GLENTHORN CELTIC SEP 2002

GLENTHORN CELTIC




Glenthorn Celtic, founded in 1997, don't want to be one of the many short-lived clubs that has been seen over the years in Cork. The club, based on the area of the same name in Dublin Hill, have two teams in the AUL and, with an eye to the future, have just started an U14 team under the joint management of Jason Falvey and Anthony Kelleher, assisted by Graham O'Connor.



Troy Falvey is the manager of the A side that, after promotion last term, now play in AUL 1B. He has suffered a few start of season setbacks with the loss of leading striker Micky Forde (to Rockville), Eric Lynch (who has dropped down to a player-manager role with the B team) and Alan Falvey (who has returned to Rockmount seniors).



Besides, regular keeper Darren Walsh is out with damaged fingers. The good news comes in the shape of new signings such as midfielder Eric Dunlea (ex Everton and Mayfield), defender Mark O'Driscoll (ex Blackpool Celtic) and midfielder James Egan (up from the B side). In addition, Aidan O'Driscoll is proving an able deputy keeper.



Troy is in his fourth season as manager, having been "press-ganged" into the role towards the end of the 1999/2000 season. Glenthorn were then playing in 2A and living dangerously but Falvey made the best of his five weeks and they stayed up. The year after they finished third, behind Fairhill and Glanworth. Last season, they won promotion by finishing just two points behind league winners Castleview.



The panel: Darren Walsh, Paul Burke, Brian Carr, Mark O'Driscoll, Alan

Vaughan, Reggie O'Driscoll, Colin Dorney, Johnny McGrath, Mark O'Regan,

Darren Kennefick, Alan Kennefick, Eric Dunlea, James Egan, Graham

Kennefick, and Kenneth Hackett.



The aim for the season is simple enough: to win the division and go up to Premier. They also want a good run in cup football and would also like to make their mark in both the provincial and national competitions.



Glenthorn A have played in the semi-finals of the Saxone Cup in each of the last two seasons and got this season's St Michael's Cup campaign off to flier with their recent impressive 3-0 away win over Blarney Utd.



Current league form is not too bad either with early wins over St John Bosco's and Passage to their credit. The good run continued when two Darren Kennefick penalties earned them a 2-1 against Temple and they followed that up with an thrilling extra time Munster Junior Cup victory over league rivals Village Utd.

Last Sunday, it was back the league and a win/loss ....Glenvale.



Leading marksman Forde is enjoying pastures new and his role is now filled by Darren Kennefick. Mark O'Regan and last year's skipper Colin Dorney will also be expected to help out on the scoring front. The new team skipper is Brian Carr and he is showing great form.



The Glenthorn B side, who play in 3A, has joint managers in Donal O'Donovan and Eric Lynch (who also plays) and they look to last season's Golden Boot Colm Forde (5 goals from his first four games) to do the damage upfront.



The captain here is Colm Lane who spent the last three seasons with Temple Utd. He brings much needed experience to a relatively young side. The B squad are also on the promotion hunt but their President's Cup ambitions have had to be put on the back burner following their recent 3-2 first round loss to Killumney.



That early exit was something of a surprise as the B lads enjoyed a great AOH last term and indeed reached the last sixteen before losing a nine goal thriller to Fairhill who went on to contest the semi-finals. The highlight to date has, undoubtedly, been the thrilling league win in 3A over local rivals Ballyvolane. That ended 3-2 to Glenthorn.



The club, who train twice weekly at Churchfield Complex and the Glen Resource Centre, uses the pitch at St Aidan's community school. The playing area was fenced off by the school last year and that means less wear and tear and a better surface. Dressing rooms are also in the pipeline, help on this front coming from the local TDs and sports officers Larry O'Reilly and Stephen Scully. The helpful groundsman at St Aidan's are Christy, Eamonn and Donal and they are held in high regard by Glenthorn.



Glenthorn are very much a part of the local community and indeed get great support in the area particularly from Tony Garvin and the staff at The Groves, Alan Loftus in Dublin Hill, local scaffolding firm PC, Jameson's Bookmakers and long time backers the Blackpool Credit Union.



Current officers are Robbie Cronin (chairperson), Troy Falvey (vice-chairperson), Eric Lynch (secretary), Rory Owens (treasurer) and Mark Calnan (PRO). Cronin won the Clubman of the Year Award in the summer and others honoured included Colin Dorney (A team Player of the Year), Micky Forde (A team Golden Boot), Darren Kennefick (Goal of the Year), James Hickey (B team Player of the Year) Colm Forde (B team Golden Boot) and Timmy O'Regan (Supporter of the Year).



Next Sunday, last season's top scorer Micky Forde returns to St Aidan's in the colours of his new club when Rockville are the eagerly awaited visitors for an intriguing tie in the Statoil FAI Junior Cup. Premier hot shots Rockville would, no doubt, have preferred a home tie and will be up against it when they step out against Glenthorn (kick off 3.00).



Glenthorn B have an unfortunate clash of kick off times as they must travel to take on Maymount Celtic, one of the favourites to take the title in Murphy's Stout 3A. Glenthorn may not be going that well but are always ready to rise to the big occasion as they showed in that game against local rivals Ballyvolane.