CASTLE CELTIC 1999

LIVING ON THE EDGE - CASTLE CELTIC:




Castle Celtic's Brian Barry was delighted with his Murphy's Stout Golden Boot Award which he recently received at The Kiln. Treasurer and long time Castle activist Denis Mellerick was there in support and said it was a great achievement: "Brian played much of the season in midfield and to score 19 goals for a team that finished well down the table was great going".



The Castletownroche lads, who do a lot of travelling, play in Premier A and lost their first game of this season and looked pretty ragged in Hillington Park.



But Mellerick said that can be partly explained by the fact that they were let down by a manager just before the season started. Barry has now taken over as player-manager and will have a busy season as he is also the club secretary. Brian had better luck last Sunday when they beat Hibs 2 - 1.



Though they field two teams each week, it is never easy getting out the first eleven. It has taken much dedication since the founding in 1985 and that was in evidence against Hillington: Tommy Barrett had driven down from his Cahir base while Ian Mellerick had traveled from Limerick, each that morning for a 10.45 kick off. Also in action were Ned Vaughan (ex Templemary Celtic), the club's longest serving player and Billy Linehan, another in the veteran stage.



Treasurer Mellerick reckons the lack of underage teams in the club is a major handicap. They did have U16s and youths in the early nineties and quite a few of those players went on to do well for the juniors. "You need to get a youth team out every couple of years but there is no help", said Mellerick.



One of the club's top managers was John Batterberry, now the chairman and also a sponsor. Castle's second team is an amalgamation between themselves and neighbouring Killavullen where they play their home games and the manager is Neally Owens.



Castle Celtic were quickly into their stride in that first season, 85/86, a season to remember. They surprised all their rivals, some sixty second and third division teams, by winning the President's Cup.



The final against Mayfield was played in Turner's Cross. Mick Fogarty put the rookies ahead twenty minutes into the second half and then Dessie Mellerick was brought down and converted the penalty himself to make the final score 2 - 0.



The Castle Celtic team that evening was: B. Price, D. O'Mahony, S. Shanahan, Donal Mellerick, P. O'Mahony, J. Power, D. Relihan, R. Relihan, J. Roche, M. Fogarty, and B. Linehan. Sub: Dessie Mellerick.



It was a fantastic achievement for a club that had been founded barely 12 months previously following a conversation in a local bar. The officers that opening season were: Seanie Shanahan (chairman), Michael Bohan (Vice Chairman), Donal Mellerick (Secretary) and Joe Canavan (Treasurer).



Honours: 1985/86 - winners President's Cup; 1986/87 - runners up 3A; 87/88 - runners up 2A; winners County Cup; 88/89 - runners up 1A; 90/91 - runners up 1A; 91/92 - youths won 2A; 92/93 - runners up 2A, beaten finalists Saxone Cup; 94/95 - runners up 1A, winners County Cup; 95/96 - winners 1A (1st junior league title).