UCC bow out of Junior B Championship

UCC's unbeaten run for the year came to end following a four point defeat to the Bank of New York in the semi-final of the Junior B Football Championship last Monday. In a game in which UCC started brightly an inability to make full use of the chances created saw them end up on the wrong side of a 1-14 to 1-10 scoreline.

Playing against the wind UCC looked the livelier outfit and a goal created by Ronan Power and finished emphatically by corner forward Don O'Connell after eight minutes pushed UCC into the lead. As the half progressed the Bank of New York made better use of the elements and the chances created, and the teams were level at the short whistle, 1-05 to 0-08. The points for UCC came from Donal Cronin, Jack Crowley and impressive midfielder Ronan Power, whose high fielding was a feature of the game.

UCC had the wind behind them in the second half but failed to take full advantage, missing a large number of scoreable chances. Interspersed with some bad wides UCC did manage points from Don O'Connell, Donal Cronin and Ronan Power.

Some good build-up play (and an increased unwillingness to shoot) saw UCC awarded two penalties, however, neither resulted in a green flag. The first was blazed well wide and while the second did at least hit the target, it only resulted in a point following a good save from the BNY keeper. BNY were far more efficient with the possession they had and added on a number of points before a goal from a powerful shot by their replacement full forward past Diarmaid Hallissey saw them push into a six point lead.

UCC released Michael Burns from full back and he created a number of chances for the forwards but with a lack of true penetration up front the best that could be achieved was a couple of pointed frees. UCC won a number of close range frees in the dying minutes but goalbound efforts were easily diverted by the BNY defence. In the end UCC can have no complaints at the four point defeat.

Team: Diarmaid Hallissey, Kevin O'Mahony, Michael Burns, Robert Dunphy, Robert Phelan, Olan Casey, Jerry Reen, Ronan Power (0-02), Dave Stafford, Jack Crowley (0-01), Donal Cronin (0-06, 5f), Traolach Martin, Gareth Casey, Brendan Kelleher, Don O'Connell (1-01). Subs: Nathan Stevenson, Seamus Coffey.

12 Months Ago

Last June UCC Staff defeated Project Management in the semi-final of the 2008 Junior Football Cup. A clean sheet from Diarmaid Hallissey and goals from Dave Morrissey, Don O'Connell and Noel Browne secured a 3-10 to 0-10 win. The Evening Echo carried a report of the game and also ran a photo of the UCC team. Click both images to enlarge.

First the report.

And here's the pic.

Back Row: Noel Browne, Paul Bradfield, Mick Murphy, John Eakins, Declan O'Connell, Diarmaid Hallissey, Dave Prendergast, Sean O'Leary, Mike Fitzgerald, Dave Power
Front Row: Don O'Connell, Sean O'Leary, Rory Rice, Dave Morrissey, Jerry Reen, Michael Burns, Tom Byrne

UCC came up against Novartis in the final and came out on the wrong side of a 2-12 to 2-05 scoreline. This was the last in the six-in-a-row of losing football finals and since then UCC have finally captured some football silverware with wins in the 2008 Junior B Cup and the 2009 Junior Cup.

Evening Echo Photo

The Evening Echo (15/07/09) ran a picture of the UCC team who were successful in the recent Beamish Junior Cup Final.

After a quarter final win over the Naval Services in the Junior B Football Championship, UCC will face the Bank of New York in the semi final. The Bank of New York's quarter final win over South West Energy Services is the featured game in the report below.



The report of the game played by pictured UCC team featured in last week's Echo and is:

Back Row: Don O'Connell, Peter Neary, Willie Fahy, Colm O'Connell, Eoin O'Leary, Donnacha Carr, Brian Kenny, Sean O'Leary, Denis Lynch, Jerry Reen
Front Row: Brendan Kelleher, Aidan Kelleher, Ronan Power, Dave Stafford, Rory Rice, Diarmaid Hallissey, Pat O'Connell, Pat Cremin, Seamus Coffey

Finally the First Round game of the Junior A Hurling Championship between UCC Staff and the Bank of New York has been fixed for Monday 20th July in Delaneys at 8pm.

The "B" Sharps

The early successes for the reformed UCC Staff GAA club came in the Junior B Hurling Championship. Unlike in football where six final defeats had to be experienced before success was finally achieved, in hurling defeat in the 2004 final to Novartis was followed by a three-in-a-row success from 2005 to 2007.

Here is the team that won the 2005 final played in Shanbally where the previous year's defeat to Novartis was reversed. Click to enlarge.


Those pictured include Seamus Cronin, Olan Casey, Davy Walsh, John Eakins, Rowan McSweeney, Rory Rice, Dara Cott, Brian Daly, Brian Coffey, Tom Byrne, Sean O'Leary, Mike Richardson

12 months later UCC were back in the final and again faced Novartis. In a game in which UCC trailed in all through, it took an injury time scoring blast of a goal and a point from Dave Cashman to secure victory. This game was played under lights in Ballygarvan. Again click the image to enlarge.

The three-in-a-row was completed in 2007 by some fabulous work by Frank Dillon in the corridors of power. UCC and Novartis again progressed to meet in the final. However, it was clear that both teams were under pressure to field. On the day of the final Frank didn't flinch and exuded an air of quiet confidence. Novartis cracked under the pressure and were the first to admit that they couldn't field. Without a ball being pucked Frank had secured a famous win!

In 2008 UCC stepped up a level and won the Junior A Hurling Championship against Cork Garda. This was another game in which UCC trailed and on this occassion the injury time scoring blast of a goal and a point came from Gerard McGlacken. UCC progressed to the Munster Championship where after a win over Tipperary's Wyett Pharmaceuticals from Clonmel they were defeated by Analog Devices of Limerick in the Munster Final.

Most Recent Football Final

Here is the Evening Echo (08/07/09) report on UCC's recent win over the Bank of New York in the Junior Cup Final. Click image to enlarge.


Here is a photo of the team for the final. Again click to enlarge.
Back Row: Don O'Connell, Peter Neary, Willie Fahy, Colm O'Connell, Eoin O'Leary, Donnacha Carr, Brian Kenny, Sean O'Leary, Denis Lynch, Jerry Reen
Front Row: Brendan Kelleher, Aidan Kelleher, Ronan Power, Dave Stafford, Rory Rice, Diarmaid Hallissey, Pat O'Connell, Pat Cremin, Seamus Coffey (mascot)

First Football Final

After being reformed in 2004, the first Football Final reached was in the 2005 Junior C Championship. Here is the Evening Echo (27/07/05) report of the game, which as with all of our first six finals, ended in defeat. Click image to enlarge.


The Echo did not run a photo of the UCC team from the final but a few weeks previously (Echo 06/07/05) they did run a somewhat scratchy photo of the UCC team who overcame Project Management in the semi-final of this competition. Again click the image to enlarge.

Some Grainy Images From The Archive

The departure of our Founding Father, Frank Dillion marked with a few drinks in Cissie Youngs (July 2008).

Frank making a point (probably that backs should mark their men)
(or that it was definately a push in the back (1982!!))

Seanie has heard it all before! Treasurer, Diarmaid Hallissey making a presentation to Frank as thanks for his contribution to the founding and running of the club. Some of the other attendees

UCC Defeat Naval Services in Football Championship

In the first round of the Junior B Football Championship, UCC defeated the Naval Services on a scoreline of 3-12 to 1-04. UCC made a bright start in a game that started at 13-a-side and quickly opened up a lead. The Naval Services 14th man (and their jerseys) arrived half way through the first half, but they could not stem the tide and at half time UCC lead 1-07 to 0-01. UCC's goal game from a flash finish by Irish Junior Soccer International, Robbie Butler with Donal Cronin landing some fine points from centre forward.

The second half begin with the Naval Services threatening a mini revival following a well worked goal. Rory Rice entered the fray to shore up the defence and UCC found their feet again. Goals from the excellent Donal Og O'Donovan and Denis Lynch extended UCC's advantage. The win was sealed by an outstanding point from Aussie Nathan Stevenson.

UCC now progress to meet rivals The Bank of New York in the semi-final which has been fixed for Monday 27th July.

Team (14-a-side): Brendan Kelliher, Sean O'Leary, Kevin O'Mahony, John Eakins, Donnacha Carr, Robert Phelan, Dave Stafford, Donal Og O'Donovan (1-02), Don O'Connell (0-02), Donal Cronin (0-03), Nathan Stevenson (0-01), Pat Cremin (0-01), Robbie Butler (1-00), Jerry Reen(0-01). Subs: Rory Rice, Willie Fahy, Denis Lynch(1-02), Jack Crowley