PASSAGE DEC 2000

PASSAGE SEEK AOH NUMBER FOUR


First division Ballyvolane stand in the way of Passage as the harboursiders seek a place in the last 32 of the Murphy's Stout AOH Cup. Passage, winners of the coveted trophy in 1994, 1997, and 1998, bowed out of the Munster Junior Cup to a more experienced Temple side recently. Manager John Murphy will he hoping that a similar story will not unfold at Hillington Park on Sunday afternoon. Ballyvolane, with Tony O'Donnell playing as well as ever, are loaded with experience and will make it hard for Murphy's younger outfit.



The Passage side have been stuck in the doldrums for the past two seasons but John took over this term and is building for the future and indeed has already put together a promising squad.



John Carroll has returned from Douglas Hall and his scoring exploits have been a big help to a side that includes four from last season's B string. Keeper Brian Beale captains the team while John Corkery is the assistant manager.



This season, the B side play in AUL 3B and are managed by a couple of Passage loyalists: James Jordan and Brendan "Bags" Murphy. They are well in the running in what is proving to be a very competitive league.



The experience of "Bags", John O'Flaherty, Bryan Hennessy, John Cronin, and keeper Sean Kind, is blending nicely with the youthful exuberance of promising performers such as Clifton Gaffney, Aidan O'Carroll, Pat Quigley, and Neil O'Sullivan. Martin Murphy captains the team and Carroll is their top scorer to date.



Cobh Ramblers ace Paul Coughlan, man of the match for Passage in their 1994 AOH triumph, helps out with the coaching of the Passage youths side, which is managed by Packie Murphy and Dave Dineen, familiar faces on the Passage scene.



They are doing quite well even though the squad is generally very young with two thirds of them underage again for next season. Leading performers include Mark O'Sullivan, Dave Barry, and Liam O'Sullivan. Passage have an important game coming up on Sunday afternoon (2pm) when they entertain underdogs Casement Celtic in the FAI Cup.