Brideview draw and go top of the table

It was back to football again last weekend in the Waterford League with Clashmore having a big home win that moves them closer to a league title with three games to play. Brideview drew at home to Dunmore and go top of the table in their division. Lismore’s game away to Red Star was called off due to an unplayable pitch.

In our ‘Memories’ segment this week, we go back to season 2020/21, another season that we all remember for the Coronavirus that swept through the country. Our segment covers the little football that was played and this was the Tony Bolger Cup.

In the ‘International’ segment we look back at the game last Wednesday that saw Ireland defeat Latvia and preview the Ireland v |France game that was played on Monday night and the win by the Ireland U21 team in the friendly at Turner’s Cross last Sunday afternoon.

As we completed our notes on Monday morning we received word that Waterford FC manager, Danny Searle has been relieved of his duties by the club.

WATERFORD LEAGUE Clashmore Ramblers 11 Seaview Celtic 2

After the cancellation of all games the previous week, it was back to football again last weekend and Clashmore Ramblers continued their great league run with another outstanding home display that saw them score eleven goals and move them a step closer to winning the league with only three games remaining.

In Division 3B, Seaview Celtic were the visitors to Pablo Park on Saturday afternoon and the Ramblers showed their intent from the very start as they attacked the visitor’s goal and in fact, at half-time, had a comfortable 6-1 lead. Seaview pulled a goal back straight after the break, but this only fed into the Clashmore goal scoring spree as they hit several more goals in this half.

Graham Guiry opened the scoring after just three minutes when he headed in from a corner kick. Minutes later Caelin Rooney doubled the score before the visitors hit back with a retaken penalty. However, back came the Ramblers with goals from Paddy Prendergast, Graham Guiry and two more before half-time for Prendergast to complete his hat-trick and a 6-1 lead.

After the break, Seaview cut the deficit when they scored but this only pushed Clashmore back into attack with Daniel Lenane scoring twice, Caelin Rooney finding the net for his second goal and goals from Daniel O’Mahony and Jonny Walsh for a comprehensive victory.

Clashmore now have three games remaining, away to Kilmacthomas this Sunday morning at 11am and then away to Ferrybank, with one home fixture to De La Salle. Looking at the league table, seven points from a total of nine points should see the Ramblers over the line as champions.

Brideview 2 Dunmore East 2

Brideview played at home to Dunmore East on Saturday and scored within a minute of the kick-off when Eoin McGrath found the net. They then had a goal disallowed for offside and at the break, led by the only goal of the half.

The second goal arrived on 50mins, again scored by Eoin McGrath and the visitors cut the deficit then to one goal. Brideview then had another goal ruled out for offside and with just two minutes remaining Dunmore scored and at the final whistle the points were shared in a 2-2 draw.

The result sees Brideview go top of the division, but they have more games played than those chasing them.

Red Star v Lismore - postponed

Lismore’s Division 2B game on Sunday morning away to Red Star was called off as the pitch was unplayable.

This weekend there are just two teams from the west playing in Waterford. On Saturday, Brideview travel to Connors Park to play the Villa in Division 2A, with a 2pm kick-off. While on Sunday, Clashmore Ramblers travel to Kilmacthomas in Division 3B with an 11am kick-off.

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP

The two semi-finals in the Munster Senior Cup were played last week with Cobh Ramblers defeating Treaty Utd at Jackman Park, Limerick 3-2 and at Ozier Park, Waterford, Cork City defeated Waterford 2-1 to set up a Cobh Ramblers v Cork City Munster Senior Cup final, as was the case last year also. The Ramblers won the final by the only goal of the game and will be looking forward to this season’s final.

INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

By the time our notes appear in print Ireland will have played their first group game in the UEFA European Championship 2024 Qualifying Group B when they hosted the World Cup runners-up, France on Monday night at the Aviva. The French will be playing their second group game. Since the draw for the competition took place with Ireland in the same group as France, this is the fixture everyone wanted to see. This is a sell-out fixture and not a ticket to be had, with many still making enquiries hoping for that ticket that will allow them see Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, two of the French superstars in action in Dublin. The French showed they are over losing the World Cup final as they hammered the Netherlands on Friday night 4-0 in the first group game and they will come to Dublin full of confidence and firm favourites to turn over the Boys in Green.

The Irish defence will definitely have to be at their very best to deal with two of the best players in the world and no sloppy defending, as was the case on Wednesday against Latvia. Let us hope we will be giving a good report in our notes next week.

Wednesday night last, the Republic of Ireland played Latvia in a friendly at the Aviva in preparation for the French game. Before an attendance of 41,000 the Irish team played some wonderful attacking football for the opening 20mins, in which they scored twice through Callum O’Dowda and Evan Ferguson, for a two goal advantage. But then Latvia came more into the game and they scored before the break to leave the it 2-1.

In the second half, Latvia continued to attack on the counter and when the ball was not cleared by the Irish defence, the visitors hit the net and the crowd went silent. The introduction of Ogbene definitely helped and he scored the third and winning goal to send the Irish fans home happy, as they looked forward to the visit of France.

Sunday last at Turner’s Cross, the Ireland U21s played Iceland in a friendly in preparation for the upcoming UEFA U21 Championship qualifying campaign, and before an attendance of 6,000 Jim Crawford’s team came from behind to win 2-1.

Iceland, playing into the Shed End in the opening half, took the lead after just 14mins, but Ireland equalised through Tom Cannon on 23mins. Cannon is on loan from Everton at Preston North End and an Everton fan told us this is a player for the future. Shortly after, Ireland were reduced to ten players when Festy Ebosele received a red card following a second yellow card for continuing to argue with the referee after receiving a yellow card in a tackle. Half-time and the teams were level 1-1.

The second half saw both teams having opportunities, but it was 10-man Ireland that scored when John Kenny, the former Sligo Rgs player who signed for Celtic and is now on loan with Shamrock Rvs, found the net at the Shed End and the team held on to the final whistle for a very good win.

The atmosphere at the Cross was electric and more especially given the result.

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE - SEARLE RELIEVED OF HIS DUTIES

We had our notes almost completed when we received word that Waterford FC had issued a statement earlier in the morning that the club had relieved manager Danny Searle of his duties. Searle had been in charge for ten months and had guided Waterford to an FAI Cup semi-final, losing at the RSC to Shelbourne and then losing to UCD in a promotion/relegation play-off.

Waterford have played five league games so far this season, winning two, drawing two and losing to arch promotion rivals Galway at the RSC a few weeks back, and find themselves at the weekend ten points adrift of Galway with a game less played than the Tribesmen. We ourselves have seen just two of the five games - the win against Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park in which they scored three times without reply and a draw at home to Longford Town. The reports we were getting from our colleagues who had seen all five league games were negative on the performances of the team. Regardless of the level one plays, it is accepted that points on the board at the start of the season are most important and unfortunately, the Blues have not been keeping in step with the teams above them, especially Galway.

At the time of writing the notes we hear that Brian Murphy will act as interim manager and will be in charge for the visit of Finn Harps this Friday night. The search for a new manager we believe has already begun.

There was disappointment for the Waterford fans when the Treaty Utd v Waterford League game at the Markets Field was called off at 4.30pm due to the pitch being unplayable. Following two referee’s inspections, one at 1.30pm and the second at 4.30pm, the pitch failed the second inspection and the fixture was called off.

We ourselves were on duty at Mounthawk Park, Tralee for the Kerry FC v Athlone Town league fixture. In terrible conditions with the cold, wind and very heavy rain, the visitors came out on top by the only goal of the game which was scored with only two minutes of normal time remaining.

This was our first visit to Mounthawk Park since 1998 when we were involved with the MFA and the FAI in provincial and national junior and youth football. There are many changes at the venue since that time and much work has been put into the facilities by the Kerry Junior League and now by Kerry FC since they became members of the Airtricity League and have played a total of six games, with no victory, one draw and five defeats. There was a full house in attendance, 1,200 for the fixture with the conditions, wind and rain, horrendous. But playing on astro turf, both sets of players found the conditions difficult and Kerry had first use of the strong wind, but while they had most of the play they were unable to find the net.

The second half saw Athlone with the advantage of the wind, but again, they could not break down the Kerry defence until two minutes from full time when they eventually made the breakthrough and scored the only goal of the game. Even 5mins of injury time could not get Kerry the goal they deserved for a share of the points and so they remain winless and bottom of the table. Speaking to Kerry manager, former Cork City and St. Pats player, Billy Dennehy, he believes this team will come good later in the season. He told us while they are amateur, they are definitely learning the difference of playing at this level as against what many of them played at junior level.

We believe the team definitely will take time to get accustomed to the rigours of playing Airtricity League every weekend. Overall, we enjoyed being back in the Kingdom again at Mounthawk Park.

Galway as we have mentioned already have opened up a lead of six points from Bray, with Cobh Ramblers in third spot seven points adrift of the leaders.

Cobh made the long trip to Ballybofey on Friday night to play Finn Harps and came away with a share of the points in a 2-2 draw, which is a good result for the Ramblers and sees them third in the league table having played six games. Cobh fell behind within a minute and the home side doubled their lead with 15mins played. Our colleagues from St. Colman’s Park tell us Harps were the better team at this stage and deserved the two goal lead and this was the score at half-time.

Shortly after the restart, Cobh were awarded a penalty but Jack Doherty’s spot kick sailed over the bar. However, he made amends 10mins into the half when he scored and he then scored the equaliser with 20mins remaining. There were no further scores to the final whistle and the Ramblers made the trip home with a share of the points. They are now third in the table and this Friday night they play at St. Colman’s Park when second in the table Bray are the visitors. The Seagulls are a point ahead of the Ramblers and there should be a large crowd for this top of the table clash.

Bray, we believe and have written this already, are the danger team apart from Galway, as we think Bray manager Ian Ryan is one of the best in the division and what he has done so far since he took over as manager at the start of the season compared to last season proves our point.

MEMORIES

Last week we wrote on what many called the longest season ever in the history of the league. The 2019/20 season was dominated by the number of months there was no sport in the country from March 2020 to September 2020 because of the Coronavirus. The FAI, we wrote then, allowed leagues resume their league programmes, but the leagues had to be concluded by the middle of September. With the teams in the WW/EC Junior League having only two games each to play, and one of these was Brideview v Valley Rgs, the league went ahead and completed the two games, with Brideview winning the 2019/20 season.

There was just a short break, two weeks, before the new 2020/21 season began. The AGM of the league was pushed back for a few weeks and news began to break that there were a number of the current league management committee stepping down at the AGM. The 2020/21 season began with the Tony Bolger Cup. Eight teams entered in two groups of four and the first rounds were played on 27th September. Two rounds had only been played when the FAI informed all leagues to cancel games for three weeks as the Coronavirus had moved from level 2 to level 3. Then the news that no one wanted to hear on Wednesday, 21st October, that the virus was at level 5.

When we look back at that time and what was written each week in the WW/EC notes, the heading always was, ‘’when will football resume again. Reading each week’s notes we see that on so many occasions it was written that football, and sport in general, was not important as we listened to the stories of families throughout the country who lost loved ones through the virus. We praised the frontline workers who put the welfare of others before their own safety.

Christmas 2020 came and went and the headlines in January read moreorless the same since the cancellation of sport.

News came that there would be no football until May 2021 and in the middle of April, the 5km limit was lifted.

The Airtricity League commenced and underage football training was allowed in the schoolboys/girls leagues. In the middle of May we received word from our friend, Liam in Tallow, telling us the devastating news of the fire that demolished most of the Brideview clubhouse and dressing rooms. Word spread to all the clubs and the response was heartening for all in Brideview. In fact, a week or so after the fire, FAI President Gerry McAnaney visited Leonard Fraser Park to see for himself the damage that was done by the fire and to listen to the plans the Brideview committee had in restoring the building.

The WW/EC committee issued dates for the recommencement of the Tony Bolger Cup and it was hoped to play the next round on Sunday, 13th June, 2021.

The clubs were informed by e-mail that four of the current committee, Michael O’Neill, Paddy Mason, Paddy Pollard and Liam Fraser, were to step down whenever the league AGM took place. The four names are synonymous with the WW/EC Junior League as their combined service to football in the area is almost 200 years, a phenomenal service to the game. Clubs were tasked with getting new personnel onto the committee at the AGM.

May 2021 also saw the departure of Kevin Sheedy and Mike Newell from the Waterford management in the Airtricity League to be replaced by Marc Bircham.

The two Tony Bolger Cup semi-finals were played on Wednesday, 17th June, 2021 with Brideview defeating Ballybridge 5-1 and Valley Rgs A defeating Inch 3-1.

The Tony Bolger Cup final was played at Lismore on Sunday, 20th June, 2021 with Brideview defeating Valley Rgs A 4-1. The Bolger Cup was the only competition played in the 2020/21 season. As there was no other football in the season, we have decided that this week we will give a report of the final that saw Brideview win the Bolger Cup for a record 17th time, which is a truly remarkable achievement.

The Tony Bolger Cup final was played, as we already wrote, at the Castle Farm Ground on Sunday morning 20th June, 2021. Paul Quinn had the Lismore pitch in perfect condition for the final and the surface was ideal for the passing game. The large attendance was delighted to be out watching football again and they were not disappointed as this was a very good attacking display by the two neighbouring teams. This was Valley Rgs’ second consecutive Bolger Cup final having lost the previous season to Cappoquin/Railway.

The match report tells us it took the two teams around 10mins or so to ‘suss’ each other out and the first chance fell to Valley with John Noonan unable to take advantage of a wonderful defence splitting pass, while at the other end the Valley defence was keeping close tabs on the Brideview danger man, Michael Curley who was playing as a striker. The midfield battles were breaking even and the opening half appeared to be ending scoreless. However, with 3mins to half-time, a free kick to Brideview hit into the Valley area saw the ball dropped by ‘keeper Facondo and Shane Roche gladly accepted the offer and put the ball in the net.

A setback for Valley but they came out for the second half more determined and it was obvious the manager had given his players a lengthy talk. Valley attacked straight away and were rewarded, when a wonderful ball from the wing by Le Mac was headed past Jamie Murphy for the equaliser. But this only seemed to spur Brideview back into action and within minutes they had regained the lead when a Richie Ryan free kick was not dealt with by the Valley defence and not properly cleared, allowing Michael Curley brilliantly left-foot the ball into the net. Play swung from end to end as both teams gave their all and one felt the next score for either team was going to be important and it fell to Brideview, as Eoin McGrath found the net. Minutes later, the game as a contest was over when Richie Ryan scored from a Chris Murphy pass.

At the final whistle the better team won, but the report says overall, the game of football was the clear winner as the two neighbouring clubs played the game the large attendance expected, attacking football played on the ground helped in no small way by the excellent condition of the pitch and played in a sporting manner helped by referee Simon Drislane.

Brideview - Jamie Murphy, David Kingston, Ryan Grey, Michael Tobin, Kevin Henley, Donnacha Mulcahy, Eric Hickey, Shane Roche, Richie Ryan, Michael Curley, Eoin McGrath. Reserves - Ben Aherne, Chris Murphy, Stephen Pratt, Jake Chambers, Ethan Scott.

Valley Rgs A - Facondo, Le Mac, John Carr, Rob English, Chris Kelly, Ed. Kenneally, Tom Hartnett, John Noonan, Adrian Carr, John Cashman, Jack le Zack. Reserves - Ray McCurtain, Eoin Wallace, Shane Cogan, John Hurley, Steve Carr, Eoin Doyle, Paul Geary.

Referee Simon Drislane, assistants Eamonn Cusack and Keith Hornibrook.

The match officials selected Kevin Henley from Brideview as winner of the Leonard Fraser Man of the Match Award, which was presented by Mary Fraser.

League chairman Michael O’Neill introduced Patricia Bolger McCarthy to present the Tony Bolger Cup. Before Patricia presented the cup, she spoke of her father and if he was alive, he would be 90 years of age. The Bolger family are very grateful to the WW/EC Junior League for organising the Bolger Cup each year since Tony’s death in 1984.

Patricia then presented the cup to Brideview captain, Eric Hickey. Eric said the past year had not been a happy one for so many people and his own club that saw the dressing rooms at Leonard Fraser Park burned down in a fire at the complex. He wanted, on behalf of the club, to thank the WW/EC League, the Valley Rgs club and everyone who supported the Brideview Utd GoFundMe page, which is helping to rebuild the dressing rooms.

This then saw the curtain come down on season 2020/21, a season dominated once again by the Covid virus, but at least there were a few games of football played and the large attendance at the Castle Farm Ground for the Bolger Cup final showed the welcome back for a game of football.

The committee of the WW/EC Junior League met one representative of each club in the middle of July, social distancing observed, and held outdoors at Leonard Fraser Park. The committee requested the meeting to hear suggestions from the clubs regarding the commencement of the new season, 2021/22. The feedback from the club representatives was positive and following the suggestions put forward, the new season was to commence in August. There was a suggestion that two cup competitions, the traditional Tony Bolger Cup and the Liam Fitzgerald Cup, commence the season and both competitions be played in groups, thus ensuring there are plenty of games before the league commenced. However, as these were only suggestions, the club reps would have to report to their clubs and explain the suggestions and then report back to the AGM, which was confirmed for Monday, 26th July, 2021 - the first AGM since Covid forced lockdowns nationwide.

Next week we will report on the league AGM of 2021, an AGM that created history within the WW/EC Junior League with a whole new committee elected to look after the league for the forthcoming season and we take a look at the activities of the new season 2021/22.