DRIPSEY CELTIC JAN 2001

Dripsey Celtic A.F.C. was formed back in 1992 for the 92/93 season. The first season Dripsey finished 6th in the league and their best victory that season was against local and to be on going rivals Strand Utd. In their first meeting and also Dripsey's first competitive match Dripsey came out winners 3 -2




Dripsey got promoted to Division 2 the following season, but it was in 1997 that Dripsey Celtic reached their first final and it was against Glanworth in the Saxone Cup at Turners Cross. Unfortunately, even though Dripsey held most of the ball possession in the final they lost 2 - 0



In 1999 Dripsey Celtic started a U18 team and this team made all the headlines in the Club in '99, with some remarkable victories. They also reached the semi final of the League Cup going out in penalties to Grattan Utd. who went on to win the competition.



This season 2000/01 looks to be one with a hope of success with 6 youths playing in the Junior Team. The Juniors have only lost one game so far this season and are in the Quarter Finals of the Saxone Cup. New signing Eugene "Spach" O'Sullivan and Youths Player Gary Murphy have notched up some 20 goals between them. The following youths players are also making the starting 11 of the Junior team, Mark "Kanu" O'Sullivan, Noel O'Sullivan, John Carey, Pat O'Riordan and Stephen O'Leary. It now seems Dripsey Celtic have a great squad of players not just the bare team of players. Under the management of John Manley, who played with Lakewood Ath for 16 years winning a half dozen honours, it seems Dripsey Celtic's professionalism might bring them honours after 9 years. Thomas Ryan, who was last season's Player of the Year, is Captain and his leadership is showing with great victories over Ballyclough and a double over Strand Utd. Things can only get better for this Junior Team.

But the Youths team also have a chance of winning honours under the management of Stephen "Fogi" Fogarty, and at this moment they are joint top with local rivals Coachford in the League.

The Youths best victory to date was against Coachford in the League Cup. Dripsey coming from 3-1 down to go on to win 6-3 proving Dripsey Youths Team means business again this season. And, with Youths Captain Gary Murphy scoring on a regular basis maybe both of Dripsey's teams will bring home silverware in 2001.But they say behind ever good manager there is a good Coach, and both managers in the Dripsey Celtic camp are blessed to have a excellent trainer in Martyn Underhill.



JUNIOR PANEL

Ray Moynihan, Pat O'Riordan, Ger O'Shea, Tadgh Manley, Billy Murphy, John "Locha" O'Donovan, Brian Linehan, Thomas Ryan, Noel O'Sullivan, Mark O'Sullivan, Gary Murphy, John Carey, Davy Buckley, John Hogan, Pat Ring, Stephen O'Leary, Eugene "Spach" O'Sullivan, Ronan Maher, Colm O'Riordan, Ross Underhill, Dave Hogan.

YOUTHS PANEL

Ger O'Sullivan, Noel O'Sullivan, Mark O'Sullivan, Stephen O'Leary, Martin O'Leary, Brian Healy, David O'Mahony, Liam Buckley, Eugene Hogan, Richard Carey, John Carey, Gary Murphy, Aidan Buckley, Diarmuid O'Riordan.

(Last Season's Youths Player of the Year was shared between Dave Buckley and Liam Buckley)



Dripsey Celtic's biggest problem is their pitch, which they are leasing off Inniscarra Community Centre in Ballyanly. The pitch cannot be played on during the winter months, a yearly occurrence. This season seems to be no different with the Junior Team only playing 3 games at home and the Youths only playing one game. Local clubs have been very generous to Dripsey in the use of the pitches. But one feels Dripsey Celtic's main aim should be to acquire a pitch of the own, which would be playable all year round.



Thankfully, Dripsey's training arrangements are not affective by the their pitch situation because Dripsey Community Association giving the soccer lads full use of the Community Park and the club is extremely grateful for the this kind gesture.



Aims for the season are definitely to win the Saxone Cup and to have a good cut off Division 2 and the Youths are aiming for Silverware as well.



The Clubs long-term ambitions are to have their own pitch because the future is indeed looking very bright for this yet young Club with a growing population in Dripsey and lot of promising Youths Players coming up the ranks. So silverware looks to be a certainty in the next few years.



All this is possible, (this reporter is assured by those in the know), by a hard working committee:

President Bob McCullagh

Chairman Denis O'Callaghan

Secretary Martyn Underhill

Treasurer Helen Feeney

P.R.O. Stephen Fogarty

Committee Members: Ronan Maher, Thomas Ryan, Colm O'Riordan, John Hogan, Terry O'Shea, Tadgh Manley.



Dripsey Celtic Junior Team is and has always been sponsored by "The Weigh Inn", proprietor Kevin Feeney.



Dripsey Celtic Youths Team is sponsored by "Mick Herlihy Ltd."