BELLMOUNT ROVERS MARCH 2001

BELLMOUNT ROVERS




Bellmount Rovers are very much in the hunt for the title from Murphy's Stout AUL 3. Promotion is one of two main aims for the Crookstown village club this season. Currently, they lie in fourth position, some nine points down on leaders Lakewood Athletic.



Bellmount though have six games in hand over the current table toppers and indeed see Ballincollig, Killeady, and Ardmanning Celtic, as the main threats to their title bid. Lakewood were two goals up against the Crookstown team recently but Bellmount fought back for a 2 - 2 draw.



That was soon after Bellmount had achieved another of their ambitions for the season: to play at Turner's Cross. They had a great run to the final of the President's Cup, the knockout competition for third division sides, and made everyone sit up and take notice with a smashing semi-final win over Tower Street Athletic.



They gave it everything against Ardmanning Celtic in the decider but two late goals earned the city team a rather flattering 3 - 1 winning margin. Disappointed secretary Declan O'Callaghan was nevertheless delighted with the very large local support at the Cross and said it was a magnificent team performance: "even of we did end up on the losing side. We also had a good run in the AOH Cup, including an impressive 2-1 away win against first division Evergreen, before being halted by Premier side Park Utd".



O'Callaghan says that the junior squad was bolstered at the start of the season with the capture of West Cork League players, Dermot Desmond, Martin McCarthy, Donnie O' Sullivan and Paddy Murphy from Bandon. "The squad was given a further boost when the recently retired Donal O'Sullivan decided to become manager Joe Power's assistant. With the addition of Pat Harrington as a third selector, Paddy Murphy and Barry Fitton to help with the coaching, the club were confident of a good showing for the season."



The run in the President's Cup could have been finished before it started as the spirit in the team was well illustrated in the first game of the season. O'Callaghan again: "We found ourselves 3-0 down at half time away to Hill Celtic in the President's Cup. We changed things in the second half and came back to win 4 - 3 after extra time. That comeback has acted as a catalyst for the rest of the season so far."



The defeat at the Cross could well prove costly in the promotion drive. Top marksman Tim Barry Murphy picked up an injury in the final and could miss most of the rest of the season. But the management trio are hopeful that the return of Dermot Desmond and Donnie O' Sullivan will help to compensate. Barry Murphy is the leading scorer and he is closely followed by captain Barry Fitton (ex Ballincollig), with the rest of the goals being evenly spread amongst the rest of the team.



The Bellmount ground, which is rented off of local man Henry Wall, is situated in the heart of Crookstown. They use the local community hall as changing rooms. The team's main sponsors are the O'Riordan family of The Cornerstone Bar who are always more than willing to help in any possible be it refreshments, food or even a bit of music.



The current Bellmount committee consists of: Michael Sheehan, Chairperson; Declan O'Callaghan, Secretary; Donal O'Sullivan, Treasurer; Dave Moss, Vice Chairperson; Simon Bradfield, PRO; Michael Lynch and Margaret Corcoran.



The squad: Pat Callaghan, Declan O'Callaghan, Dave Moss, Barry Fitton(captain), Martin McCarthy, Donnie O'Sullivan, Dermot Desmond, Denis Moss, Philip O'Donoghue, Finbarr Crowley, Gerard Shanahan, Tim Barry Murphy, Liam Corcoran, Denis O'Donoghue, Kevin Crowley, Jason O'Flynn, Paddy Murphy, Damien Howard, Noel Leahy, Pat Harrington, James Healy.



Already plans are underway to have @ least 2 underage teams for next season so that future of the club can be secured.