COACHFORD NOV 1999

COACHFORD AFC




Win or lose this has already been a memorable season for the progressive Coachford club who field three teams each week in the Murphy's Stout Cork AUL: this has been the season that they started playing on their own impressive grounds at The Glebe.



The ground was purchased in 1995 and, to date, between purchase cost, plant hire work, field preparation and drainage, entrance to grounds, fencing, floodlighting, and erection, over £120,000 has been invested in the grounds, with assistance of £15000 from National Lottery funding. The club has also benefited from Cork County Council amenity grants.



The busy committee are already planning the next phase which is to include dressing rooms and car park. Plans are currently being drawn up and under discussion. Financing the running of the club has been also facilitated by way of sponsorship and they are lucky to have such supporters as O'Mahony Packaging, Dineen's Bar, Kellehers Ford Dealers Macroom, Hogs Bar, Dawn Meats, Coachman's Inn, Murphy Electrical (lighting for floodlights), Lee Valley Windows (sponsors of dressing-room windows).



Weekly lotto tickets are solely responsible for loan repayments, both in purchase of ground (which the club has fully paid off) and new developments including construction of dressing rooms and other plans. The weekly Lotto return speaks volumes for the amount of support and goodwill for the club in the village and in the surrounding area, support which the club appreciates and treasures.



The Premier team, with Finbarr Murphy back as manager, have just one point after seven league games but they haven't enjoyed the best of luck as evidenced by a string of one goal defeats. Now they have a battle on their hands to gain mid-table safety and that process can begin on Sunday next when they take on fellow strugglers Springfield in a six pointer. Kick off in The Glebe is 10.45.



The team has been playing quite well in the cups and has progressed in the Munster and AOH. Bandon are their next opponents in the provincial trophy while they have been unlucky in the AOH, being drawn against Greenmount. Indeed, they were pipped on spotters by Greenmount in the FAI so there is not much between them.



Murphy picks from: Noel Looney (captain), David Merrick, Aidan Hartnett, Michael O'Connell, Jim Martin, Paddy Martin, Dan Kelleher, Mick Walsh, John Linehan, Donal Moynihan, Brian Forde, Niall Buckley, Peter Kelleher, Paul Downey, Graham Kelly, Darren O'Brien, Michael Murphy.



The third division juniors are also finding life difficult in the league but manager Tim Delaney is quietly confident of being in mid-table before the season is out.



The best news on the playing front is being provided by the youths who play in AUL Division One. Managed by Martin O'Mahony and Sean Delaney, they currently lead the division and are still involved in all the cups. In addition, Brian McElroy and Rob O'Keeffe have made their premier debuts. The club also fields two teams in the Schoolboys League at U15 and U14 and the managers here are John Hogan and Kevin Watts.



The Management Committee consists of Chairman Derry Murphy, Vice chairman John Hogan, Hon Secretary Richard Martin, Assistant Secretary Brian Murray, Treasurer Patrick O'Callaghan, Assistant Treasurer Sean Delaney, PRO Declan O'Connell, Liam Casey, Desmond Murphy, Dan O'Connell, Declan Casey, Tim Delaney, Declan Murphy, Paddy Martin, Sean Delaney, David Merrick, Martin O'Mahony, Brian Murray.