KINSALE NOV 2001

KINSALE




Kinsale's cup ambitions have been cut short in recent weeks with away defeats to underdogs Mallow Celtic B in the AOH and to St Oliver's Boys of Tipperary in the FAI Junior Cup. That leaves the Munster Cup and, on Sunday morning, next they travel to take on Garryduff in the open round.



Kinsale had hoped to end their Turner's Cross hoodoo this season and may yet do so via the Linnane Cup. In recent years, the seasiders have had four defeats and no wins at the venue. In 1994, they lost the County Cup decider to Leeside and, in 1996, they were hammered by Greenmount in the final of the Mossie Linnane Cup. In 1997, they were beaten by Rockville in the semi-final final of the AOH and, a year later, lost on penalties to Evergreen in the decider of the President's Cup.



The current club has been on the go since 1969, after the town had been without a soccer focus for some years. And they hit another crisis point about five years back. Then, a lack of dedicated players led to the decision to disband the Premier side and concentrate on the third division team (which at the time consisted of a mixture of quite mature players and promising youngsters). It was a decision that paid off.



The club started playing in Fort Hill in 1969 but were soon on the move and indeed changed pitches six times before returning to Fort Hill in 1985. Talks took place with the County Council and a redeveloped Fort Hill has been their home for the past 16 years.



The experienced Peter Jones, who has given much of his time to training the side over the past two seasons, is the current player-manager. Donal Foran is the assistant manager while Ger Foran and Gerry Rice are also on hand to help out and lend their advice.



The main change in playing personnel this season is the arrival of a new keeper, Sean O'Connell, a young player from the nearby parish of Riverstick who, according to club secretary Gearoid Cummins, is progressing well at the moment. Cummins was quick to acknowledge the major contribution made by last season's keeper David Duffy who has now left to concentrate on his work.



The first team captain is Jeremy O'Donovan and Cummins says this has proved to be a great choice: "Jeremy possesses a strong voice and uses it from his position in the back line." Jeremy is one of a few Kinsale players recently selected by AUL manager John Shine for the Oscar Traynor side; Patsy O'Driscoll, Jones and Derek McCarthy are the others.



Indeed Jeremy was last season's Player of the Year while Cummins himself took the Player's Player of the Year prize. And Jones led by example by clinching the Top Scorer Award with an impressive 25 goal tally.



Kinsale, with impressive wins over Togher (2-1) and Passage (3-1) are big contenders for the Premier League title. Of the major cups, only the Munster remains open to them but the Linnane, postponed last season because of the foot and mouth crisis, could yet give the seasiders another avenue to the Cross and another chance to confront that bogey.



The panel consists of: Sean O'Connell, Trevor Irwin, Patrick McCarthy, Pat Murphy, Patrick O'Callaghan, Sean Foran, Trevor Cass, Gerard Rice (Junior), Leonard McCarthy, Patsy O'Driscoll, Stephen O'Donovan, Derek McCarthy, Mark Hurley, Thomas Sutherland, Jeremy O'Donovan, Peter Jones, David O'Donovan, Gerry Rice (Snr) Gearoid Cummins and Paul Healy.



Kinsale officials are worried that too much football is being played on the one pitch at Fort Hill and the club have a proposal with the Cork County to develop a second pitch on waste ground adjoining the existing field. The pitch is also used for training and the Premier side can be seen there each Tuesday and Thursday.



The fully stretched committee consists of: Paddy Madden (Hon. President), Donal Foran (Chairman), Gearoid Cummins(Secretary), Jeremy O'Donovan (Treasurer), Gerard Foran (Underage Chairman), William McCarthy (Underage Treasurer), Patrick 'O Callaghan, Derek McCarthy. Cummins says that Oscar Madison's is their main sponsor: "We would like to thank Mike Nolan and the staff for their support."



The seasiders' U17s play in the AUL Premier League and are managed by Donie Searls, Michael McCarthy and Patrick McCarthy. The Under 15s are guided by Ger Barry, Denis Jones, Richard Driscoll while the U13s are in the capable hands of T.P. Sheehan, Ger Mooney and Ger Foran.



Kinsale's Recent Record:

'94 County Cup Finalists, lost 1-0 to Leeside

'95/96 Premier 1A section winners

'96 Mossie Linnane Cup Finalists, lost 6-1 to Greenmount

'97 Semi final of the AOH Cup, lost 4-1 to Rockville

'98 Presidents Cup Finalists, lost on penalties to Evergreen after a 1-1 draw.

'98 Won 3rd Div. section, promoted to 2nd Div.

'99 Won 2nd Div. section, promoted to 1st Div.

'00 Won 1st Div section, promoted to Premier 1A Div.

'01 Won Premier A league, promoted to Premier League.