UCC NOV 2001

UCC: A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH




From the October Saturday that the University College Cork side that play in the AUL defeated their MSL counterparts in the Statoil FAI Junior Cup, people began to give them much more respect. True, they lost in the next round against Greenmount Rangers but gave the hot favourites a good game.



In recent seasons, UCC have been more or less going through the motions in the AUL. That has changed also. Under manager Kevin McNamara, they are very much in the running for promotion. McNamara previously managed the UCC Fresher Youths team and his appointment, along with the win over the first junior side, has boosted the stature of what is regarded as UCC's second junior team.



Last season's squad has been boosted by the influx of new players, mainly from last season's Fresher teams, in particular Ray Hickey, Colin Mangan, John McCarthy, Iain O'Callaghan. Also they have a French international student, Pascal Tournaire, playing up front. On the other hand, they have lost last season's Player of the Year, Paul Gleeson, to the MSL juniors.



The reinforced squad, sponsored by the Bank of Ireland, presents quite a match day problem for manager McNamara: he has no less than thirty players to choose from! Tournaire and midfielder Ray Hickey are the leading scorers and the side is captained by sweeper Mark O'Regan.



The committee, which consists of Anthony Spratt (Chairman), James Murphy (Secretary), Kevin Healy (Treasurer), Paul Irwin (PRO), Paul Wycherley (Quarry Cup Officer), have high hopes for this team. In the short term, they want "promotion, promotion, promotion" and the longer term aim is to establish themselves in the first division and then make a push for the Premier League.



And they are working hard to move up the rankings. They train twice a week, Wednesdays in the indoor hall in the Mardyke Arena, Thursdays at The Farm. Most of the home games are played in The Farm (Curraheen Road) with the odd match in the Mardyke.



Chairman Spratt reckons that their best win of the season to date came last Saturday week when goals from Shane O'Connor and Ray Hickey earned them a 2-1 away win over Douglas Hall. But revenge was close at hand and, a few days later, the Hall won the return 1-0 under lights at the Mardyke.



It was UCC's first league defeat of the season, so last Sunday's away trip to Innishannon became a big test of character. Spratt, who plays in defence, and his colleagues came through with flying colours and goals from.... earned them a 3-0 win and put their promotion drive back on track.



UCC field five teams in all. Cannice Kennedy and Laurence Neville look after the Senior side while Kieran Logan and J.J. Chambers are in charge of the MSL juniors. David O'Donovan and Ken O'Riordan manage the Fresher Junior team while the youths equivalent is guided by Steve Dinan and Mark Stone.