Finally, after an exhausting and sometimes frustrating 112 day search, Giovanni Trapattoni, seven-time Serie A winner and former Italy coach, has been appointed as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland football team.
The 68-year-old Italian will take up his new position once his contract with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg expires at the end of May. There are no guarantees with any new appointment but at least the FAI now have an experienced manager with years of success at European level in the hot seat. The days of 'taking a chance' on the likes of Brian Kerr and Steve Staunton have been replaced with a vastly experienced manager who Irish fans can justifiably hope will make us more organised, harder to beat and hopefully, World Cup qualifiers. Despite having one of the most experienced CV’s in European football, Trapattoni’s name didn’t appear as a potential candidate for the Irish job until well into the selection process.
GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE…
“When I coached at Bayern Munich I was trying to change their mindset but was met with resistance. You can't change a mentality in three months. I wanted to get them thinking differently on a tactical level" - Giovanni Trapattoni.
The much maligned FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney, deserves huge credit for overseeing the appointment of one of the most respected coaches in Europe. Delaney was rightly chastised for previously giving the Irish job to the vastly in-experienced Steve Staunton. This time around he announced the formation of a three-man selection panel (Ray Houghton, Don Givens and Don Howe) to source a new manager. The difference this time was Delaney would not be a direct influence on the eventual selection, merely the person who ratified the panel's final recommendation. For many months names such as Gerard Houllier, Graeme Souness, Paul Jewell, Billy Davies, and Terry Venables hit the headlines as likely candidates for the new job. The FAI, to their credit, refused to bow to intense media pressure for a quick appointment. The board was rewarded for their patience when news broke of the former AC Milan, Juventus, Inter and Bayern Munich manager’s interest in taking the job. Once Trapattoni’s name was mentioned as a potential candidate it meant the FAI had ‘raised the bar’ in terms of quality and experience. The next challenge facing the FAI in obtaining such an experienced manager was meeting the inevitable higher wage demands. Enter billionaire Businessman, Denis O’Brien.
LOADS OF LIRA
John Delaney revealed the FAI had accepted an offer from Denis O’Brien to pay 50% of Giovanni Trapattoni’s salary as Irish manager at the press conference in the new FAI headquarters in Abbotstown last week. The donation (believed to be in the region of €1.25million) from the Irish billionaire provoked a huge debate on the national airwaves and mainstream media. It was revealed that O’Brien had written to the FAI the previous October, shortly before the exit of Steve Staunton, offering financial assistance to the association. It was an offer the FAI simply couldn't refuse as it helped to raise the bar in terms of the calibre of manager they could hope to attract to the managerial position.
The Chief Executive went to great lengths to stress that Mr. O’Brien did not want to influence any decision and just wanted to make it easier for the FAI to put up the type of package that would attract a top-class manager. His offer was put to the Board of Management in November and accepted, once it was made clear that he would have no interference or influence on the process.
At face value, this is a magnificent gesture from O’Brien, as it no doubt paved the way for the FAI to ratify Trapattoni’s eventual appointment. One possible issue with the ‘no-strings’ donation has been suggested in relation to the Association’s current sponsorship deal with Eircom which is due to expire shortly. Denis O’Brien is heavily involved with rival mobile-phone company, 02, so it will be interesting to see whom the FAI turns to in their future sponsorship deal(s).
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
"I always say that in addition to being a coach, I'm also a priest. I go into each player's room, tell them if they have been picked or they haven’t been picked and explain the reasons behind my decision. I talk and explain. It's a bit like confession."
The words of Giovanni Trapattoni, giving an insight into the type of man-management skills the Irish players can look forward to in the next two years. The Italian’s coaching will certainly mean a more organised defensive approach to matches and hopefully an end to the Republic’s poor International away record. Expect five man midfields with a lone striker to form the backbone of the new Trapattoni tactical approach. Many Irish players and fans may not be enamoured with this new defensive formation but would do well to heed how the Italian has previously dealt with criticism of his formations. While Trapattoni was in charge of the German Bundesliga outfit, VfB Stuttgart, his cautious defensive methods did not go down well with some of the Stuttgart squad. Two players came out and openly criticised their coach’s defensive tactics; they were immediately dropped. Outspoken internationals such as Stephen Hunt may well find himself in trouble if his recent penchant for outbursts is anything to go by.
"Ireland are not a second-rate team, they are supposed to be a first-rate team," insists Trapattoni. "Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first." These are encouraging if hardly surprising words from the new Irish manager ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. Let's hope this appointment heralds the dawn of a new era and a return to the top-table of international football for the Republic. This may well turn out to be the Italian's final job in international or club football so what better way to sign off than guiding the Republic of Ireland to the 2010 World Cup finals.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Interview with Cork City striker Denis Behan
Denis Behan paraded the FAI Cup trophy before a huge attendance at the West Cork based club, Riverside Athletic, in Balineen recently. Evening Echo West Cork Schoolboys League Columnist Ger McCarthy caught up with the Cork City striker on the eve of the new Eircom League season and got his thoughts on his club's recent signings and his hopes for the coming campaign.
There is bedlam in the B.E.D.A. Hall in Balineen on a viciously cold February evening. Children of all ages are running riot, with their young screams echoing off the walls of the old Community Hall. Parents and Committee members are huddled together drinking tea and consuming various sandwiches, far from the madding crowd. Riverside Athletic youths clamber for a glimpse of the gleaming FAI Cup trophy as ex-City legend John Caulfield does his best to organise the various groups for photographs.
In the midst of all this madness stands Denis Behan. Smiling pleasantly, posing for photographs and signing autographs. The City striker is proudly holding the FAI Cup trophy which he helped Cork City win in the RDS last season. Denis has been capped at every International level for the Republic of Ireland from Under16 right through to Under23. The Abbeyfeale man is at ease with the organised chaos around him and is the consummate professional as he patiently signs autographs and smiles for a seemingly endless queue of wide-eyed youngsters.
Riverside Athletic looks after over one hundred young soccer players ranging from ages 6 to 18. The club is well established in the West Cork Schoolboys League, regularly turning out teams at Under12, 14 and 16 as well as various underage blitzes. Balineen resident John Caulfield and committee member Pat Lacey have been instrumental in arranging Denis's visit to the club. The three enjoyed a lengthy conversation in the early hours of City’s famous FAI Cup final victory in Dublin. Behan's recollection of that late night conversation is vague but he does remember promising to visit Riverside with the FAI Cup trophy and the City star is true to his word.
With the new season just around the corner Behan is energized with the prospect of working with a new manager and a host of new signings at Turners Cross. "Absolutely delighted to have the new manager in and I'm obviously looking forward to meeting up and working with all the new signings after the disappointment of last season. It’s vital to have new faces joining the squad every year to help kick start a new season. The players our new boss has brought in are immensely talented individuals so I can't wait for the big kick off."
The arrival of David Mooney from Longford Town means the competition for strikers in the starting eleven will be even more intense. Behan prefers to concentrate on the ex-Longford striker’s obvious talents: “I played with David in the Republic Of Ireland Under23's and he really is a fantastic player. He knows where the goal is, has a superb first touch and a good attitude towards the game.” Mooney represents the kind of talent Denis is delighted to see arriving at Cork City and believes it is great move for him. “He’s exactly the kind of player we want at Cork City; we don’t want any prima doona’s coming into this club. David was top goal-scorer in the Eircom League last season for good reason and I think he will enjoy great success here at City.”
Denis is also delighted with the imminent return of George O’Callaghan to Turners Cross and is looking forward to hooking up with the mercurial attacking-midfielder this season. “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard George had signed. Everyone associated with the club wanted Georgie back as he is an unbelievable footballer. He is a proven talent and that is what you want coming to this club. You don’t want players who might do something and might eventually break through into the first team. We need experienced players who have already achieved honours to bolster our squad and George has done that.”
When the fixture list for the new 2008 season was released the first fixtures every City supporter looked for were the dates for the games with newly promoted Cobh Ramblers. Denis was no different and is ecstatic with the prospect of at least two encounters with City’s closest rivals this coming term. “It’s a pity Waterford were beaten by Finn Harps last season as we would have had a nice pocket of three Munster based clubs for the coming campaign. The crowd at the Cross the night we play Ramblers is going to be immense as well as Coleman’s Park. We know many of the Cobh lads and there has been great banter between the two squads since Ramblers were promoted. At the end of the day they are still two vital league games with six points on offer.”
Scoring in the Cup final was one of the highlights of Denis’s season last time out. Does he have any specific goals for the coming term? “Half way through last season I was wondering would I get in at all. I eventually got my chance once Roy O’Donovan moved on and thankfully things just fell in to place for me. Just building on last year really and getting a good run of games which will hopefully lead to more goals is the main objective”. “If I score more goals and continue to play well then that will be a natural progression for me. I am lucky in that I am not really affected by pressure and just want to drive on and do the best I possibly can for City.”
A young Balineen native tentatively approaches, not sure what to say to his Cork City hero. Denis politely enquires if you would like a photograph. The youngster says nothing and points to the area on the back of his replica (City) jersey where he wants an autograph. Behan duly obliges with a playful laugh and polite “No hassle”. The Cork striker is the consummate pro and will no doubt rattle the net at Turners Cross this coming season with similar style and poise.
There is bedlam in the B.E.D.A. Hall in Balineen on a viciously cold February evening. Children of all ages are running riot, with their young screams echoing off the walls of the old Community Hall. Parents and Committee members are huddled together drinking tea and consuming various sandwiches, far from the madding crowd. Riverside Athletic youths clamber for a glimpse of the gleaming FAI Cup trophy as ex-City legend John Caulfield does his best to organise the various groups for photographs.
In the midst of all this madness stands Denis Behan. Smiling pleasantly, posing for photographs and signing autographs. The City striker is proudly holding the FAI Cup trophy which he helped Cork City win in the RDS last season. Denis has been capped at every International level for the Republic of Ireland from Under16 right through to Under23. The Abbeyfeale man is at ease with the organised chaos around him and is the consummate professional as he patiently signs autographs and smiles for a seemingly endless queue of wide-eyed youngsters.
Riverside Athletic looks after over one hundred young soccer players ranging from ages 6 to 18. The club is well established in the West Cork Schoolboys League, regularly turning out teams at Under12, 14 and 16 as well as various underage blitzes. Balineen resident John Caulfield and committee member Pat Lacey have been instrumental in arranging Denis's visit to the club. The three enjoyed a lengthy conversation in the early hours of City’s famous FAI Cup final victory in Dublin. Behan's recollection of that late night conversation is vague but he does remember promising to visit Riverside with the FAI Cup trophy and the City star is true to his word.
With the new season just around the corner Behan is energized with the prospect of working with a new manager and a host of new signings at Turners Cross. "Absolutely delighted to have the new manager in and I'm obviously looking forward to meeting up and working with all the new signings after the disappointment of last season. It’s vital to have new faces joining the squad every year to help kick start a new season. The players our new boss has brought in are immensely talented individuals so I can't wait for the big kick off."
The arrival of David Mooney from Longford Town means the competition for strikers in the starting eleven will be even more intense. Behan prefers to concentrate on the ex-Longford striker’s obvious talents: “I played with David in the Republic Of Ireland Under23's and he really is a fantastic player. He knows where the goal is, has a superb first touch and a good attitude towards the game.” Mooney represents the kind of talent Denis is delighted to see arriving at Cork City and believes it is great move for him. “He’s exactly the kind of player we want at Cork City; we don’t want any prima doona’s coming into this club. David was top goal-scorer in the Eircom League last season for good reason and I think he will enjoy great success here at City.”
Denis is also delighted with the imminent return of George O’Callaghan to Turners Cross and is looking forward to hooking up with the mercurial attacking-midfielder this season. “I was absolutely thrilled when I heard George had signed. Everyone associated with the club wanted Georgie back as he is an unbelievable footballer. He is a proven talent and that is what you want coming to this club. You don’t want players who might do something and might eventually break through into the first team. We need experienced players who have already achieved honours to bolster our squad and George has done that.”
When the fixture list for the new 2008 season was released the first fixtures every City supporter looked for were the dates for the games with newly promoted Cobh Ramblers. Denis was no different and is ecstatic with the prospect of at least two encounters with City’s closest rivals this coming term. “It’s a pity Waterford were beaten by Finn Harps last season as we would have had a nice pocket of three Munster based clubs for the coming campaign. The crowd at the Cross the night we play Ramblers is going to be immense as well as Coleman’s Park. We know many of the Cobh lads and there has been great banter between the two squads since Ramblers were promoted. At the end of the day they are still two vital league games with six points on offer.”
Scoring in the Cup final was one of the highlights of Denis’s season last time out. Does he have any specific goals for the coming term? “Half way through last season I was wondering would I get in at all. I eventually got my chance once Roy O’Donovan moved on and thankfully things just fell in to place for me. Just building on last year really and getting a good run of games which will hopefully lead to more goals is the main objective”. “If I score more goals and continue to play well then that will be a natural progression for me. I am lucky in that I am not really affected by pressure and just want to drive on and do the best I possibly can for City.”
A young Balineen native tentatively approaches, not sure what to say to his Cork City hero. Denis politely enquires if you would like a photograph. The youngster says nothing and points to the area on the back of his replica (City) jersey where he wants an autograph. Behan duly obliges with a playful laugh and polite “No hassle”. The Cork striker is the consummate pro and will no doubt rattle the net at Turners Cross this coming season with similar style and poise.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
MUCH TO PONDER FOR NEXT IRISH MANAGER
Brazil brought their flamboyant samba soccer to Croke Park on a wet and windy Wednesday evening recently. I sat in the magnificent Hogan Stand wondering what Giovanni Trapattoni and Terry Venables would make of proceedings. Brazil ran out deserved 1-0 winners but the Republic Of Ireland’s performance could best be described as hugely encouraging. The first 90 minutes of a long International campaign displayed an interesting insight into the raw talent available to whoever becomes manager of the Republic of Ireland in the coming weeks and months.
THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL
Shorn of the talents of AC Milan’s Kaka and Pato as well as Barcelona’s Ronaldiniho the South American aristocrats still managed to put on an impressive show. The highlight of the evening was Robinho’s match winning goal in the second half of a lively encounter. What made the goal extra special was the way the Brazilian’s effortlessly moved the ball from their penalty area to the Irish box with a rapier like counter attack. Gilberto found Luis Fabiano and his magnificent back heel released the industrious Diego. The diminutive Brazilian midfielder found Robinho on the edge of the box and the Real Madrid star simply passed the ball between Lee Carsley’s legs and the out-stretched arm of Shay Given to complete a sublime move. The goal encompassed all that is good about Brazilian football: simple one touch passing, wonderful skill and movement off the ball culminating in a marvellous finish. They make it look so easy and that is why Brazil still remains one of the most gifted teams in the World. Dunga has added new blood to an already astonishingly talented squad with the likes of Manchester United’s Anderson and Liverpool’s Lucas introduced as substitutes. Few would bet against Brazil claiming the one title that has eluded them throughout their illustrious history – the Olympic (under23) tournament- with the current pool of talent at their disposal.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Ireland competed manfully for the full duration of last Wednesday night’s friendly encounter. A dull opening 45 minutes was quickly forgotten after a second half full of passion and commitment. Ireland failed to breach the Brazilian defence creating only a handful of half-chances, yet there was no denying the quality of some of the home side’s play. The return of Damien Duff was one of the most important plus points on the night. The Newcastle winger - dogged by recent injuries - made a welcome return on the left wing. After a quiet first half, the blonde winger burst into life with a series of mesmerising dribbles. On the opposite wing, Celtic’s Aidan McGeady gave his most impressive performance in an Irish jersey to date. McGeady is far from the finished article but he continues to improve and could become a vital player in the months ahead. Up front Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle worked hard all night despite little or no possession. The back four had a busy outing with John O’Shea and Kevin Kilbane excelling. Ireland gave 100% commitment and spent long periods chasing the ball with their illustrious opponents enjoying the majority of possession. Care-taker manager Don Givens had every right to feel proud of his side’s efforts after the final whistle and the Irish players should take heart from such an encouraging performance against a strong Brazilian selection.
MANAGER’S TO-DO LIST
The incoming Irish manager will have plenty of work to complete before the International qualifiers begin in earnest away to Georgia in September this year. Top of the list must be to persuade the hugely talented Stephen Ireland to return to the international fold. The Manchester City midfielder would be a huge asset to the current Irish midfield with his surging runs and goal-scoring ability. Liam Miller, Lee Carsley, Andy Reid and Stephen Reid are all accomplished international midfielders but none offers the goal-scoring threat that Ireland does. Second on the list should be to try to persuade Steve Finnan to reconsider his decision to retire from international football. Liverpool’s right back has an abundance of experience and following Stephen Kelly’s poor display against the Brazilians, the Republic desperately need cover in this important position. The only alternative at the moment is the un-capped Kevin Foley.
Third on the list is to get the best out of the erratic Stephen Hunt. The Reading midfielder has been used as an impact substitute in recent internationals but deserves a run in the side based on his performances for Reading this season. Hunt’s determination and commitment energise the crowd and players around him. His exasperation at being left out of the starting eleven was clearly evident in a candid after match interview on Wednesday night. Curbing his over-enthusiasm will make Stephen Hunt an even better player but he needs to start internationals rather than feature in the last 20 minutes.
Former Irish rugby international, Donal Linehan, wrote recently about the potential catastrophe of losing Ronan O’Gara to injury for both Ireland and Munster. The same logic applies to Ireland’s number one net minder Shay Given. Neither Joe Murphy nor Colin Doyle has received any kind of game time recently and both reserve keepers must be used in the upcoming summer friendlies. Memories of Paddy Kenny’s performance having replaced the injured Given in the catastrophic away defeat to Cyprus should provide ample warning. Ireland needs a competent back-up goalkeeper to Shay Given with that player gaining as much international experience as possible.
The first match of the new international season has been completed with a 1-0 defeat to Brazil consigned to the history books. Despite the loss, the overall Irish performance was a positive one. The new Irish manager needs to build on this and structure his squad accordingly in preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. While the Irish players clearly favour Terry Venables for his man-management skills, it is the potential appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni that has the whole of the football world talking. The appointment of the former Italian manager would really be a masterstroke for the FAI.
It could be months before the next Irish manager takes up his new position but an encouraging performance against the boys from Brazil points to better days ahead.
THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL
Shorn of the talents of AC Milan’s Kaka and Pato as well as Barcelona’s Ronaldiniho the South American aristocrats still managed to put on an impressive show. The highlight of the evening was Robinho’s match winning goal in the second half of a lively encounter. What made the goal extra special was the way the Brazilian’s effortlessly moved the ball from their penalty area to the Irish box with a rapier like counter attack. Gilberto found Luis Fabiano and his magnificent back heel released the industrious Diego. The diminutive Brazilian midfielder found Robinho on the edge of the box and the Real Madrid star simply passed the ball between Lee Carsley’s legs and the out-stretched arm of Shay Given to complete a sublime move. The goal encompassed all that is good about Brazilian football: simple one touch passing, wonderful skill and movement off the ball culminating in a marvellous finish. They make it look so easy and that is why Brazil still remains one of the most gifted teams in the World. Dunga has added new blood to an already astonishingly talented squad with the likes of Manchester United’s Anderson and Liverpool’s Lucas introduced as substitutes. Few would bet against Brazil claiming the one title that has eluded them throughout their illustrious history – the Olympic (under23) tournament- with the current pool of talent at their disposal.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Ireland competed manfully for the full duration of last Wednesday night’s friendly encounter. A dull opening 45 minutes was quickly forgotten after a second half full of passion and commitment. Ireland failed to breach the Brazilian defence creating only a handful of half-chances, yet there was no denying the quality of some of the home side’s play. The return of Damien Duff was one of the most important plus points on the night. The Newcastle winger - dogged by recent injuries - made a welcome return on the left wing. After a quiet first half, the blonde winger burst into life with a series of mesmerising dribbles. On the opposite wing, Celtic’s Aidan McGeady gave his most impressive performance in an Irish jersey to date. McGeady is far from the finished article but he continues to improve and could become a vital player in the months ahead. Up front Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle worked hard all night despite little or no possession. The back four had a busy outing with John O’Shea and Kevin Kilbane excelling. Ireland gave 100% commitment and spent long periods chasing the ball with their illustrious opponents enjoying the majority of possession. Care-taker manager Don Givens had every right to feel proud of his side’s efforts after the final whistle and the Irish players should take heart from such an encouraging performance against a strong Brazilian selection.
MANAGER’S TO-DO LIST
The incoming Irish manager will have plenty of work to complete before the International qualifiers begin in earnest away to Georgia in September this year. Top of the list must be to persuade the hugely talented Stephen Ireland to return to the international fold. The Manchester City midfielder would be a huge asset to the current Irish midfield with his surging runs and goal-scoring ability. Liam Miller, Lee Carsley, Andy Reid and Stephen Reid are all accomplished international midfielders but none offers the goal-scoring threat that Ireland does. Second on the list should be to try to persuade Steve Finnan to reconsider his decision to retire from international football. Liverpool’s right back has an abundance of experience and following Stephen Kelly’s poor display against the Brazilians, the Republic desperately need cover in this important position. The only alternative at the moment is the un-capped Kevin Foley.
Third on the list is to get the best out of the erratic Stephen Hunt. The Reading midfielder has been used as an impact substitute in recent internationals but deserves a run in the side based on his performances for Reading this season. Hunt’s determination and commitment energise the crowd and players around him. His exasperation at being left out of the starting eleven was clearly evident in a candid after match interview on Wednesday night. Curbing his over-enthusiasm will make Stephen Hunt an even better player but he needs to start internationals rather than feature in the last 20 minutes.
Former Irish rugby international, Donal Linehan, wrote recently about the potential catastrophe of losing Ronan O’Gara to injury for both Ireland and Munster. The same logic applies to Ireland’s number one net minder Shay Given. Neither Joe Murphy nor Colin Doyle has received any kind of game time recently and both reserve keepers must be used in the upcoming summer friendlies. Memories of Paddy Kenny’s performance having replaced the injured Given in the catastrophic away defeat to Cyprus should provide ample warning. Ireland needs a competent back-up goalkeeper to Shay Given with that player gaining as much international experience as possible.
The first match of the new international season has been completed with a 1-0 defeat to Brazil consigned to the history books. Despite the loss, the overall Irish performance was a positive one. The new Irish manager needs to build on this and structure his squad accordingly in preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. While the Irish players clearly favour Terry Venables for his man-management skills, it is the potential appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni that has the whole of the football world talking. The appointment of the former Italian manager would really be a masterstroke for the FAI.
It could be months before the next Irish manager takes up his new position but an encouraging performance against the boys from Brazil points to better days ahead.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League – U14 CUP Review
The only other SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys fixture to survive last weekend was the U14 Cup quarter final tie between Riverside Athletic and Bay Rovers. The match was originally scheduled for the West End, Balineen but due to a waterlogged pitch the tie was instead moved to Kealkil. What a cup tie it turned out to be with Bay emerging with a fantastic penalty shootout victory.
The opening goal in arrived after only ten minutes when Conor O’Neill found the net with superb long range strike. Bay Rovers refused to panic and levelled the score before half time when David Casey reacted quickest to finish a rebound to the net after a defensive mix-up. Rovers were well on top now and made it 2-1 just after the break with the goal of the game. David Casey met an out-swinging corner with a thunderous volley into the top corner of the net to give Bay the lead. Rovers made it 3-1 shortly afterwards when Padraigh Cronin latched onto an Alex Karkalas through ball and beat Gavin O‘Leary to seemingly end the cup tie. Riverside Athletic had other ideas and fought back valiantly with two goals in the final 15 minutes. Trevor Horgan made it 3-2 with a fine shot from outside the penalty area and then right on full time Niall Kelleher pounced to send the game into extra time. Neither side scored in extra time so a penalty shootout was needed to decide the tie. Alex Karkalas was the hero for Bay Rovers, saving the final penalty and then Tom O’Sullivan converted to win the shootout 6-5 and send the Kealkil side into the last four.
Riverside Athletic: Gavin O'Leary, Peter Curran, Sean Ryan, Stephen White, Mark O'Driscoll, Niall Kelleher, John Daly, Gearoid Harrington, Thomas Crowley, Trevor Horgan, Conor O'Neill, Sean Lynch, Niall Lombard and Ciaran Everard.
Bay Rovers: Donal Casey, Cathal Power, Stephen Casey, Alex Karkalas, Martin Hurley, Jerry Harrington, Gavin O'Shea, Eoin O'Sullivan, Tom O'Sullivan, David Casey, Padraigh Cronin, Seamus O'Mahony, Dale Parish and Kevin Casey.
The scheduled U14 Cup quarter final fixture between Drinagh Rangers and Bunratty United in Cannon Crowley Park was postponed. The U14 Cup semi final draw will be made at the next WCSL committee meeting including Bay Rovers, Lyre Rovers, Skibbereen and Drinagh Rangers / Bunratty United.
SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League TEAM of the Week: Bay Rovers U14. Rovers recovered from losing a 3-1 lead to knock Riverside Athletic out of the U14 Cup on penalties.
SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League PLAYER of the Week: Alex Karkalas of Bay Rovers U14. Karkalas has a superb game at centre back for the Kealkil side and then donned the goalkeeper’s jersey for the penalty shoot out. The Rovers player saved the penultimate penalty to help send Bay into the semi finals.
WCSL U14 Cup RESULTS for February 2nd 2008
WCSL U14 Cup - Quarter Finals
Togher Celtic 2 Lyre Rovers 3
Riverside Athletic 3 Bay Rovers 3 - aet Bay Rovers win on penalties
Drinagh Rangers vs. Bunratty United - Postponed
Visit www.westcorkschoolboysleague.com for further details.
The opening goal in arrived after only ten minutes when Conor O’Neill found the net with superb long range strike. Bay Rovers refused to panic and levelled the score before half time when David Casey reacted quickest to finish a rebound to the net after a defensive mix-up. Rovers were well on top now and made it 2-1 just after the break with the goal of the game. David Casey met an out-swinging corner with a thunderous volley into the top corner of the net to give Bay the lead. Rovers made it 3-1 shortly afterwards when Padraigh Cronin latched onto an Alex Karkalas through ball and beat Gavin O‘Leary to seemingly end the cup tie. Riverside Athletic had other ideas and fought back valiantly with two goals in the final 15 minutes. Trevor Horgan made it 3-2 with a fine shot from outside the penalty area and then right on full time Niall Kelleher pounced to send the game into extra time. Neither side scored in extra time so a penalty shootout was needed to decide the tie. Alex Karkalas was the hero for Bay Rovers, saving the final penalty and then Tom O’Sullivan converted to win the shootout 6-5 and send the Kealkil side into the last four.
Riverside Athletic: Gavin O'Leary, Peter Curran, Sean Ryan, Stephen White, Mark O'Driscoll, Niall Kelleher, John Daly, Gearoid Harrington, Thomas Crowley, Trevor Horgan, Conor O'Neill, Sean Lynch, Niall Lombard and Ciaran Everard.
Bay Rovers: Donal Casey, Cathal Power, Stephen Casey, Alex Karkalas, Martin Hurley, Jerry Harrington, Gavin O'Shea, Eoin O'Sullivan, Tom O'Sullivan, David Casey, Padraigh Cronin, Seamus O'Mahony, Dale Parish and Kevin Casey.
The scheduled U14 Cup quarter final fixture between Drinagh Rangers and Bunratty United in Cannon Crowley Park was postponed. The U14 Cup semi final draw will be made at the next WCSL committee meeting including Bay Rovers, Lyre Rovers, Skibbereen and Drinagh Rangers / Bunratty United.
SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League TEAM of the Week: Bay Rovers U14. Rovers recovered from losing a 3-1 lead to knock Riverside Athletic out of the U14 Cup on penalties.
SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys League PLAYER of the Week: Alex Karkalas of Bay Rovers U14. Karkalas has a superb game at centre back for the Kealkil side and then donned the goalkeeper’s jersey for the penalty shoot out. The Rovers player saved the penultimate penalty to help send Bay into the semi finals.
WCSL U14 Cup RESULTS for February 2nd 2008
WCSL U14 Cup - Quarter Finals
Togher Celtic 2 Lyre Rovers 3
Riverside Athletic 3 Bay Rovers 3 - aet Bay Rovers win on penalties
Drinagh Rangers vs. Bunratty United - Postponed
Visit www.westcorkschoolboysleague.com for further details.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Interview with John Caulfield
Former Cork City star, John Caulfield, sat down with West Cork Schoolboys League columnist, Ger McCarthy, to discuss a wide range of football related subjects. John has a long association with the West Cork Schoolboys League in his role as Coach of the Kennedy Cup representative side. Current manager of Avondale United, he was recently nominated for the Cork City Hall of Fame along with Pat Morley, Mick Conroy, Declan Daly, Phil Harrington, Alex Ludzic and Gerry McCabe. John works as Sales Representative for Bulmer’s in Cork.
City and Avondale
The interview begins with some reminiscing about John's early days with Cork city. He remembers those humble beginnings with a rye smile: "My debut was back in 1986 in the League Cup competition against Kilkenny City. My first league game occurred shortly after that against Sligo Rovers". Playing for City in the late 1980's was very different from today's setup. "I can remember starting off with City when we were regularly near the bottom of the table and crowds were quite small to be honest. Within four years the squad had strengthened and matured considerably and the attendances began to swell".
John played with many great individuals in his time at Turners Cross but believes the camaraderie within the squad was one of the main reasons for the club's early success. "It was a joy to play alongside the likes of Pat Morley, Dave Barry and Patsy Freyne for nearly a decade. Those guys formed the backbone of the City side and there was a great bond amongst the players. We were more or less an all-Cork team compared to the Dublin sides who had players signed from all over the country. There was a set core to the team and that definitely became a huge advantage for us over the years".
What was it like playing in Turners Cross, especially in front of the Shed? "It is only now since I have finished playing that I look back on how fantastic it truly was. I remember the massive crowds, electric atmosphere and joy of lifting trophies. I know from talking to ex-players from around the country how much they enjoyed the experience of coming to the Cross just as I did visiting grounds like the Brandywell in Derry. You never forget the atmosphere, the excitement and the adrenalin rush you used to get playing in those places".
In recent times John has enjoyed great success since taking over the managerial reigns at Avondale United. The Cork club have won the FAI Intermediate Cup for the past two seasons which is a great source of pride. “I enjoy working with Michael Punch, Damian O'Connell, Kevin Daly and Adrian Ryan immensely”. John has succeeded in taking all his experience from playing with Cork City and passed it on to the players at Avondale. “To be honest we have players, coaches and back room staff who work very hard for the club. You need that huge commitment by both management and players to have any chance of success.”
Kennedy Cup
Living in Balineen, West Cork, John got involved with the under-age setup in local West Cork League side Riverside Athletic. “Back in the late 90's Stephen Roth was looking after West Cork Schoolboys League Kennedy Cup representative team. I was studying on an F.A.I. coaching course at the time under the tuition of Brian Kerr and Noel O' Reilly”. The former Republic of Ireland manager and coach were regular attendees at the annual Kennedy Cup tournament in Limerick. Both knew John was residing in the West Cork area and encouraged him to get involved in the competition. “Stephen Roth was an incredibly funny and enthusiastic guy and along with him I began training the team and attending the Kennedy Cup tournaments and just fell in love with the competition”.
As the years progressed West Cork Schoolboys League Chairman, Paddy McCarthy, gave John free reign to organise the training and preparation of the Kennedy Cup squad. “ I brought in various people to help out with preparing the squad like Cork City U17's Coach Pat Curran, James Walsh from Drinagh Rangers, Conor Uhl from Ardfield, John Collins from Skibbereen and Danny Peters from Bay Rovers. Paddy McCarthy was and still is one of the chief organisers of the squad and provides excellent support”. Over time John helped introduce a structure to the selection process for the final squad and kept innovating and improving the training sessions as best he could. “We encouraged West Cork based clubs to send their best players to the Kennedy Cup training sessions and then over a period of four months reduced the final squad to the best 20 players to represent the league in the Kennedy Cup”.
John’s hard work and dedication is clearly evident in West Cork’s recent success at the prestigious tournament. “When we started attending the Kennedy Cup we were one of the lowest ranked leagues in the competition. In the last 6 or 7 years we have now become one of the top seeds”. West Cork is currently ranked 7th best Schoolboys League in the country. “We are the second smallest league in the country with only a handful of clubs to pick from yet regularly reach the last eight which just shows the huge potential for soccer in West Cork”. Is he surprised by the recent success of the WCSL in the Kennedy Cup? “Not at all, because of the fantastic talent at underage level in West Cork right now. I have no doubt that our best players are every bit as good as those players in Dublin or any of the Northern leagues”. “We have been lucky as well to have had a host of very enthusiastic parents who have been involved in fundraising down through the years. It is an expensive tournament to attend but parents are happy to help out in any way they can”.
Advice
From his vast experience as both a player and a manager what advice does John have for any person interested in getting involved in coaching young soccer players? “No matter what age you are or at whatever level you aspire to, you can never stop learning. Start with the Kick-start coaching courses to get a basic foundation and move on from there. These courses help you get organised and introduce useful training ideas and methodologies”. He lists the various coaching qualifications to go through: “Kick-Start is the first step with levels 1, 2 and 3. I currently have my UEFA coaching licence which must be renewed on an annual basis. The next step up is the PRO licence which would allow me to get involved with a professional club”.
John recounts the best piece of advice he ever received as a player: “The idea or principle that you should treat any player the way you would like to be treated yourself. Especially for kids where you are picking a squad of 15 they know themselves the best 15 are likely to be selected. I try to be honest with all the players and always try to have a balance when picking any team”.
Ill-discipline both on and off the pitch is on the rise and the Avondale United manager has some strong views on the subject. “The key issue in youth soccer is currently ill-discipline. It is a huge problem and I would like to see clubs taking a more active role in discouraging ill-discipline towards players, coaches and especially referees. The proposed idea that only the Captain of a team should be allowed approach an official to question a decision (much like in rugby union) is a good one and should be introduced into soccer”.
In John’s opinion, what makes a good striker? ”There are two vital elements. Firstly, no matter what position you play in you have to work extremely hard and look after yourself to get the best out of yourself. As a striker you must give as much time as possible to practicing your finishing. This is critical for any striker. Learning to time your runs is also crucial for any forward”.
Conclusion
John encourages young players to go and see Cork City in action as often as possible. “We are all heavily influenced by the Premiership and I am no different myself. Cork City play at the highest level in this country and are a very professional outfit. Here is a fantastic team playing attractive football right on your doorstep”. He mentions the cracking atmosphere and the fact Irish internationals Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly are regularly on display. “Remember the talented players who were turning out for City like Kevin Doyle, Alan Bennett and Shane Long who are now established Premiership players for Reading. It’s only two years since all of these players were regularly turning out for Cork City. You have the opportunity to go and see them live every second week, which will only cost you a fraction of what weekend in England would to see a team there”.
I have fond memories of travelling to Turners Cross back in the early 1990's to see John in action for Cork City. As a striker he always gave 100%. It was always a thrill to see ‘one of our own’ from West Cork pulling on the City jersey and saluting the Shed End having just billowed the opposition’s net. John Caulfield deserves to go down in history as one of the most respected players and managers in the history of Cork soccer.
City and Avondale
The interview begins with some reminiscing about John's early days with Cork city. He remembers those humble beginnings with a rye smile: "My debut was back in 1986 in the League Cup competition against Kilkenny City. My first league game occurred shortly after that against Sligo Rovers". Playing for City in the late 1980's was very different from today's setup. "I can remember starting off with City when we were regularly near the bottom of the table and crowds were quite small to be honest. Within four years the squad had strengthened and matured considerably and the attendances began to swell".
John played with many great individuals in his time at Turners Cross but believes the camaraderie within the squad was one of the main reasons for the club's early success. "It was a joy to play alongside the likes of Pat Morley, Dave Barry and Patsy Freyne for nearly a decade. Those guys formed the backbone of the City side and there was a great bond amongst the players. We were more or less an all-Cork team compared to the Dublin sides who had players signed from all over the country. There was a set core to the team and that definitely became a huge advantage for us over the years".
What was it like playing in Turners Cross, especially in front of the Shed? "It is only now since I have finished playing that I look back on how fantastic it truly was. I remember the massive crowds, electric atmosphere and joy of lifting trophies. I know from talking to ex-players from around the country how much they enjoyed the experience of coming to the Cross just as I did visiting grounds like the Brandywell in Derry. You never forget the atmosphere, the excitement and the adrenalin rush you used to get playing in those places".
In recent times John has enjoyed great success since taking over the managerial reigns at Avondale United. The Cork club have won the FAI Intermediate Cup for the past two seasons which is a great source of pride. “I enjoy working with Michael Punch, Damian O'Connell, Kevin Daly and Adrian Ryan immensely”. John has succeeded in taking all his experience from playing with Cork City and passed it on to the players at Avondale. “To be honest we have players, coaches and back room staff who work very hard for the club. You need that huge commitment by both management and players to have any chance of success.”
Kennedy Cup
Living in Balineen, West Cork, John got involved with the under-age setup in local West Cork League side Riverside Athletic. “Back in the late 90's Stephen Roth was looking after West Cork Schoolboys League Kennedy Cup representative team. I was studying on an F.A.I. coaching course at the time under the tuition of Brian Kerr and Noel O' Reilly”. The former Republic of Ireland manager and coach were regular attendees at the annual Kennedy Cup tournament in Limerick. Both knew John was residing in the West Cork area and encouraged him to get involved in the competition. “Stephen Roth was an incredibly funny and enthusiastic guy and along with him I began training the team and attending the Kennedy Cup tournaments and just fell in love with the competition”.
As the years progressed West Cork Schoolboys League Chairman, Paddy McCarthy, gave John free reign to organise the training and preparation of the Kennedy Cup squad. “ I brought in various people to help out with preparing the squad like Cork City U17's Coach Pat Curran, James Walsh from Drinagh Rangers, Conor Uhl from Ardfield, John Collins from Skibbereen and Danny Peters from Bay Rovers. Paddy McCarthy was and still is one of the chief organisers of the squad and provides excellent support”. Over time John helped introduce a structure to the selection process for the final squad and kept innovating and improving the training sessions as best he could. “We encouraged West Cork based clubs to send their best players to the Kennedy Cup training sessions and then over a period of four months reduced the final squad to the best 20 players to represent the league in the Kennedy Cup”.
John’s hard work and dedication is clearly evident in West Cork’s recent success at the prestigious tournament. “When we started attending the Kennedy Cup we were one of the lowest ranked leagues in the competition. In the last 6 or 7 years we have now become one of the top seeds”. West Cork is currently ranked 7th best Schoolboys League in the country. “We are the second smallest league in the country with only a handful of clubs to pick from yet regularly reach the last eight which just shows the huge potential for soccer in West Cork”. Is he surprised by the recent success of the WCSL in the Kennedy Cup? “Not at all, because of the fantastic talent at underage level in West Cork right now. I have no doubt that our best players are every bit as good as those players in Dublin or any of the Northern leagues”. “We have been lucky as well to have had a host of very enthusiastic parents who have been involved in fundraising down through the years. It is an expensive tournament to attend but parents are happy to help out in any way they can”.
Advice
From his vast experience as both a player and a manager what advice does John have for any person interested in getting involved in coaching young soccer players? “No matter what age you are or at whatever level you aspire to, you can never stop learning. Start with the Kick-start coaching courses to get a basic foundation and move on from there. These courses help you get organised and introduce useful training ideas and methodologies”. He lists the various coaching qualifications to go through: “Kick-Start is the first step with levels 1, 2 and 3. I currently have my UEFA coaching licence which must be renewed on an annual basis. The next step up is the PRO licence which would allow me to get involved with a professional club”.
John recounts the best piece of advice he ever received as a player: “The idea or principle that you should treat any player the way you would like to be treated yourself. Especially for kids where you are picking a squad of 15 they know themselves the best 15 are likely to be selected. I try to be honest with all the players and always try to have a balance when picking any team”.
Ill-discipline both on and off the pitch is on the rise and the Avondale United manager has some strong views on the subject. “The key issue in youth soccer is currently ill-discipline. It is a huge problem and I would like to see clubs taking a more active role in discouraging ill-discipline towards players, coaches and especially referees. The proposed idea that only the Captain of a team should be allowed approach an official to question a decision (much like in rugby union) is a good one and should be introduced into soccer”.
In John’s opinion, what makes a good striker? ”There are two vital elements. Firstly, no matter what position you play in you have to work extremely hard and look after yourself to get the best out of yourself. As a striker you must give as much time as possible to practicing your finishing. This is critical for any striker. Learning to time your runs is also crucial for any forward”.
Conclusion
John encourages young players to go and see Cork City in action as often as possible. “We are all heavily influenced by the Premiership and I am no different myself. Cork City play at the highest level in this country and are a very professional outfit. Here is a fantastic team playing attractive football right on your doorstep”. He mentions the cracking atmosphere and the fact Irish internationals Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly are regularly on display. “Remember the talented players who were turning out for City like Kevin Doyle, Alan Bennett and Shane Long who are now established Premiership players for Reading. It’s only two years since all of these players were regularly turning out for Cork City. You have the opportunity to go and see them live every second week, which will only cost you a fraction of what weekend in England would to see a team there”.
I have fond memories of travelling to Turners Cross back in the early 1990's to see John in action for Cork City. As a striker he always gave 100%. It was always a thrill to see ‘one of our own’ from West Cork pulling on the City jersey and saluting the Shed End having just billowed the opposition’s net. John Caulfield deserves to go down in history as one of the most respected players and managers in the history of Cork soccer.
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