BLARNEY UTD NOV 99

BLARNEY UNITED - TEAM OF THE MONTH




A seven game unbeaten run earned Blarney United the Murphy's Stout Team of the Month for August/September and the coveted award was presented to skipper David Moynihan at The Huntsman earlier this week. The winning streak propelled Blarney to the top of the AUL Premier League.



Since then the unbeaten sequence has been stretched to 12, their most recent success a hard earned 2 - 1 away win over Bunratty in the Examiner Munster Junior Cup. "We showed good character and good spirit in that one, "said manager Michael Mulcahy. "The league win over champions Greenmount Rangers was also a good one but I think our best performance as a team was the 5 - 0 cup win over Midleton. The highlight here was a memorable goal from young Raymond O'Leary who, near to half-way, spotted the keeper off his line and showed true skill to beat him with a magnificent chip".



The only hiccup so far in Blarney's season was the abandoned game in the FAI away to Glasheen United. The Junior Council have ordered a replay and that will take place on Sunday week. Mulcahy fancies a run in the FAI but sees the provincial trophy as a more realistic target though he concedes that there are still many good teams left in it.



Secretary Henry Murphy says the team's performances have been pretty consistent: "We have dug in and won matches that would previously have been lost, the training is coming through". Mulcahy has a couple of right hand men: Ken O'Brien is assistant manager and Donie Walsh is the team trainer.



Con O'Riordan, after a distinguished playing career, and Denis Forrest, look after the second junior team who are now running into a few problems after a bright start to the campaign in AUL 1A. Skipper here is Steve McCann.



Mark Howell, assisted by Pat Lyons, looks after the youths side and is building for next season as most of the players are in the sixteen to seventeen bracket. The club also fields four schoolboy sides.



The Under 11s are looked after by former youths international keeper Finbarr Hogan; Denis McCarthy and Micky Horgan are in charge of the U12s; Kieran Mullins and Micky Crowley are the U13 mentors while Joe Harrington takes the U15s.



BLARNEY UNITED - GROUND DEVELOPMENT



While Blarney Utd are undoubtedly proud of their teams, the development at Riverside Park in Tower is going to make everyone connected with soccer in the area walk taller.



A few years back some four and a half acres were bought from the County Council. Two pitches were laid out and are now close to being ready. "It will be a big help to the club," says secretary Henry Murphy, "At last, a base of our own".



Planning permission had also been secured for a two storey club building. "It will have the usual dressing rooms (with showers) and so on," said chairman Pat Lyons "We will develop the upstairs as a meeting place and the whole complex will be as good as anything around".



The club, boosted by a £40,000 pound cash injection from the National Lottery, is ready to start on the building. But the generous Lotto cheque isn't half enough and local fund-raising will start after Christmas with a big draw.







BLARNEY UNITED - JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS



The Murphy's Stout Team of the Month is just the start of a hectic November for the Blarney Utd soccer club. They celebrate fifty years of football in the area with a big dinner dance at the Blarney Park Hotel on November 20th.



Preparations for the massive night out are in the capable hands of the Ladies Committee who are very much involved in day to day fund-raising as well. If you want tickets for the dinner, Rose O'Riordan is the lady to contact at 385696; the other leading lights of this committee are Pat O'Shea, Theresa Mackey, and Marion Lyons.



The current hard-working general committee is headed up by Pat Lyons (Chairman), Murphy (Secretary), and Jim McCarthy (Treasurer). John McSweeney, Steve O'Leary, and the various team managers, also serve on the committee.



Finance isn't the only thing Blarney are short of. Secretary Murphy explains: "We badly need new members at committee level. There are hundreds of new houses in the area and we would have a hearty welcome for any newcomer either on the committee or as a player".





BLARNEY UNITED - THREE WISE MEN



Blarney Utd are delighted with the first team management trio of Mick Mulcahy, Ken O'Brien, and Donie Walsh.



Ex Everton stalwart Mulcahy is in his third season with the blue and whites and his good man management skills have brought a total change of attitude in the players. They haven't won anything yet but are getting closer all the time.



Ken O'Brien, perhaps better known as George, came up through the club's underage ranks but a serious leg injury two seasons back forced him to retire from playing and he decided to put something back as assistant to Mulcahy.



Donie Walsh, the former international athlete, looks after the physical training and the first aid and has made an enormous difference. Training is more interesting and each player has been given a personal gym schedule.



The trio will be on the line in Monard next Sunday morning when they seek to extend that unbeaten run to 13 games. Second division Beaumont provide the opposition and, on paper, it looks an easy one for the Premier leaders. But Beaumont showed excellent form last Sunday away to Ballintotis where goals from Derek Daniels (2) and Rory McGrath earned them an impressive 3 - 1 win.



Blarney skipper Dave Moynihan, who played with the AUL last season, is unfortunately injured at present and is not expected back until well into the New Year. In the meantime, the armband is work by Carl Brown. The other members of the panel are: Paul Collins (keeper), Paul Fitton, Brian Murray, Cormac Hayes, Raymond O'Leary, Tom Bevan, Declan Twomey, Declan Meldrum,Fergal O'Leary, Dave Barrett, Paul O'Connor, Paddy Crowley, Neil O'Riordan, and Alan O'Brien.