WEST END UTD March 2001

WEST END UNITED




West End United may have caught a dose of the blues when they lost last month's Saxone Cup final to Dripsey Celtic but secretary Ted Crowley, who has spent some twenty five years with the small second division club, reports "a healthy position" in Murphy's Stout AUL 2B.



That healthy league position is down to an unbeaten run. They have won seven and drawn two of their nine games. So well done to the management team of Garry White, trainer Liam Buckley, and the side-line know how of Crowley himself.



Crowley and the West End boys have one major headache this season. And that came about because their pitch in Mahon was taken over for building purposes. Murphy's Farm was offered as an alternative but the bad weather meant that the Bishopstown venue was unplayable. As a result, West End have played all their games away from home.



But it hasn't really bothered them that much. New signings Liam O'Brien (a promising young player from Casement Celtic), Don O'Keeffe (snapped up on his return from Australia), Finn Unnerup (a Dane working in Cork), Noel Murphy (ex Glenthorn Celtic), and Leonard Lyons (ex Grattan Utd), have boosted the squad and brought down the average age dramatically.



The new boys will have some catching up to do. Crowley's twenty five years of service is a shining example. And the torch has been followed by Ian O'Donovan (23 years), the Buckley brothers (Joe 17 years, Liam and Pat with 12 each), Kieran Murphy (15), Garry White (15), and Dave Bannon (10). Even main sponsor Declan O'Sullivan (Ban Ard) has been backing West End for ten years. Who says there's no loyalty in soccer?



Crowley extends an open invitation to young players to join: "We would like them to join the squad. It is a club where great friendships have been built up over the years." Crowley combines the secretary and treasurer jobs while O'Donovan is chairman.



West End skipper Mikesey Lyons didn't enjoy much luck in the 1 - 0 Saxone Cup final loss to Dripsey Celtic but, with nine goals, he is the side's leading scorer by a long way. Coming up behind are Richard Anderson (3), Dave Bannon (2), Roy Anderson (2), Kieran O'Sullivan (2), and James O'Mahony (2).



Super sub O'Mahony is credited with netting the late winner in their best win of the season. That came in the quarter-final of the Saxone Cup and O'Mahony's last minute strike earned them a 2 - 1 victory over fancied Afton Villa. West End have never had any player on a league representative team but Crowley says the powers that be should take a look at Phillip Long: "He is having a great season, never has a bad game."



The panel, which trains every Tuesday and Thursday at Ashton School, is: Pat Buckley (keeper), Damien Hegarty, Damien Murphy, Donal McCarthy, Finn Unnerup, Philip Long, Noel Murphy, Leonard Lyons, Declan O'Sullivan, Roy Anderson, Joe Buckley, Don O'Keeffe, Kieran O'Sullivan, Liam Buckley, Liam O'Brien, Dave Bannon, Kieran Murphy, Mikesey Lyons (captain), James O'Mahony, and Richard Anderson.



West End, founded in the Bandon Road area in 1974, haven't enjoyed great luck in competition. In addition to this season's Turner's Cross loss to Dripsey, they were pipped for league honours in 1988 and 1993. It could all yet come right before the end of the season. If it does, then the efforts of early members such as Hughie O'Connor, Anthony Daly, and Paddy Rice, will be remembered. Not that they'd be forgotten in any case.