GLENCAIRN CROWNED
Glencairn Celtic have been at the top of Murphy's Stout Premier A for so long, one could easily be forgiven for thinking that it was an easy championship for them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The very fact that they still needed a point from their final game of the 18 underlines that it was a close run thing.
And Glencairn showed true grit in quite a few of the contests and in three games at least Celtic scored vital goals in the dying minutes. Treasurer Seamus O'Leary recalls the exciting moments; “The important games this season included the two victories against Village 1-0 at home and 2-1 away and the home game against Springfield where three times Springfield drew level before we scored a late winner to win 4-3, also the away game against Park where we went 1-0 down with 5 minutes to go before forcing 3 corners in a row to equalize in the final minute to salvage a point.”
O’Leary sas full of praise for manager Pat Downey: “On behalf of the committee of Glencairn Celtic F.C. I want to pay tribute to Pat for his work this season in helping the club win the Premier A League. His reading of the game is superb and it is not unknown for him to spring from the bench when needed. He was ably assisted by Assistant Manager Fergal Giltinan and Fitness Coach Alex Gorobets.”
The squad consisted of goalkeepers Mark Smith and Michael Galvin, defenders Darragh Nolan, Fergal Giltinan, Alan McCarthy, Alex Gorobets, Ken Kelleher, Kieran Long and Paul Buckley, midfielders Kirill Burkhan, Kieran Duggan, Neil Duggan, Paul Keenan, Vadim Gorobets (Alex's son) and Trevor Ward and forwards Ian Harrington, Damien O'Leary and Robert Downing. Interestingly, tellingly, the three strikers all made the top five in the Murphy’s Stout Golden Boot and Downing holds the top spot and may not be overtaken.
All good treasurers and O'Leary is one knows that money makes the team go on: “Thanks to our main sponsor Charlie Dennehy of Dennehy's Bar, and to all the businesses who supported our race night in November and our current fundraising to contribute towards the building of dressing rooms in Murphy's Farm. “
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