INNISHANNON DEC 2000

INNISHANNON AFC




Innishannon may not be a Premier League club in the AUL but the vibrant second division outfit have facilities at Skevanish that are the envy of many a higher ranked team.



The pitch, which is quite close to the village, has been improved since they moved there in 1993 and this season they have added showers and a players dug-out. The Quinn family have been the major contributors in terms of the grounds while much of the funding for the gradual improvements has been raised by dedicated chairman Donal Lynch who, in addition to training the Under 10s with Ken Buttimer, dedicates much time and effort to events such as the Annual Golf Classic and Christmas Raffle. Other members of the committee include Ray White (treasurer) and Joan Lynch.



Secretary Sean Lynch is delighted with the rapid expansion of the underage section: "We also field at U12s and U14s and there is an U16 team on the way next season. The underage section is managed by Jim McLoughlin, Noel Ryan, Michael Crowley, and Brian Quinn."



Sean tells us that Jim, the main man in the upkeep of the pitch, was also instrumental in holding the FAI Seven Up Summer Camp in Innishannon last July. This hugely successful event was the first of its kind in the West Cork region. Well known local car dealers, Denis and Mary Ryan, are big supporters of this section.



Innishannon trace their beginnings back to 1967 when a group of local lads organised a game against a Bandon group in the school field but that field was then closed to them as were number of others in the area. By 1971 they had a field and were playing on the AUL. But pitch problems cropped up from time to time and there were one or two breaks in league membership until the present spell started in 1983/84.



A youths team provided new players and helped steady the club and they were in the second division by 1989/90. But it was as a third division team that they secured their one and only AUL trophy; that came in 1997 when they beat hot favourites Maymount Celtic in the final of the President's Cup at Turner's Cross.



Current chairman Donal Lynch, after great work by Stephen and Ray O'Sullivan, forced the own goal that brought the tie to a shootout where the winning penalty was struck by young Shane Fitzgerald, now back in the side, after a spell with Ballinhassig, and playing exceptionally well on the left wing.



That success ironically enough didn't help Innishannon over the last few years. Most of the players, who had given loyal service through thick and thin, felt they had achieved a lifetime's ambition by playing and winning at the Cross and no less than twelve retired in the following months.



The current squad contains many young players and they are doing their bit to establish the new Innishannon. And they are doing well. They are unbeaten in AUL 2 and are in second spot with a game in hand over leaders Afton Villa. This season the juniors, who are sponsored by the Sheehan family in Doc's Bar as many a well fed visiting team will know, are under the joint management of Declan O'Driscoll and secretary Lynch.



The current leading scorers are Anthony Kenny and Jeremy Hurley; club captain is Kieran O'Connell and the rest of the squad consists of: Niall Murphy, Brendan Coleman, Ray White, Carroll Daly, Carroll Kiely, John Murphy, Neilus McCarthy, Mark and Shane Fitzgerald, Philip Hoey, John Burke, Anthony Maguire, Martin Boyle, Ray O'Sullivan, Con Daly, Kenneth Buttimer, D.J. O'Driscoll, Michael Crowley, Derek Sheehan, and Julian Coran.



Innishannon's annual dinner dance is one of the best supported in the league and this year's was no exception. The annual awards, sponsored by councillor Kevin Murphy and presented by Denis O'Driscoll of the AUL, were a highlight of the evening. This season's recipients included Noel Ryan (Clubman of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the underage section), Kenneth Buttimer (Junior Player of the Year), and Gavin McNeilis (Under Age Player of the Year).



The club's aims for 2001, according to secretary Lynch, are to maintain a top position in AUL 2 and hopefully get promoted: "This would make way for a second junior side to enter AUL 3. The underage will be setting up an U16 team, which means our priority will be to acquire extra playing and training facilities. The future lies in the continued expansion of the club which in turn generates more revenue to improve the facilities."