A season of memories as Junior soccer ends on high
AS the Sligo Leitrim District Soccer League season draws to a close in June, the AGM was held on Tuesday last.
Secretary Noel Kennedy reflected on yet another successful year for Junior Soccer.
Noel congratulated all the club winners in the respective League and Cups throughout the season.
He praised the members of the Sligo branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, including Secretary Seamus Devaney, chairman John Barry and treasurer Ronnie Melly.
Noel acknowledged the work being done by the FAI Referee Observer for Sligo Paul Deering and also commended Paul Kilcoyne on his appoint as referee at the FAI Junior Cup Final recently in the Aviva.
Sponsors EJ’s Menswear play an immense role in the running of the League with David Cummins Accountants also supporting and generously providing training facilities for the Oscar Traynor side.
“I would like to thank each of the committee for their service throughout the season Chairman, registrar and head groundsman Joe Cleary, Teresa McCabe, Robert Kennedy and John Loftus without these dedicated people it would be impossible to run the league efficiently.
“I also acknowledge the work and dedication of Martin Kane who retired from the committee and Connacht Football Association on the 17th October 2016,” Noel added.
“I wish to thank all the clubs because I know how hard you work for this game of ours.
“The level of professionalism and the courtesy extended to me personally by all the clubs this season was again outstanding.
“It is indeed a pleasure to serve and work with such people and I acknowledge the wonderful work done by the officers and committees of all our clubs.
He commended the talented players and coaches across all divisions within the League.
Noel added: “The league has an abundance of talented players but this needs to be fined tuned.
“This I feel was answered in spades and in particular by Boyle Celtic who reached the semi- finals on the FAI Junior Cup and Connacht Cup as well as making the first rounds of the FAI Senior Cup.
“We had Conor Griffin Calry Bohs representing us in the Regions Cup with distinction and lifting the Sligo Champion’s Sports award for Senior Men’s Player of the Year for his endeavours.
“We now have Conor along with Niall Brennan and Danny Browne of Boyle Celtic in the final panel of thirty for the Regions Cup in Turkey this July we wish each of them every success and trust they make the last twenty.”
Two clubs from the Sligo Leitrim District Soccer League are also shortlisted for a major award.
“We also have Manor Rangers and Boyle Celtic in the running for the FAI club of the year so again many positives from this season.”
Noel also paid tribute to Brendan Lacken, the Secretary of Sligo Rovers and the committee for their support as well as John Russell who was available to clubs for coaching advice.
“John has taken some time out and we wish him well and Ryan Casey who will be filling in for John is well known to us all and we welcome him here.”
The league also acknowledges the work been done at Youth level he added, by the management committee of Paul Hynes secretary, Benny McLaughlin, Terry Hayes, Michael Mulvaney, Stephen McCoy and John Healy for their great work and support.
“I would like to thank personally the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland John Delaney and all his staff for the great support within the game.”
Noel said the League would be unable to function without its many sponsors. These include Kevin and Catherine McGlynn of the Great Southern Hotel Sligo Super League, Andrew Mullen Sligo Pallets Premier League, Joe Cleary and Family Cleary Landscapes & Pitch Maintenance Division One,
The Robert Cawley Memorial Cup is sponsored by the Cawley Family and Michael and Marie O’Donnell of Winterwood Furniture and Fitted Kitchens.
The Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa manager Seamus Preston and all his staff were thanked for sponsoring the W B Yeats Cup.
Bernadette McGarvey and all the brilliant staff and volunteers at the North West Hospice are behind the North West Hospice Shield & Cup.
“Eamonn and Mark Cunningham of EJ’s Menswear sponsor our Leading Scorer Awards.
“The leading scorers will each receive a suit from Eamonn Cunningham and his Staff at EJ’s menswear and I congratulate the recipients of these great prizes.”
Noel also thanked the local media for covering the League during the season. “We thank you all for your coverage of our affiliates. That is vital not only to the clubs and our players but also our sponsors.”
Joe Keyes, solicitor of Kilfeather Keyes was praised for looking after the legal end of matters and Noel said Joe is a great friend and supporter of the Junior League.
“Special Thanks to my friends behind the scenes at MacSharry Park, Tommy Logan and family who look after all our heating and water problems, Ivor Parke Decorators who insures the place is kept in the best of order as well as the many others who assist us in so many ways.
“Next season we hope to bring on FAI Live net for registrations.
“This will enhance the present method and all Leagues will have to use this system within the next two seasons so we are hopefully ahead in this department.”
Joe Cleary, Chairman of the League, in his address, commended among many aspects, the facilities locally, including the all- weather facilities at Cleveragh, IT Sligo and the astro- turf at Sligo Rovers.
He extended congratulations to Carbury on winning the Super League, Ballygawley Celtic for lifting the Premier title and Real Tubber for their victory in the Cleary Landscapes and Pitch Maintenance Division Title.
He also praised Merville, champions of the Robert Cawley Memorial Cup.
He wished everyone an enjoyable break and said he was looking forward to working with everyone in the 2017/ 2018 season.
The kick- off of the new season will be taking place on the weekend of August 26th and 27th. The Frank Kennedy Memorial Cup is on Saturday, the 19th of August with Ballygawley Celtic taking on Carbury FC. The EJ’s Appreciation Awards to club Members for services to their clubs went to Stephen Healy Ballisodare United, Richard Kennedy Boyle Celtic, Michael O’Connor Ballygawley Celtic and Gerard Henry Real Tubber FC.