KANTURK 1995

Kanturk Mar 1995




Kanturk Utd want a place of their own. Annette Geaney, secretary

of this young progressive club, argues that land should be made

available to them either to purchase or to lease on a long term

basis. "A pitch of our own would be a community amenity; after

all, over one hundred kids would be using it," declares Geaney.



Kanturk United are a relatively new club in the AUL and typify

the explosion of the game in the North Cork area in recent

seasons.



The current Kanturk club sprang from the influence of Italia 90

but soccer in the North Cork area and indeed in Kanturk itself

goes back a long ways. Kanturk had a team in the 40s, playing in

the North Cork and South Tipperary League.



There was also a useful team in Kanturk in the 1970s. They

enjoyed quite a bit of success and won the Third Division Shield

in 1973.



Nowadays, the club fields two adult sides: Kanturk Utd play in

AUL 2A, Brogeen Rovers in 3A. The minor team play in AUL Youths

2A and the club also fields five underage sides in the informal

Duhallow League. Remarkably, after just over four years, the

club now boasts of some 150 players on its books.



As soon as the club was reformed, the new team was reinforced by

the return of Kanturk players from other clubs. A strong

challenge was mounted that first season for the title in 3A but,

in the end, Kanturk had to settle for fourth position.



The lessons were well learned and they were uncatchable in the

following season as they romped away with the championship,

losing just one game in the progress. By then, the second string

had entered competition under the Brogeen Rovers title.



Kanturk Utd are again going well this season and currently head

the title chase in AUL 2A. Brogeen Rovers are also showing

promotion form in 3A while the youths are enjoying themselves

while learning the ropes.



Finance is a big problem and the weekly Lotto is a lifesaver.

Besides, there is regular sponsorship from a string of local

businesses.



But the major problem is the lack of a pitch of their own. They

have been renting a ground on the Banteer Road for the past three

seasons. The club have earmarked some council land and their

attempts to purchase have met with little success to date. This

community conscious club deserves better; after all they are not

begging for a hand-out, just a helping hand.



The Teams

Martin O'Neill is the Kanturk Utd manager. He is delighted with

their progress this season: "We are top of our division (2A) and

going well in the Saxone Cup. I have no fault with any of the

players."



Martin, who has about twenty to pick from, has a positive

attitude to the major cups, such as the Corinthians and AOH, even

though Kanturk would not be expected to win any of them at

present: "Playing in the cups is good experience for the

players. You come across better teams, you could draw a premier

team in the AOH. It makes you better for the league campaign."



Mick Wall, manager of the second string, Brogeen Rovers, is in

optimistic form: "We are just a couple of points off the pace in

Three A. We have a great chance of promotion and the title

itself is up for grabs. In the third round of the President's

Cup we've been drawn at home to Park Athletic and we have a great

chance of going forward."



Wall sees promotion as a priority but would dearly love to bring

a trophy back to Kanturk. Given the form the junior teams are

displaying, that wish could well become a reality before the end

of the season.



O'Neill reckons that this Kanturk club will be around for a long

while: "The future looks good. We have lots of promising young

players in our ranks."



The first team panel is: Eamonn Barry (captain), Sam Barry, Ned

Geaney, Liam Cashman, Noel Sheehan, Aidan O'Keeffe, Alan Buckley,

Seamus Barry, Dan Jones, Dave Corbett, Tim Healy, James Healy,

Pat O'Neill, Neil Galvin (assistant manager), and Jimmy Moore.



Brogeen Rovers, named after a local river, are captained by Timmy

O'Mahony and the other players are: Coleman Lane, Paddy Hassett,

Donal Walsh, Brendan Harrington, Paul Nagle, Eugene O'Sullivan,

Bob Sheehan, Cathal Cronin, Emmett Cronin, Noel Landy, Benny

O'Dea, Neil McCarthy, Brendan Moylan, Paul Brosnan, David

Brosnan, and Peter Dwyer.



Bill Mernagh plays a leading role in the underage section,

including manageing the minors where he is assisted by Ger Breen.

Bill's assistant at schoolboys level is David Brosnan.



Michael O'Sullivan is President of Kanturk Utd FC and the

officers are Niall Guiney (Chairman), Annette Geaney (Secretary),

Mick O'Driscoll (Treasurer), Sam Barry (PRO), Ger Breen

(Assistant Secretary), and John O'Neill (Assistant Treasurer).



The other members of the committee are Benny O'Dea, Caroline

Ryan, Sheila Ahlert, Bob Daly, Neil Geaney, Bill O'Sullivan,

Francis Higgins, David Brosnan, Martin O'Neill, Mick Wall, and

Ger Cotter.