TOWER STREET ATHLETIC DEC 2000

TOWER STREET ATHLETIC




Third division Tower Street Athletic had their exciting turn in the giant-killing role in last seasons' AOH Cup. In just their second season, the Street conquered a string of higher ranked teams before bowing to the superior firepower of Leeside in the semi-final at Turner's Cross.



That particular avenue to glory was closed off early this season when they were beaten by Knocknaheeny Celtic, the first defeat for the southsiders since that Leeside lesson at the Cross. The aims are now more modest, perhaps more realistic, according to club secretary Mick Fielding: "Our main aim is to win promotion to the second division and hopefully reach the Cross for the second year running, this time via the President's Cu in which we must play Mallow Celtic in the quarter-finals".



Tower, who underlined their cup pedigree with triumph in the popular Togher Summer festival, will probably start that tie as favourites. A win would put them into the semi-final against Bellmount Rovers. The other semi-final sees Hillington take on Ardmanning Celtic.



Tower Street are one of the fitter third division sides, thanks to the twice weekly training sessions which are supervised by Timmy Coleman and that fitness showed in a 5 - 2 crunch league win over Cobh Celtic, "our best performance of the season to date", according to Fielding.



The secretary reckons that Tower are even stronger than last season: "I feel that the five new signings, Paul O'Flynn, Michael Andrews, Alan Murray, David Kelly, and Declan O'Keeffe, have reinforced our hand. We are stronger all round".



They did suffer a reverse early on when keeper Stephen Carroll was injured in a car crash that will keep him out for the season. "That was a big blow", said Fielding. "But 18 year old new signing O'Keeffe stepped in and has done a marvellous job."



This is the club's third season in the AUL. Fielding formed Tower Street along with current players Neil Greaney and Don Field. The current committee consists of Tom O'Leary, chairman and treasurer; Mick Fielding, secretary; Pat Owens, Timmy Coleman, Michael O'Shea, and Neil Greaney.



Tower Street are head-quartered in Ma Dullea's where Billy O'Driscoll helped them get off the ground and was very supportive. There are now new owners at Ma's and they have continued the backing for the young club, which is hoping to have its first representative honour in the near future. Midfielder Scott Crowley is training with Terry Barrett's preliminary AUL Oscar Traynor Cup squad.



Quite a few clubs like Tower Street fail to last the pace and drop out of football after a few years. But Fielding's committee are there for the long haul: "Our longer term ambition is to buy our own pitch and start up a second team or maybe a youths team. We want to continue getting that team out each weekend and to be successful into the future."



Fielding and Pat Owens are the joint managers of the 3B side. Skipper is John Coleman, the current Player of the Year, and the leading scorers at present are Scott Crowley and Tyrone Looney.



The full squad is: David Kelly, John Coleman (captain), Neil Greaney, Michael Andrews, Tom O'Riordan, Felix Sherlock, Timmy Coleman, Scott Crowley, Murt Holland, Barry Murphy, Peter McKenzie, Timmy McCarthy, Paul O'Flynn, Tyrone Looney, Alan Murray, Anthony Coleman, Declan O'Keeffe, Don Field, and Jim Black.