CRESCENT ATHLETIC SEP 2003

Crescent Celebrate




Crescent Athletic, the small but successful club from Gurranabraher Avenue, are celebrating twenty one years in football this year and have a big night out planned for next month.



Long time secretary Nelius Dineen recalls the early days: "George Cummins, Jim McCarthy, Stewart Joyce, John O'Donovan and myself, all previously involved in

football, were without a club. So we helped ourselves and formed Crescent Athletic. A pitch was rented at Newcastle (close to Blarney) and was used until 1989."



Their first competitive match (which they drew 2 - 2 with Lee Rangers) was played in Newcastle. Players from that game still involved with the club are John O'Donovan, Dominic Dineen, Nelius Dineen and Jim McCarthy. That first season was a learning experience with the team finishing a creditable third in 3A.



Boosted by some new players, including familiar names such as Joe Dineen,

Frank Riordan, Anthony O'Connell, Mick Heslam, and Donal O'Riordan, Crescent went on to take the 3A title in the following season. Mick Kenneally and flying winger John Leahy were also there in the early years.



They then rapidly made ground through the divisions, winning 2A and 1A in the process. But they had no luck in cup finals, losing out in the President's and St Michael's deciders.



New recruits, such as Brian Marshall, Niall O'Regan, John Chisholm, Joe O'Sullivan, and Nicky Montgomery, came in and helped keep the club in the hunt for honours. Nelius took over the manager's role in 1991, with sideline assistance from Stewart Joyce and Joe Dineen. Players prominent at the time included Jim Hanafin, Mark Scannell, John McHale, Christy Murphy, Pat O'Callaghan, Paudie O'Riordan, Donal Corbett and Martin Dineen.



Cup success continued to elude them as they lost 2 - 1 to Bandon in the 1992 AOH decider. But consolation was just around the corner and they won the AUL Premier League in the following season.



The club has contributed players to the AUL junior representative team. Ace marksman Niall O'Regan is perhaps the most prominent but the league has also called on the services of Anthony O'Connell, John O'Donovan, and keeper Pat Murphy.



Crescent are rebuilding this season and have a new management team in place. The three wise men are O'Regan (just retired from playing), Michael Heslam (a former player who has just returned to the club) and John O'Donovan (a man who has played with the club since the start and is still as sharp as ever at the back).



Niall O'Regan, who joined Crescent in 1991, is not the only player to step down this season. He has been joined by midfielder Dominic Dineen (who was there since the start) and John Chisholm (who gave fifteen year's distinguished service).



The management's hand has been strengthened by the return of several players: keeper Pakie Murphy (back after a short break), Jamie O'Connor (back from the USA), Paul Feehan (returned after a short spell with St Mary's).



In addition, the squad has been freshened up with the arrival of new faces: Michael Higgins, Jamie O'Mahony, Richard Anderson and Tony Dineen. They join some promising young players, now well established with the club, such as this year's captain Adrian O'Connell, his brother Derek, Leonard Forde, Owen Twomey Eric Murphy, William Wyse, Dave Constant and Ronan O'Brien.



Secretary Dineen realises success won't be instant: "It may take a year or two but if the team stays together it will be successful. Some of the older members are starting to take an interest and are helping the younger players and the new inexperienced team management. We want to do as well as possible in the league and get a good run in the cups."



Dineen insists there "is no doom or gloom after a poor start to the season and, after two defeats, the win over Hillington boosted confidence. It takes a while to gel a new team together."



Having moved from Newcastle to Northvilla Park in 1989, Crescent are now back in the Blarney area and play their home games in Monard, on a pitch that they share with Blackstone Rovers. From the end of this month, the venue for training will be the Glen Resource Centre, with sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.



Crescent, who receive great support from the Glenryan Tavern and APOC Builders, will take time out from team-building on October 18th. That is the night that past and present members will gather at the Commons Inn Hotel to celebrate their 21 years in football. Further information from Nelius Dineen (4395058), Anthony O'Connell (087,2546861) and Pakie Murphy (087,2273182).



Crescent's Roll Of Honour

1984 Champions in AUL 3A (runners up Courtown); runners up President's Cup;

1985 Champions in 2A (runners up Albert's);

1986 Runners up to Ballincollig in St Michael's Cup;

1991 Champions in 1A, runners up Castle Celtic;

1992 Runners up to Casement in Premier League; beaten by Bandon in AOH final;

1993 Champions in Premier, runners up Bosco's;

1997 Runners up to Greenmount in Premier;

2002 Runners up to Blackpool in 1A.



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