CASTLEVIEW NOV 1999

CASTLEVIEW AND BLARNEY STREET




There are some smashing teams in the AUL Under 17 Division. The Castleview side are one of this season's leading lights and their story is an interesting one: they are the first product of the alliance between the 'View and Blarney Street Utd, one of the northsiders top schoolboy clubs.



Castleview themselves had a impressive history in underage football but that is well in the past. Just three years back a decision was made to re-kindle it but, at the same time, the club felt it unfair to poach from existing clubs.



The 'View at the time were starting to develop a second pitch at O'Sullivan Park while Blarney Street's pitch at St Anne's Park was under threat from development demands. Vincent Forde of Castleview made an informal approach to the Street committee with amalgamation in mind.



Meanwhile developments at O'Sullivan Park were encouraging. Forde recalls: "Thanks to the trojan assistance of the Minister for Sport Bernard Allen we secured Lotto funding and were able to fence off the land for the existing and proposed pitch and were able to carry out landscaping of the area."



A meeting of both clubs at the Rock Community Centre saw the beginning of a joining of forces. Denis Forde, then PRO of Castleview, and Tadgh Philpott, President of Blarney Street Utd, exchanged ideas for the future and eventually a set of rules were drawn up and agreed on.



No time was lost in cementing the relationship and Vincent Forde and Mark Furlong, with assistance from Pat Mullane, began to guide the Blarney Street U15s through to U16s. Friendship and camaraderie quickly built up between the two clubs and soon all the Blarney Street sides (from u12s to 16s) were playing either at St Anne's or at O'Sullivan Park where the ground staff - Con Mullins, William Singleton, and Sean O'Leary - welcomed them with open arms, delighted to once again see youngsters enjoying their football under the auspices if not the colours of the 'View.



The Under 16s were pipped in the league race by a point but the alliance was underlined when that squad came through intact and now wear the Castleview red in the Premier Division of the AUL Under 17 Leagues where indeed they are one of the favourites to take the title, though Forde and company (who now include Rodney Power, Bryan McGarry, and Mark Furlong) know there is some very tough opposition ahead.



Forde himself is naturally delighted with the development: "It is absolutely thrilling to see so many parents supporting their children and it gives me immense personal satisfaction when they praise and acknowledge the work that Castleview and Blarney Street have undertaken. I must myself acknowledge the valuable support from the Joshua Tree and from Scoozis Restaurant. Scoozis sponsor gear for both junior and schoolboys".



Castleview tell us that the second pitch will, in a few weeks, be ready for games and the youngsters are eager to have a go on what one of them has christened the San Siro of Gurran. It may not quite match the Italian stadium but this second pitch, beautifully laid out in a sheltered bowl, is sure to have a great atmosphere on big match days.



And if the Under 17s fulfil their promise then there are sure to be some great games at O'Sullivan Park. The amalgamation has got off to a flying start and sets an example for other clubs to follow. After all, if the sharing of valuable resources between different sports makes sense - Castleview and Temple are participating with GAA clubs in the North Ridge project - then it makes even more sense to have them shared between clubs in the one sport.