MAYMOUNT CELTIC MARCH 2000

MAYMOUNT MARCH ON


Newly crowned St Michael's Cup champions Maymount Celtic intend to march on into the future on young legs. The vibrant northside club already has an underage section in place and indeed the Under 11s won their league last season and that team are topping the U12 league this term while a new U11 team is showing encouraging form.



John McCarthy is chairman of the underage section and others putting in valuable work here are Raymond Murphy, Pascal Kearney, John O'Sullivan, and Joe Galway. Pascal also helps out with coaching the junior side, which is managed by John Murphy. Stephen Jones, who played so well in goal in last Sunday's success, is current Player of the Year while Ray Murphy received the Clubman of the Year Award.



With the extension in activities, the club is searching for a second pitch, as Killowen, where they now play, will not be able to cope. They are also on the lookout for a place of their own but will only buy when the time and location are both right. To fund their various activities, they rely heavily on sponsors such as Eugene's Bar, Gurranabraher Credit Union, and Sunset Ridge.



Manager John Murphy reflected on the sportsmanship of Sunday's beaten opponents Kinsale but was soon looking ahead to Saturday's City Challenge Cup tie away to Greenmount Rangers: "Everyone will want to beat us now". He also pointed out that they had a good run in the Munster Junior Cup before going out in the open draw to Tipperary side Galbally.



The Maymount Celtic president is Mary McDermott and the committee consists of William O'Keeffe (chairman), Bertie O'Neill (vice-chairman), John F. Murphy (secretary), Raymond Murphy (treasurer), Gerry Crowley (groundsman), and Stephen O'Leary.



APRES MATCH

Veteran Kinsale player Michael "Scully" McCarthy had the misfortune to imply, within earshot of Maymount Celtic's US based president Mary McDermott, that the city side had been lucky in Sunday's 1 - 0 St Michael's Cup triumph. There was a quick retort from Mary: "We weren't lucky. We were better!" "Scully", being the sportsman he is, allowed the first lady have the last word.



Much has been made of Kinsale's hard luck at Turner's Cross and one could only sympathise with the seasiders after Sunday's loss when young kids and grown men departed the ground with tears freely flowing.



This was their fourth final defeat there since 1994 when they narrowly lost the 1994 County Cup final to Leeside. Then they were trashed by Greenmount in the 96 Linnane and lost the 98 President's Cup decider on spotters to Evergreen.



The sailors may be earning an unwanted reputation as perpetual bridesmaids at Turner's but, on the other hand, are becoming serial league winners. They took the AUL 3 championship in 98, won AUL 2 last season, and are well in the hunt in AUL 1 this term.



Indeed, they did have some good news on Sunday when Pearse Celtic, their major league rivals, lost unexpectedly to Greenwood. One door closes, another opens. C'est la vie. C'est le sport.