First of all,I would just like to congratulate everyone on this blog for making it such an interesting and topical blog!!..I'm delighted to read so many peoples passionate opinions about their clubs and I think everyone would agree that it makes interesting reading for everyone affiliated with AUL football...on that note,I would like to my perspective perfectly clear....
I've had the privilige of playing senior league and AUL football over the last 15 yrs or so(havent played in the last 2 yrs due to work commitments) and to cut a long story short,I've been plesantly surprised to see how far AUL football has come in such a short period of time.3 yrs ago,it would have been unheard of to see the likes of Leeside,gratten,Kinsale etc.(Passage/Greenmount exempted!) competing for any trophy outside of the domestic set,but to see these teams competing at a consistant level for All Ireland trophies over the last few years speaks volumes of how the standard of the league,more importantly,the teams, has improved.
But,in my opinion,what makes this achievement more impressive is that teams have improved/progressed IN SPITE of the AUL commitee/leadership!!....Let me explain,I've been keeping a close eye on Leesides performances throughout the year(mainly because I live in East Cork) and I congratulate them on reaching the MJC final,fantastic achievement by any club,(I think everyone would agree with that!)but yet,I see that when they beat Nenagh,they had to play again 2 days later on a Tuesday,the following saturday(yesterday!) and again on this Tue and Thur nite and then play next Saturday in the Semis of the AOH cup,..the blue riband trophy of AUL football.That makes 6 games in 13
days!..now I know this doesnt just apply to Leeside,I've no doubt that this predicament would happen to any team in the AUL in Leesides position but that doesnt make it right.. for example,Avondale have won the last 2 intermediate cups,when Avondale qualified for the first final,they were suppose to play UCC the following Weds. but the MSL cancelled every league fixture they had for the following 2 wks so they could prepare for the final,..that was the right to do in my opinion.The MSL realised how great it would look for their league(and Cork!) to see a Cork team lift such a prestigious trophy!..now my point is,the Munster junior cup is realistically speaking,the equivelant of the Intermediate cup for Cork AUL football(I dont think an AUL team will win the FAI for a while yet!) and they should help their team in everyway possible,but unfortunately,it looks like they are doing the opposite!...anyway,best of luck to Leeside in the final and to every other team in the Aul competing for honours this year,I look forward to hearing ye're points on this topic!...Pecker..
