TRAMORE ATHLETIC 1994/95

TRAMORE ATHLETIC 1994/95




NORM WEATHERS THE STORM



The recent rain-filled winter is rapidly becoming a thing of the

past but will long be remembered by Norman Pratt, manager of Two

A hot shots Tramore Athletic: "We stagnated. No games from

December 10th 1994 to March 19th 1995. This was the biggest test

of my managerial career to date, trying to keep up my own morale

as well as that of twenty others."



Norman and Tramore came through well. Plenty training and

matches galore on all weather pitches kept the lads in trim and

they restarted in style by making immediate progress towards the

top of the league and into the last eight of the Saxone Cup.



This team is a relatively new addition to the formidable line-up

at Tramore Athletic, one of Cork best known and respected clubs.

It came about as an attempt to keep the club's many underage

graduates from drifting away from the colours.



The timing was right for Pratt. He had just been forced to quit

- he had played with Lee Rangers - and was anxious to remain

involved in football. And so the AUL Tramore juniors were started

up in May 1993.



Norman and his assistant Paddy O'Riordan soon had a pool of young

players together and then added seasoned campaigners such as Mick

O'Rourke, Terry McSweeney, and John Holland. The mixture gelled

quite well and had a great run in the league. They eventually

finished third but were in with a shout right up the penultimate

game.



The aim for this season was to go all the way and take the title

in Two A. Key players, such as keeper Alan Creedon, sweeper

Leonard Furlong, and striker Ian Harrington, were retained and

more experience was added in the shape of Frank Murphy, Pat

Roche, Pat Clarke, Liam O'Flynn, Colm O'Farrell, and Ray

Fitzpatrick.



The manager is pretty happy with the way things are going: "We

have assembled the size and quality of squad necessary. We are

handily placed in our league and ready to capitalise on any slip-

up by front runners Kanturk and Park Albion; we have the games in

hand. We are still involved in all cup competitions to date."



Norman knows that his side is but one plank in a Tramore club,

bidding once again to be a major force at all levels of local

football. Behind the team, there is a very experienced and

active committee fronted by Tony Murphy (Chairman), Eddie Byrne

(Treasurer), and Liz O'Donoghue (Secretary).



The manager has a special word of praise for Tony Murphy who gave

him his start in management: "It is a great opportunity for me.

I have a burning desire to lead this team to the first division,

lead them up as champions." He also wants a cup final at

Turner's Cross along the way.



Enthusiastic Norman certainly had this team buzzing and has them

well kitted out too thanks to team sponsors Turner's Cross

Motors. "They are a great bunch of lads, " he says, singing their

praises, "Week after week they show great committement and

enthusiasm in their endeavours to bring success to our great

club".