RICHMOND JAN 2007

RICHMOND FOCUS




“After relegation from Premier A last year, our aim for this season is to hold our first division status and push for promotion next season,” says Richmond spokesman Gerard O’Shea. “Our long term aim is to reach and maintain Premier Division status and challenge for honours in the cup competitions.”



Ger is the assistant manager this season and the new man in charge is John O’Mahony. O’Shea has been with the club since its beginning, first as a player, then he stepped up to management with nearly every team, at this stage, from schoolboy to girl’s youths and junior. This is John’s first year with the club.



Richmond have a big panel of 23 players, but a very young one. Almost all the players have had a run under O’Mahony. Alan O’Mahony was signed from Pearse Celtic, James Galvin has re-signed from Wilton Utd,while Brendan and Mark O’Shea have returned after been abroad last year. Also added to last year’s small squad are Barry Kelly, Killian Keogh,Conor Kelly, Denis Goggin and Colin O’Shea (ex Cork City, who joined before Christmas).



The scoring duties have been fairly well spread this season. Alan O’Mahony has contributed 9, Paul O’Neill 6, Cian Blake 4, Ben Ahern and David O’Neill 3 each. David is the team captain and Mark O’Shea is vice captain. David O’Neill and Freddy Wood shared last season’s Player of the Year Award and both are still involved.



The club wishes Killian Keogh a speedy recovery from a serious injury he received in a recent game and they all hope to have him back soon.





Gerard reports on the season to date: “Our league form to date has been mixed as the new players took time to settle in but our cup runs have given us the time to get a more settled team and with a few games in hand we should move up the table. Indeed, our best performance of the season came in FAI Cup when we beat a well organised College Corinthians. We really clicked on the day.”



“Our most recent outing saw us pit our wits against a new team in Leeview, in the AOH Cup. New teams can be a bit of an unknown challenge. It was a very open game We scored early, through a Colin O’Shea rocket from fully 30 yards, and late with an equally good goal from Mark O’Shea to seal victory and ensure our passage to the next round.”



“Our junior team is very kindly sponsored by Cork Refrigeration who have been on board for many years now. Sean Walsh has held many positions in the club over the years. He has stepped back this year but can still be relied on for help and support.”



This year’s panel: Stephen Connolly, Eosin Walsh, Donogh O’Shea, Barry Kelly, Mark O’Shea, Kevin Keenan, James Galvin, Freddy Wood, Killian Keogh, Alan McCarthy, Denis Goggin, Ryan O’Halloran, David O’Neill, Ben Ahern, Brendan O’Shea, Colin O’Shea, Alan O’Mahony, Cian Blake, Paul O’Neill, Ian Dineen, Stephen O’Sullivan, Mark Kenny and Conor Kelly.



At present, the junior team plays its home games at the Regional Pk in Ballincollig While the schoolboys and girls teams play in Waterfall. Training is every Tuesday night under lights in Waterfall 7.30-8.30 and Thursdays in C.I.T. all-weather 7-8.





Richmond have in place a very committed and hardworking committee from chairman Gerry Butler, secretary Kevin O’Regan, treasurer Shane O’Neill, PRO Gerard O’Shea and other committee members Valerie O’Donovan, Domonic Twohig and Mick O’Connor.





Gerard says the club currently has teams competing at every age group both boys and girls. “Sadly we have no youths team this year and with the upcoming schoolboy teams we see this as only a temporary setback.”





Updates on the busy club’s affairs, including results and fixtures, can be found at their newly launched website WWW.RICHMONDFOOTBALLCLUB.COM