Long time breakthrough earns Blarney soccer award
BLARNEY United fulfilled one of their greatest ambitions on winning a first time national competition, sampling victory in the FAI U-17 National Cup following a gripping 1-0 victory over St Kevin’s Boys in the decider at Dailymount Park.
2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the club, the prestigious victory is viewed as a massive boost in anniversary year. And for good measure, Blarney completed the double to add the Teddy Healy Cup final in Cork that put the icing on the cake for a dedicated group of players and management.
Breaking new ground earned Blarney United captain Zach McCarthy fitting recognition and merit the acceptance of a Cork County and City Youth Sports Star Award at a function in the Metropole Hotel.
The club currently serves just over 500 active players (80 girls) from U6 to senior adults and participates in non-competitive small sided games for the academy age group, Cork Schoolboys League, Cork Women’s & Girls’ Leagues, Cork Youth League, and the Munster Senior League under the guidance of 70 dedicated club members.
Blarney United AFC is completing its 13th season in the Munster Senior League, having decided it had achieved all its goals in the Cork AUL winning several leagues and cup competitions in the build up to the transition. All involved are currently working to rebuild their adult teams with a new generation of young talented players keen replicate the success of the late 1990s.
“The club regularly has schoolboys on the Cork squads and has produced four amateur internationals over the years, the club is aiming to achieve the FAI Club Mark award and invests as much as possible in our coach’s and members to help them develop their skills and build the right conditions for success,” said team captain Zach McCarthy.
Greg Constant took up the role as manager last summer, having already spent several years coaching and managing the senior team. It all came together over recent weeks, Blarney United defeated St Kevin’s Boys 1-0 in the National Cup Final thanks to a Michael O’Mahony strike.
Blarney added the Teddy Healy Cup Final by virture of a 2-1 win over Douglas Hall, Sean Keane and Corey Murphy on target for United.
“The club was delighted when Greg accepted the role, he went to work to build a management team around him. All involved are optimistic that the successes achieved this season can be replicated next year by this group of players and that they will be an inspiration to the teams coming up through the ranks as well as being the future bedrock of the club’s adult teams in years to come,” said McCarthy.
TALK IT UP Blarney United win U-17 National Cup