CASTLE CELTIC MAR 95:
It didn't take Castle Celtic long to make their mark in the AUL.
Founded in March 1985, the Castletownroche lads entered the
league for the 85/86 season.
It was a season to remember and not just because it was their
first. They surprised all their rivals, some sixty second and
third division teams, by winning the President's Cup.
The final was played in Turner's Cross with Tony Gunning taking
charge. Castle, managed by John Batterberry, were up against a
Mayfield team that had beaten them twice in the league.
Celtic had a nervous opening but were soon playing as if they
were regular visitors to the 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 started the
previous March 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).
A trend had started that season. Castle would again taste cup
glory but league success has to this day eluded them. In the
points competitions, they have often been the bridesmaids.
The Castletownroche outfit finished in second place in 3A at the
second attempt, the placing enough to earn them promotion.
Again, they enjoyed cup success, this time in the North Cork Cup.
Their 1 - 0 victims in the decider were Killavullen.
Castle were prominent in 2A for all of 87/88 but again had to
settle for second place, this time behind Blackpool Celtic.
Still, promotion was again achieved.
But glory was again found in the knockout competitions, on this
occasion in the County Cup. In a tremendous two legged semi-
final, Castle eliminated Leeside on a 3 - 1 scoreline. Castle
faced higher ranked Ballincollig in the Turner's Cross final.
A shock was on the cards after just seven minutes when John
Crowley put the underdogs ahead. Kevin Dalton equalised 17
minutes into the second half. But sub Billy Linehan restored
Castle's advantage and Crowley's 88th minute strike put the icing
on the cake.
Other honours came Castle's way that season: they retained the
North Cork Cup, won the AUL Team of the Month Award for January,
and were awarded the Performance of the Month for their County
final win.
There was no change of luck in the league scene in 88/89 when, in
One A, they finished second, again to Blackpool Celtic. But their
cup successes continued. They took the Noble Cup out of Fermoy
for the first time ever when beating Plunketts 4 - 1 in the
final.
They spent 89/90 in the Premier League but were relegated. Again
they won the North Cork Cup and introduced an Under 16 team
which, believe it or not, finished runners up in their league.
In 90/91 they were back in 1A and yes, you've guessed it, they
finished runners up, this time to Crescent Athletic. The
following year they took the drop to the second division. But,
at last a league trophy came to Castletownroche when the minors
won their second division, beating Portview to the post in 2A.
In 92/93, the juniors were involved in a ding dong battle with
Village Utd for the championship in One A. It was the usual
story: Castle came in second. They came close to making up for
it in the Saxone Cup but lost the decider on penalties to
Greenwood.
Rebuilding was the name of the game in 93/94 and no less than
five of the successful youths team were included in the junior
panel.
That experience is now bearing fruit. Castle, with a worrying
look over their shoulders at North End, top the rankings in One
A. As usual, they are involved in a number of cup competitions.
John Batterberry is again the manager and his squad is: Declan
Magner, Fergal Barry, Sean Browne, Ned Vaughan, Jimmy Power (who
captained the side in the County Cup triumph), Brian Barry
(current captain), Paca Cummins, John Sheehan, Tom Barrett,
Michael Browne, John O'Mahony, Michael Doyle, Eugene
O'Shaughnessy, David Butler, Kenneth Barry, Richard O'Regan,
Maurice O'Shaughnessy, Dessie Mellerick (also assistant manager),
Barry Enright, Marc Fichson, Joe Callanan, and Derry Vaughan.
Donal Mellerick is chairman. Dessie Mellerick is the secretary,
Denis Mellerick is assistant secretary and treasurer. Other
committee members are: Sean Shanahan, Brid Cronin, Jimmy Power,
Jim Power senior, D. J. O'Gorman, Dave Kent, Michael Ryan, Pat
and Tim Lehane, Peter Noonan, Kevin O'Connor, and Stephen
Philpot.
Aside from wanting to win a junior league title, the club's major
ambition is to own a ground of its won. Treasurer Denis
Mellerick says Castle Celtic is ready to buy: "But we want a
suitable ground close to the town. Where the land is suitable,
its is not available. Where it is available it is not suitable.
It would be in the interest of everybody in the town if a
solution to our problem were found."
Hopefully, the problem will soon be solved. The club deserves a
place of its won. There is tremendous interest in soccer in the
Casltetownroche area. The treasurer again: "We have great
support. Our weekly draw is doing very well and there is great
interest in it each Monday."
The last ten years have seen a great base for the game built up
in the town. Only last summer, Castle entered an Under 12 team
in a seven-a-side tournament in Fermoy and "walked away with it".
With such talent coming onstream, the dedicated committee will
surely have their ambitions realised in the not too distant
future.
end of story
Monday, September 28, 2009
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