CASTLE CELTIC OCT 1995

CASTLE CELTIC OCT 95:


(TEAM OF THE MONTH FOR AUG/SEP 95):



John Batterberry, manager of Castle Celtic, has taken the club's

juniors to Turner's Cross on three occasions and each time they

came out on top.



But neither John nor the progressive ten year old Castletownroche

club is satisfied. At last week's presentation of the Murphy's

Stout AUL Team of the Month award for December, there were the

inevitable references to their failure to take a league title.



Frustration had been the case in six campaigns, the trend

continued last season when they finished runners up to North End

in AUL 1A. They are in the same division this season, determined

to win and relegate the likes of Tramore Ath., Hillington, and

Kanturk to that dreaded second place.



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: Andrew

O'Riordan, Declan Magnier, Fergal Barry, Sean Browne, Ned

Vaughan, Jimmy Power, Brian Barry, Paca Cummins, Tom Barrett,

Michael Browne, John O'Mahony, Dessie Mellerick, Tony Neiland,

John O'Sullivan, Thomas McAuliffe, John O'Brien, and Stephen

Carey.



Current officers are: John Batterberry (Chairman), Jimmy Power

(vice Chairman), Declan Magnier (secretary), Seanie Shanahan and

Donal Mellerick (PROs), and Thomas Barrett (assistant secretary).



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

Castletownroche 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