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Carrigaline Utd Co Cup semi May 82 D13
for more old pics, go to http://corksoccerpics.blogspot.com


CARRIGALINE UTD

Unlucky last season, Carrigaline Utd came good this term and won promotion from AUL 3. If managers Ian O’Driscoll and John Buckley had their doubts after last season these were quickly dispelled when
30 players turned up to pre-season training determined to put right what happened.

In the early months of the season Carrigaline United showed great form in cup competitions, the highlight being a third round AOH Cup game against eventual winner Kinsale. O'Driscoll: “Trailing 3-0 at half time, we staged a remarkable comeback to take the game to extra time only to lose out in the final minutes of the extended time.”

“With cup commitments finished, we turned to the league in which we only played 6 games coming into the New Year. By April, Carrigaline had only lost one league game and had 17 league games to play between then and mid May. This meant three games a week for this young squad and a very large gap in points to be bridged between ourselves and leaders Grangevale.”

Grangevale had stood on the summit for the majority of the season and, on 4th April, they had a lead of 23 points over Carrigaline. Any slip ups in the remaining 17 games would make it very difficult for Carrigaline to gain promotion let alone challenge for the title.

A run of 21 games unbeaten allowed Carrigaline to set up a title match against Grangevale at Ballea Park on May 13th where Grangevale’s experience told and after a great battle they won 2-1. It is a testament to both teams that the league title came down to the last games to produce a winner. Promotion had been secured on the weekend prior to this game for Carrigaline when they defeated Leeview 2-0 at Ballea Park.

Players that really shone this season were Danny O'Driscoll in his new role at right back, keeper Declan Owens, centre half pairing of Paul Holland and Philip Fehily, Eoin O'Sullivan in midfield as well as Danny Meade up front.

O'Driscoll looks back with pride on the campaign: “Highs of the season were the AOH Cup game against Kinsale which seemed to inject a new sense of confidence into Carrigaline players, beating Richmond away in the County Cup, securing promotion against Leeview with three games remaining. On the night the loss to Grange was heartbreaking but the game could prove to be a very important learning exercise for Carrigaline United.”

“Again, credit must go to all the players involved and if this squad can react in a similar fashion to last season, then it is a good bet that Carrigaline United can bring a trophy back to Ballea Park next season.”

Carrigaline United Squad 2007/2008: Declan Owens, Kevin Murphy, Danny O'Driscoll, Paul Holland, Philip Fehily, Barry Houlihan, Cormac Creed Nolan, Derek McCarthy, Derek O'Connor, Robert Meade, Adam Daunt Sheehan, Eoin O'Sullivan, Chris O'Neill, Kieran Hutton, Danny Meade, John Murphy, Robert Cogan, Alan Jenkinson, John Bray, Stephen Corbett, Gary Holland.
Coaching Staff: Ian O'Driscoll, John Buckley and Tim McCarthy.

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