Munster Senior League

[Clifford]

I'm away for the week lads. Next time I'm on hopefully it'll be to read all your congrats on a title for the Rockmount. If not I'll be first to take the hat off to Avondale and say well done.

I know the Blarney lads will give it everything tonight. Wouldn't want it any other way to be honest. I know we'd do our best if the shoe was on the other foot.

Best of luck to all, but especially to Rockmount.

Forza Mount.

[AvondaleNutter]

I see the O'Connell cup final is not on in turners cross. Has this always been the way?


Friday 29th May
O’Connell Cup Final
Avondale Utd v Douglas Hall / Castleview Camden 7.30 (S.O’Connell, J. Haines, D. O’Mahony)

[Silly Billy G]

We were beaten on penos by Avondale in O'Connell cup a few years ago in Camden as well. Think its down there every year, dunno why.

[ball-hop]

Interesting morning in Castleview, by all accounts. Gareth O'Donovan, John McCarthy, Strachan and Deccie O'Connell from a penalty scored for the 'Hall. It seems that Castleview's winner was from a "drop" ball when the 'Hall had possession and a Castleview player was injured.

A hoary old chestnut... referee's discretion to stop the game and re-start with a drop ball. Why not have contested drop balls again? Every so often there is a controversy surrounding players' (at all levels) behaviour when the ball is dropped uncontested; there is no rule governing what happens when the ball is dropped for the uncontested variety and teams inevitably make it as awkward as possible for the opposition to restart the "interrupted" passage of play. We've all seen players try to hit the corner flag when returning possession, so that the restart is either a throw in close to the end line or a kick out by the 'keeper or a full-back collecting possession very near the end and side lines. Equally a ball knocked back to a goalie can be at best 50-50 when he clears.

The resolution would be a contested drop-ball where the referee has clear rules - ball hitting the ground first, no nasty tackle and so on. Also, because the referee interrupts the game - at his discretion - he would also have complete control over the restart.

Finally, if the shoe was on the other foot, I'm not so sure how we'd have expected one of our players to behave in the same circumstances. The game was clearly in a delicate position - relegation from the Premier Division would be a serious dent to any club's ongoing ambitions and maybe we'd all take any opportunity to secure our place in Premier ranks.

[Shilts]

Interesting morning in Castleview, by all accounts. Gareth O'Donovan, John McCarthy, Strachan and Deccie O'Connell from a penalty scored for the 'Hall. It seems that Castleview's winner was from a "drop" ball when the 'Hall had possession and a Castleview player was injured.

A hoary old chestnut... referee's discretion to stop the game and re-start with a drop ball. Why not have contested drop balls again? Every so often there is a controversy surrounding players' (at all levels) behaviour when the ball is dropped uncontested; there is no rule governing what happens when the ball is dropped for the uncontested variety and teams inevitably make it as awkward as possible for the opposition to restart the "interrupted" passage of play. We've all seen players try to hit the corner flag when returning possession, so that the restart is either a throw in close to the end line or a kick out by the 'keeper or a full-back collecting possession very near the end and side lines. Equally a ball knocked back to a goalie can be at best 50-50 when he clears.

The resolution would be a contested drop-ball where the referee has clear rules - ball hitting the ground first, no nasty tackle and so on. Also, because the referee interrupts the game - at his discretion - he would also have complete control over the restart.

Finally, if the shoe was on the other foot, I'm not so sure how we'd have expected one of our players to behave in the same circumstances. The game was clearly in a delicate position - relegation from the Premier Division would be a serious dent to any club's ongoing ambitions and maybe we'd all take any opportunity to secure our place in Premier ranks.

I think the 'old school' drop balls are great to see - but like me are from another time (potential for grief is too great!). Get the ref to kick the ball into the air in the centre circle and 'game on'. The ball would get back into play a lot quicker than by passing it to the keeper or kicking it wide.

[ballsac7]

I see the O'Connell cup final is not on in turners cross. Has this always been the way?

Ya the O'Connell Cup Final is on in Camden for the 4th year on the trot. It was switched to Camden a few years ago because the crowd that this final pulled into Turners Cross came nowhere near meeting the cost of referee's & pitch rental. Camden is in decent condition - pitch is a bit on the small side but the last two finals there which Everton & Rockmount won were two cracking games. Hopefully Avondale & the winners of Castleview/Douglas Hall will be just as good. Game on Friday 29th.

[Billynomates]

Rockmount 2-2 Blarney. Blarney scoed equaliser with 5 mins to go.

[razor]

Rockmount 2-2 Blarney. Blarney scoed equaliser with 5 mins to go.Got a text to say the equaliser was a speculative shot from about 25 yards that bounced in front of the Mount keeper who then pushed it into his own net.

Dale played 17 have 42 points
Mount played 17 have 41 points.

Thursday night is going to be a dinger.
Draw will do Dale, Mount need to win.

[ball-hop]

Dale played 17 have 42 points
Mount played 17 have 41 points.


Who'd have thought it?? Best two teams in the league - others, including us, fell short when the need was greatest.

Looking forward to an epic end to the league season.

[Yoda01]

Interesting morning in Castleview, by all accounts. Gareth O'Donovan, John McCarthy, Strachan and Deccie O'Connell from a penalty scored for the 'Hall. It seems that Castleview's winner was from a "drop" ball when the 'Hall had possession and a Castleview player was injured.

A hoary old chestnut... referee's discretion to stop the game and re-start with a drop ball. Why not have contested drop balls again? Every so often there is a controversy surrounding players' (at all levels) behaviour when the ball is dropped uncontested; there is no rule governing what happens when the ball is dropped for the uncontested variety and teams inevitably make it as awkward as possible for the opposition to restart the "interrupted" passage of play. We've all seen players try to hit the corner flag when returning possession, so that the restart is either a throw in close to the end line or a kick out by the 'keeper or a full-back collecting possession very near the end and side lines. Equally a ball knocked back to a goalie can be at best 50-50 when he clears.

The resolution would be a contested drop-ball where the referee has clear rules - ball hitting the ground first, no nasty tackle and so on. Also, because the referee interrupts the game - at his discretion - he would also have complete control over the restart.

Finally, if the shoe was on the other foot, I'm not so sure how we'd have expected one of our players to behave in the same circumstances. The game was clearly in a delicate position - relegation from the Premier Division would be a serious dent to any club's ongoing ambitions and maybe we'd all take any opportunity to secure our place in Premier ranks.

in my opinion what happen up there was a disgrace and nothing short of cheating, this is my opinion so no jumping down my throat. if a team is to survive relegation on this i couldn't stomach it, for what they done i hope they go down!

[Shilts]

in my opinion what happen up there was a disgrace and nothing short of cheating, this is my opinion so no jumping down my throat. if a team is to survive relegation on this i couldn't stomach it, for what they done i hope they go down!

I read the echo last nite and my opinion is that Castleview have cheated their way to a playoff.

In Paul Hogan's report he talks about the Hall manager not being too worried because the result wasn't too important to them. But what about UCC - no mention of them or how their manager feels!!!

Lisa Fallon said that no rule was broken. She has written some good stuff recently but this wasn't the case last night. (Do these reporters have connections with Castleview - because the articles lean that way???)

The fact is Castleview cheated last sunday and will probably get away with it (because I reckon they'll beat UCC)- but the real soccer people in the city will remember it!!!

C'mon UCC!!!

[Footballer]

Yes there are connections here.
Paul Hogan is a Castleview player(he played this season). for the last few seasons & Lisa Fallon is his girlfriend so hence why the articles lean that way.

I have to agree & witnessed it myself up there on Sunday. It was sad to see I have to admit

[code red]

I'd agree with the earlier comment that all hop balls should be contested.Too much cribbing and crying over who should have possesion.I've seen it in so many games this season, and it creates bad feeling.
Saw the R'mount & Blarney game last evening.To be fair and if anyone was above there they'd agree, Ross got 2 great goals but that is all they created.When blarney got the ball down (at least one team tried) they played well, and missing some keys players and a keeper, it was a deserved result.they got a super free kick and a lucky bounce from late shot but keeper at fault
Hopefully referee's will improve for next season.I haven't seen one decent ref this season.Too many think that they are good.

[rambler14]

Yes there are connections here.
Paul Hogan is a Castleview player(he played this season). for the last few seasons & Lisa Fallon is his girlfriend so hence why the articles lean that way.

I have to agree & witnessed it myself up there on Sunday. It was sad to see I have to admit

I take it you also have a Castleview connection to know that!:D

[razor]

Yes there are connections here.
Paul Hogan is a Castleview player(he played this season). for the last few seasons & Lisa Fallon is his girlfriend so hence why the articles lean that way.I only read Mondays echo last night and I must say it was kinda weird to see 2 full pages dedicated to one MSL game.
You had Hogans match report on the left and Fallons justification piece on how Castleview did nothing wrong on the right.
All she basically did was quote the football rule book (glad to see she is reading it at last) and say that everything Castleview did was within the rules of the game.

I think everyone on here knows that but the main problem being that giving the ball back to your opponent is an unwritten rule and what Castleview did was morally wrong.
If teams are not going to adhere to the unwritten laws then contested hop balls are the only solution.

Castleview play UCC in the Relegation dogfight at Ringmahon Park 11am on Sunday morning.

[ball-hop]

I think everyone on here knows that but the main problem being that giving the ball back to your opponent is an unwritten rule ......
If teams are not going to adhere to the unwritten laws then contested hop balls are the only solution.


As we all know, verbal agreements are not worth the paper they're written on!!!
This has potential to run and run, and even at higher levels of the game than ours (yea, I know MSL is the pinnacle :)) there has been conflict about this issue. This cannot be legislated.

Back to contested hop balls.....

[AvondaleNutter]

I'm away for the week lads. Next time I'm on hopefully it'll be to read all your congrats on a title for the Rockmount. If not I'll be first to take the hat off to Avondale and say well done.

I know the Blarney lads will give it everything tonight. Wouldn't want it any other way to be honest. I know we'd do our best if the shoe was on the other foot.

Best of luck to all, but especially to Rockmount.

Forza Mount.


Best of luck Clifford on thurs.

Should be a great encounter. Hopefully the dale can get it on the deck and play some ball. I predict a draw with Avondale scoring first and rockmount scoring late.

Hopefully we'll be celebrating 2 in a row...

Come on the dale!!!!

[Clifford]

I'd agree with the earlier comment that all hop balls should be contested.Too much cribbing and crying over who should have possesion.I've seen it in so many games this season, and it creates bad feeling.
Saw the R'mount & Blarney game last evening.To be fair and if anyone was above there they'd agree, Ross got 2 great goals but that is all they created.When blarney got the ball down (at least one team tried) they played well, and missing some keys players and a keeper, it was a deserved result.they got a super free kick and a lucky bounce from late shot but keeper at fault
Hopefully referee's will improve for next season.I haven't seen one decent ref this season.Too many think that they are good.

On hols, took a quick look in, but felt I had to comment on this.

Now I know how Bohs feel, this stuff is continually thrown at Rockmount and it's frankly terrible. Don't get it down, don't pass it about like Arsenal etc. Well take yer so called passing game (that's a good one!) and throw it in the bin until we see yee competing at this stage of the season year on year for the next ten like Billy and his cohorts have been. We'll take on any MSL team in Turners cross and wipe the floor football wise with them if we want. Howey, Oldham, Gaz, Aidan, Yelvy, Ross, Beech, Pat K, Willie B etc etc will play ball with anyone. No point doing it though when the pitch is poor and the ref is allowing a team of muckers kick seven shades of poo out of us. Been there done that lad. I'll come back and debate it when the Blarney lads are winning titles and FAI cups year on year with this flair stuff they are at.

Yeah right that's a good one, flair my eye.


Gutted for Mark, but he'll be fine tomorrow.

Know what we need to do against our usual opponants and we'll try to do it. As usual I'll take my hat off to Dale if they win it. Got to be worth praise when contending year on year.

Good luck to you to Avondale Nutter, it comes down to a shoot out. May the best crew win.

[Yoda01]

On hols, took a quick look in, but felt I had to comment on this.

Now I know how Bohs feel, this bull is continually thrown at Rockmount and it's frankly terrible. Don't get it down, don't pass it about like Arsenal etc. Well take yer so called passing game (that's a good one!) and throw it in the bin until we see yee competing at this stage of the season year on year for the next ten like Billy and his cohorts have been. We'll take on any MSL team in Turners cross and wipe the floor football wise with them if we want. Howey, Oldham, Gaz, Aidan, Yelvy, Ross, Beech, Pat K, Willie B etc etc will play ball with anyone. No point doing it though when the pitch is crap and the ref is allowing a team of muckers kick seven shades of poo out of us. Been there done that lad. I'll come back and debate it when the Blarney lads are winning titles and FAI cups year on year with this flair stuff they are at.

Yeah right that's a good one, flair my eye.


Gutted for Mark, but he'll be fine tomorrow.

Know what we need to do against our usual opponants and we'll try to do it. As usual I'll take my hat off to Dale if they win it. Got to be worth praise when contending year on year.

Good luck to you to Avondale Nutter, it comes down to a shoot out. May the best crew win.

to be fair to code red clifford, ye have turned more to the formula ya have developed to win rather than playing good quality football, i not saying it's good, bad or indifferent as the amount ye win justifies it, or that ye don't have some great ball players, but ye now have a penchant of long ball and win the breakdown. if it ain't broke don't fix it i suppose but at least look at it and admit it!

[Clifford]

Good post Yoda, I do acknowledge that we don't get it down and spray it around in passeges of thirty passes like the Blarney lads and the rest of the teams in the league do. I accept totally what he says and have no prob with it, but the way he put it across was that we are like Wimbledon and they are like Barca. It just ain't true. Horses for courses and all that. I'll take this position to theirs any day of the week.

Every team in the Prem has to mix it and we've to do it more than most as teams are generally raising their games against us and the Dale lads. I make no apols for watching winning footie, some of the ball we play when 1-0 up and cruising is sublime, but you'd have to see us week in week out for that as most MSL games are dogged to say the least.

I've watched almost all the Dale v Mount games over the last few years and I've yet to see a classic, but by God not one ounce of energy is left on the field after them. Good luck to all tonight.

[Yoda01]

Good post Yoda, I do acknowledge that we don't get it down and spray it around in passeges of thirty passes like the Blarney lads and the rest of the teams in the league do. I accept totally what he says and have no prob with it, but the way he put it across was that we are like Wimbledon and they are like Barca. It just ain't true. Horses for courses and all that. I'll take this position to theirs any day of the week.

Every team in the Prem has to mix it and we've to do it more than most as teams are generally raising their games against us and the Dale lads. I make no apols for watching winning footie, some of the ball we play when 1-0 up and cruising is sublime, but you'd have to see us week in week out for that as most MSL games are dogged to say the least.

I've watched almost all the Dale v Mount games over the last few years and I've yet to see a classic, but by God not one ounce of energy is left on the field after them. Good luck to all tonight.



Oh, I've edited the bad words out of my original post, you might edit it as well pls. Cheers.

i also see a lot of premier games and know what it takes to win them and can understand how and why ye have developed that strategy, as you said it's winning games that counts but were not playing/watching a standard of football we'd like to believe we are. there are very few good footballing teams in the premier believe it or not and those that generally are don't win much. take UCC for example, always known as a good footballing side, look at their position this year, same goes for blarney i suppose.

[Clifford]

Again, I agree entirely with you. As I said it's horses for courses. Im sure Mount have the players (most with LOI experience) to go out and play silky first time passing game if we had to, but when you go to the likes of Castleview and they stick you on the kids pitch to narrow the playing field then you adapt accordingly.

We adapt better than most of the rest is my point. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Getting nervous now. Sitting in 30 degree heat with a cocktail wondering how it will be there tonight, I assume it's still raining heavily. 30 degress here, oh I said that already did I??? :D:D

Go on the Rockies.

[Long Throw]

0-0 in Rockmount Pk at half time

[Long Throw]

0-0 at full time

[balls]

mount had good few chances the avondale goal led a charmed life in second half plus some superb saves from dale keeper.

[mayfield utd]

well done 2 avondale on winning the league.rockmount's first season without silverware in a long time.the game itself was good enough for 0-0 draw dale keeper pulled off 1 or 2 good saves.i'm sure mount will be back next season with a point to prove.i also heard billy cronin is packing up after this season i don't know how true this is just a rumour i heard anyone else hear this,big blow to mount if it true

[Clifford]

They parked the bus we couldn't move it. Suppose it was a sad way to end it, but we just didn't get the breaks on the night. Good defending got the better of all out attack. Love to see anyone say we play long ball after that.

We still got the Muns Sen cup final mayfield my good man, don't write us off for silverware just yet. :)

Hat's off to Dale, another cracking season between these two great clubs. Pipped us at the post, but we'll be back again.

Suppose losing the two lads to their travels hurt us in the end, but a season without Oldham and Slatts also took it's toll in terms of experience. Lot's will happen at Mount over the summer I'm sure, but again hat's off to Avondale. Well done.

[Billynomates]

Mount throw everything at Avondale. Avondale could of been i up just before the half only for bruton to head over from 5 yards out. 2nd half it was all rockmount. Phil Cunningham missed a sitter of header to put rockmount in the lead. It was then wave after wave of attack. I lost count of how many corners they got.O Connell in goal produced some fine saves.Man of the match in my opinion.Rockmount should have won but Avondale just what they wanted and now thats two in a row.So well done Avondale.Rockmount didnt even lose a game all season so hats of to them also

[razor]

Not a classic but these games never are.
First half was even enough, Avondale started the better with neither team creating much, Pat Keane blew a golden chance over the bar when unmarked and as said earlier Bruton had a header wide just before the break.

The 2nd half started pretty much the same but 10/15 minutes in Avondale started to drop a bit deeper and invited Mount onto them, for about 20/25 minutes then it was backs to the wall stuff, Mount had corner after corner, they cleared one off the line, O'Connell tipped over from Hoey and Cunningham missed a sitter.
In response to this Rockmount domination Cotter came on for Spratty and gave the Dale midfield a bit more solidity where they were previously being overrun.
Mount keeper was a spectator in the 2nd half and even though they had the chances they failed to put them away, man of the match for me was Noel Hartigan, another faultless performance at centre half, imperious.
Well done to Dale and best of luck to Mount in the Munster Senior Cup Final, I was chatting to one of the Waterford Utd coaching staff at the game as he ran his eye over Mount, I reminded him that Mount have unfinished business (http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2004/09/15/story510167491.asp).

[Yoda01]

Congratulations to Avondale on another fine season and winning the league and Commiserations to rockmount, tough going to not lose a game all season and still not win it. not sure would i believe the rumour about billy going as we hear that nearly every year, i'm sure he's out and about knocking on fellas doors for next year already!

[AvondaleNutter]

God nail bitting stuff last night... Had to look away for nearly the last half hour when rockmount were bombarding our goal... Job done though even if it wasn't very attractive stuff... Thought Brendan in Goal was superb. Fair play to rockmount for going the season unbeaten and thanks to Blarney for sneaking that draw during the week :)

No doubt it'll be just as close next year.. best of luck to rockmount in the munster senior cup.

[ball-hop]

Been unable to get near this forum during the last day or so....

Congratulations to Avondale on retaining the league. As we hear over and over, leagues are won by the team which shows best form through the entire season. Tough on Rockmount - to go through the league without losing and then not actually winning the league must be a difficult pill to swallow.

And now... Avondale have the three in a row target!! But as Cliff has said, Rockmount have not gone away just yet.

Well done to John Caulfield and his team.

[ball-hop]

Douglas Hall 1 Youghal Utd 2
Wasn't there... but Youghal took the lead, David Moore equalised before half time. 2nd half had plenty of 'Hall pressure but didn't take chances. Youghal got their lead goal and saw it out. Fair play, best of luck to Youghal in the final.

[rambler14]

Castleview relegated having lost 1-0 to UCC.......just deserts?

[AvondaleNutter]

Castleview down... 3 sent off, 2 for castleview and 1 for college.
Ref left a lot go on castleviews behalf i felt. Fair play to college they just got on with it and got the job done. Castleview keeper pushed college player in the face and their defender got a second yellow for calling the ref "a F**king joke"
UCC player got sent off with minutes to go for a deserved second yellow for a really late challenge.

[Billynomates]

I heard from a reliable source that Caulfield has stepped down as Avondale manager. Huge loss to Avondale if this is true.

[Footballer]

Heard that alright.

It was agreed at the season that this would be his last. Big boots to fill whoever takes over.
It'll be interesting to see over the next 2 years how Avondale's senior team goes seeing the CC fell after Fergus Mcdaid left

[Yoda01]

Castleview relegated having lost 1-0 to UCC.......just deserts?


for sure! castleview got what they deserved yesterday.

[AvondaleNutter]

Yes it looks like Caulfield has stepped down. 3 leagues and 2 intermediate cups in his spell as manager of Avondale.

They will surely be boots to fill but hopefully the team will stick together and not fall apart like corinthians did.

Heard that an ex cork city player is taking over from Caulfield.. Declan Daly or Phil Harrington???

Any news of Billy Cronin retiring?

[Umberside]

Heard that an ex cork city player is taking over from Caulfield.. Declan Daly or Phil Harrington???

Possibly Billy Woods or Colin O'Brien as well.

[razor]

Heard that an ex cork city player is taking over from Caulfield.. Declan Daly or Phil Harrington???I've heard that Cormac Cotter has been approached.

[Clifford]

Any news of Billy Cronin retiring?


No. :D


no idea if he wants to finish up. I reckon he'll want to go out on a winning note, but the man has achieved more than most and will go down as an MSL legend either way so we'll see.

[AvondaleNutter]

No. :D


no idea if he wants to finish up. I reckon he'll want to go out on a winning note, but the man has achieved more than most and will go down as an MSL legend either way so we'll see.

That is true...

How long has he been at the helm now Clifford?

[ball-hop]

That is true...

How long has he been at the helm now Clifford?

11 Years and still running?
Both John Caulfield (7 Years) and Billy Cronin have brought great distinction to the MSL during their terms in charge. Their teams have been pretty dominant in the leagues and deserve great, great credit for the manner in which they have kept the hunger in their respective teams.

I think it may be too early to be writing Billy off just yet - I'll believe when I see!!!

[ballsac7]

Caulfield got a good send off tonight. Avondale beat Douglas Hall 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Heard the game was pi*s poor with both teams missing loads. Bit of a pucking match in the dugouts as well by all accounts. Anybody at the game?

[Billynomates]

Mick Walsh was appointed new manager at Avondale by all accounts

[Umberside]

Mick Walsh was appointed new manager at Avondale by all accounts

That's an interesting appointment:confused:

[razor]

Youghal beat St Marys 2-1 this morning in the final of the Beamish Cup.
Marys also missed a penalty at 2-1.

[Silly Billy G]

Any transfer gossip or is it too early ? St Marys snapping up a few are they

[Its only a game]

Firstly I would like to say how disappointed I am at reading comments from a so called Carrigaline supporter slating Canice and Kevin. I know who this player is and have listened to his and his little army of so called team mates poison for the past six months. These guys are the root of all the current problems with the senior squad at Carrigaline United. I have been involved in Carrigaline United for over 20 years and have seen this year in year out. Players (some of whom would not lace the boots of most senior players in the MSL) who do not adhere to rules nor any managers who seem to bring a professional attitude to the squads they manage. The main reason being that deep down they know they are not good enough to play senior football but have the arrogance to bully those around them in order to safeguard their places on the squad.

Mr X in particular is one of them. Mr X is a senior squad member who like another close squad members has not agreed with the managers decisions during the season. Mr X is a player who has come from a Youths team that won the 1st Division last year (NOT Premier but First) and is in his first season as a senior has decided that he knows better than two coaches who have far more experience than him and his friend who has spent most of the past three seasons fighting with several good managers in the MSL.

Sure, a teams relegation comes down to several factors and yes I agree that the management are one of those. However, Canice and Kevin have brought a different dimension to Carrigaline United this season from a coaching perspective and up until January all those senior players were quite happy with both of them. However when results started to go against this team, several players suddenly decided that they were not happy to play for Canice and Kevin. This showed in their performances on the pitch. Due to an incredible string of injuries, Canice and Kevin had to suffer with playing these players. When a players attitude is so poor and an option of replacing that player is not available to the manager it makes it very difficult for a manager to remove that.

This squad had Tony O’Regan as a coach last season. Tony is a well respected manager in the MSL and had brought Carrigaline to heights not seen since the glory days of 1984 when Carrigaline won the AOH cup. This same squad also got relegated under Tony, thus illustrating the fact that they are not a good senior team. Canice inherited this squad and unfortunately could not get new players into the club. I was speaking with several players during pre season from Avondale, Rockmount and Douglas Hall and asked why players did not want to play for Carrigaline. The reply from each of these players was “I wouldn’t want to play with most of those players – theyre not good enough”.

I watched this team this season and the attitude on the pitch was similar to last season. They were good to watch on the ball (due to the under 17 team players drafted in) but did not have any cutting edge to finish teams off. Following the game, the players who played poorly were the ones who gave out about the manager, the pitch, the referee, the weather. Basically everything but the clear fact that they did not give 100 per cent out on the pitch. This was the case for the whole season.

These players have been given everything possible by the club and the management to give them every possible chance of getting promoted. The training was exceptional, the pitches hired all good surfaces. The fact that the redevelopment has cost the club so much did not stop them paying out good money for Garryduff, Pfizers, Crosshaven FC, etc. But when you see seven senior players attending training on a Tuesday night you have to question their attitude... This is what left Carrigaline United in the position they are now in.. The players attitude..... FACT..

So Mr X, I would hope that you
Take a good read of the above.
Print off several copies.
Hand them out to those players who have tried to inject this poisonous attitude into the squad.
Attend pre season training with the intention of getting Carrigaline United out of its current mess and promoted. Whoever the manager is.

After all Mr X, it was you and your friends that put them there.

Yours in football.
Its only a game...