick team were totally outplayed and the 25 travelling fans greeted the full time whistle as if they had won a cup final.

One must remember, Waterford scored four goals the previous week at Finn Park, and could have scored more only for the goalkeeping heroics of Tim Heimer. Heimer was called into action just once when he brilliantly saved from Enda Curran at the expense of a corner. For the rest of the game, it was just routine goalkeeping by the away keeper. We spoke with Treaty manager, Tommy Martin who we have known since his involvement with Limerick club teams and our involvement travelling to MFA cup games in Limerick. He was disappointed with the performance on the night considering three very good results in the previous weeks, and will have much work to do to get his team prepared for the trip to the RSC on Friday. We expect Waterford to take all three points and then travel on bank holiday Monday to Mount Hawk Park for the first time to play Kerry FC, who at present are bottom of the league table. When the teams met at the RSC in April, Waterford won by the only goal of the game scored by Coughlan. Last week at the Tralee venue, Kerry were beaten by Wexford who scored six times without reply.

Kick off for the Kerry game in Tralee is 4pm and there should be a large Waterford travelling support, especially as the game is at a reasonable time on a bank holiday Monday.

So for the two games this weekend, nothing less than six points will suffice if Waterford are still considering promotion come November.

On Friday week, June 9th Waterford will have Bray Wanderers as visitors.

Cobh Ramblers after their draw the previous week at home to Athlone Town, travelled to the Carlisle Ground on Friday to play Bray Wanderers. The points were shared in a 2-2 draw, leaving the Seagulls in third spot, a point clear of the Ramblers. Both teams are in the promotion play-off positions. Cobh took the lead in the 17th minute with Lee Desmond scoring.

Five minutes later the teams were level when Michael McCarthy scored for the home team and this was the score at half-time.

Seven minutes after the restart Bray took the lead, but with 25mins remaining, the home team were reduced to ten players as Ger Shortt received a second yellow. This gave Cobh more attacking chances and they were rewarded with less than 30mins remaining when Desmond got his and Cobh’s second goal. With the extra man, the Ramblers were unable to breakdown the home defence and both teams had to settle for a share of the points in a 2-2 draw. Bray are ten points adrift of Waterford, with Cobh a further point back. This is the best position the Ramblers find themselves for a number of seasons having played sixteen league games and they are in the mix for the play-off, come the end of the season.

This Friday, Cobh make the trip to the south east for the clash with Wexford at Ferrycarrig. Wexford had a big win last Friday defeating Kerry FC 0-6 in Tralee. Ramblers will want to come home with the minimum of a point here. On bank holiday Monday, there should be a large crowd at St. Colman’s Park for the visit of Longford Town with former Rambler’s manager, Stephen Henderson in charge. Kick-off is 5pm.

Cork City had home advantage at Turner’s Cross on Friday last for the visit of league champions Shamrock Rvs and after a very eventful game, City came out on top for the three points. This fixture has made the headlines since Friday, not for the game itself, but what followed after the final whistle. We will return to this at the end of the segment.

Before an attendance of just over 4,200 and an electric atmosphere, Cork City fans were hoping to build on the result from the previous week when they defeated Sligo Rvs. As we were at the Markets Field, our Cork colleagues kept us up to date on the game. The last time the teams met at the Cross we were involved in our FAI capacity, which if my memory is correct, was at least four years ago. When the teams met in March at Tallaght Stadium, the teams drew 4-4, but the opening half was not very exciting as the fans had hoped for. Rovers played into the packed Shed in the first half and had only a few chances, with City goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran not very busy. The same can be said at the other end with the Rovers’ keeper not being asked too many questions. The only real activity was when Wexford referee Sean Grant issued a straight red card to Rovers’ Richie Towell for an apparent off the ball incident. My colleagues at City wondered why there was not a penalty awarded. Half-time and the teams scoreless and Rovers a man short for the second half.

Former Sligo Rovers player, Johnny Kenny now with Celtic in Scotland and on loan to Shamrock Rvs, came on as substitute with 30mins remaining. Within a few minutes Kenny received two yellow cards and then a red card and all of a sudden the league champions were two players short. A short while later former Dundalk player Sean Hoare received two yellow cards and then a red and now there were eight Rovers players against the full complement of Cork City. With City playing into the Shed end, the decibels were getting louder as the home team went after the goal that would give them the three points. The eight Rovers players defended as best they could, but a fine passing movement by City resulted in Ruairi Keating finding the net from a Kevin Custovic pass to send the Shed into a scene of delight not seen for a few games. The final whistle sounded with Cork City winning by the only goal and Shamrock Rovers suffering their third defeat of the season.

City are still second last in the table but nine points clear of bottom team UCD. This was a second consecutive win for City and on Friday they hit the motorway to Weavers Park, Drogheda to play a team who have defeated Shamrock Rvs and UCD in consecutive Fridays and will be in a confident mood. On bank holiday Monday, Cork City welcome third placed Bohemians to Turner’s Cross with a 5pm start. On 9th June, City will be at home again, when Dundalk visit.

We heard on Sunday that Shamrock Rovers have appealed the red card issued to Richie Towell and this appeal was rejected.

We return to what we wrote at the start. What happened after the game has made the headlines on every news channel, sports programme on radio and television and on every media outlet over the weekend. We only heard all of this on Saturday morning. It has nothing to do with the game that had taken place at an electric Turner’s Cross venue.

Stephen Bradley manager of Shamrock Rovers was giving an interview on the pitch after the game, when according to our City colleagues some thugs in the pub next door started to taunt Stephen about his son, Josh’s illness. Josh is fighting leukaemia and at the end of last season we remember when the league trophy was presented to Rovers, Josh was with the team to lift the trophy for his dad and the team.

We understand that there were two and maybe three individuals involved. From our information, two are now identified and will be issued with bans from Turner’s Cross. For those who are familiar with Turner’s Cross, will know the pub is next door to the stadium and has a viewing area onto Turner’s Cross and it’s here we are told the incident occurred 30mins after the game had concluded.

Many of readers are similar to ourselves, fathers and grandfathers, never want to see any of our children suffering sickness at any time. We do not know Stephen Bradley, only meeting him through our work on match days, but we can only imagine how he must have felt on Friday night as he listened to these individuals mock his son. Our reaction listening to our Cork City colleagues on Saturday morning was, how low can any human being go for this carry-on? What happened on Friday night could be any father, not just Stephen Bradley. Cork City, as with all League of Ireland clubs, are doing their utmost to attract families and make match night a family occasion. There is no doubt last Friday night’s shameful incident after the game should not prevent families from attending Turner’s Cross or any other venue in the country on a Friday or Saturday night.

We congratulate the Cork City club on their swift action in identifying the culprits and have condemned the incident, as have the pub. The Gardai are now also involved and hopefully this will be of some comfort to Stephen Bradley and his family.

MEMORIES

We have on a number of occasions written that we are delighted to receive phone calls and emails from past players and those readers who follow our notes weekly. We have been stopped in a few different stores in the past four weeks by ex-players in Youghal, Dungarvan and Cappoquin, thanking us for the ‘Memories’, and through those “chats” we have written for the past four weeks or so on what so many called the golden era of the league, the late 1990’s and the first ten years of the 2000’s.

We have to admit we were taken aback that what we wrote has brought back such wonderful memories to so many from that era. One of the older generation we met, told us he remembers the delegate meetings that saw the league going from being associate members of the Waterford and District League, to a league affiliated to the Munster Football Association and the FAI. As a club delegate told us, this was a very important time for the league and his own club as it saw clubs from outside of the league visiting his own club or the club travelling to play clubs in Waterford or Tipperary. On more than one occasion, he said they got the proverbial hammering, but for the players and team management, there was also the social side to travelling to play these games, be it in the FAI Junior Cup or the Munster Football Junior Cup. Friendships were made on such occasions that exist to the present day.

The memories have rolled back for so many in the past few weeks as we relived what many have called the golden era (1999-2010) for the league, with 3 divisions, 24 teams, and an Oscar Traynor inter-league team as well as a Youth inter-league team. But to reach this period in the history of the league, when we look through the archives we see that in May 1985 the league became associate members of the Waterford and District League. This was a stepping stone for the committee of the time as they had held a number of meetings with the MFA with a view to becoming affiliated. From these meetings, the proposal was put forward and a meeting with the Waterford and District League led to the RHL becoming associate members, but what the committee felt at the time, was the RHL would have their own autonomy.

There is no doubt the intervening years (1985-1999) was a learning curve for everyone involved at the time, committee, club representatives, players and club management. All involved learned what is really needed when organising a league to run as professionally as possible. For everyone, a period in the history of the league that will always be remembered.

Next week, we will continue with a further look into the archives.