BLACKSTONE ROVERS DEC 2001

BEWARE THE ROVERS BACKLASH




Last season ended on a strange note for Blackstone Rovers FC, when their final game was postponed at the last minute. The three points belonged to Rovers, however, and helped the Monard based outfit to finish fourth. This was a huge turnaround from the previous season, the club's debut season, when they had finished third from the foot of the table.



It was with this renewed optimism that Rovers began the season, with the title in their sights.

However, before a ball was kicked, Rovers lost the services of the influential Frances Cooney and received the bad news that centre-half Colum Kelleher would not be fit to start the season.



Blackstone were delighted to secure the services of the attacking minded defender, Tony Dunlea from Crescent. He was joined by the versatile Owen O Brien and the speedy winger Trevor O Sullivan.



Just before the start of the season, Rovers lost keeper Noel Quinn, Player of the Year Alan Coleman, defender Trevor 'The Rock' Hartnett and super striker, Colin O Leary to injuries in the space of a week. The management tried in vain to overcome these losses with Rovers going down 6-3 in their opening fixture. Pride was restored a week later with a hard fought victory against the always tough Village United.



Next up came 3 cup matches. In the AOH cup against higher ranked Hill Celtic, Rovers were unlucky to go down by the odd goal in five and in the Munster Junior Cup, Rovers put up a good fight before finally succumbing to the might of Coachford. In between these, Blackstone were disgusted to lose 5-4 to Ballinhassig after extra time in the Presidents Cup having led with 93 minutes on the clock.



The cup defeats combined with the ever increasing injuries, captain Wayne Lee and defender Tony Leahy joining the ever growing list seemed to rock Rovers who only gained 1 point from their next three league games. Following, the cup exits Rovers swooped to sign Dave O Connor, an exciting forward to supplement the strikeforce of Colin O Leary and Colm Murphy.



Since a defeat by Carrigtwohill in mid November, Rovers have won 3 and drawn 1, scoring 22 goals in the process, culminating in the earth shattering 6-1 defeat of Division 2 challengers Killeady in the Corinthians Cup. The return of some of the injury victims and well as the tounge-lashing received from the management duo has spurred the team on and teams are now beginning to feel the Rovers backlash following the slow start to the season.



Rovers began the season with 20 players, but have already lost forwards Jason O Callaghan and Alan Aherne due to injury and veteran Bernard Sheehan because of work commitments. However, with only winger George Mc Carthy to return from injury Blackstone seem to be getting it together.



Keeper Noel Quinn is protected by defenders, Tony Dunlea, Alan Coleman, Tony Leahy, Eric O Callaghan, Trevor Hartnett and the Bevan brothers, Colin and Ivan. The midfield is marshalled by captain Wayne Lee, helped by the ever reliable Karl Mc Donald, winger Trevor O Sullivan and the O' Brien brothers, Andrew and Owen.



The goals are provided by Colin O Leary(9), Dave O Connor (10) and the rejuvinated Colm Murphy(2).These troops are marshalled by Tony Bevan and Pat Goulding.



Behind the scenes, the Board is led by Chairman Ivan Bevan and consists of Vice Chairman Colum Kelleher, Hon. Secretary Wayne Lee, treasurer Eric O Callaghan, Trevor Hartnett and Jason O Callaghan. They have helped start a club Lotto Draw which is proving very successful in its early weeks. The Lotto helps supplement the costs of a season and these are met with the help of sponsers Top Tile and The Brewery Tap, to whom a lot of thanks is owed.



The team train twice a week at the Glen Resource Centre and despite the slow start, still hold strong promotion ambitions as well as looking for a long run in the Corinthians and City Challenge Cups. In the next few years, the club hope to tap into the youthful resources in the area by starting a schoolboys section, but, in the next few weeks, the likes of Temple and Dillons Cross better beware the Rovers backlash!!!!!