HILL CELTIC 1993

CELTICS CELEBRATE:




"There was great excitement in the village when we brought the league trophy

home", said Pat Foley, secretary of Hill Celtic, as he reflected on their

championship win in 3B.



The Watergrasshill club was formed in February 1991 and entered the AUL for

the 91/92 season. Early training sessions were held behind the local school

but a pitch was procured nearby for the start of the season. Their first game

was against neighbours Brooklodge who won 3 - 0.



The learning process continued for a while but gradually the Hill got the hang

of it - training sessions at the all weather Mayfield pitch also helped -

and they eventually finished a creditable sixth in the league. There was also

the bonus of a ruin to the last sixteen in the AOH Cup.



Promotion was the aim at the start of this season. The opening match ended in

defeat but that setback was brushed aside and the title came to Watergrasshill

in May after a play-off against Carrigtwohill. At one stage, Celtic were six

games and twelve points behind Carrig but managed to win all six before taking

the title with an extra time play-off goal by Declan Freeman.



The team is looked after by three selectors: Pat Foley, Donal O'Callaghan,

and Billy Sheehan. They have instilled a great sense of discipline into the

players, none of whom has been red-carded over the two seasons. There is

quite a handy defensive discipline also - just 10 goals against in 22 league

games. Foley's fellow officers are O'Callaghan (chairman) and Mick Sheehan

(Treasurer).



Panel: Andy O'Flynn (keeper), Kevin Hoare, Mick Sheehan, Donal O'Callaghan

(captain), Mick O'Leary, Moss O'Keeffe, Sean Hegarty, John O'Keeffe, Declan

Freeman, John Shine, Denis O'Leary, John Sheehan, Dan O'Riordan, Brendan

Walsh, John Barton, and Richie O'Leary.