KINSALE MAYMOUNT CELTIC 2000

ST MICHAEL'S CUP FINAL - KINSALE v MAYMOUNT CELTIC - TURNER'S CROSS - SUNDAY - 3.00ppm.




US PRESIDENT JETS IN

Maymount Celtic's US based president Mary McDermott will jet in on Sunday morning to take the team's clash with Kinsale in the final of the Murphy's Stout St Michael's Cup (kick off 3.00pm). Mary took over as president after the death of husband Mike, the club's first president.



It should be an action packed afternoon as Maymount and Kinsale are two of the best first division sides currently operating as a glance at their records in this season's national and provincial cups will illustrate. Maymount were in scintillating form as they crushed Temple in their rain lashed semi-final while Kinsale point to their semi-final win over Fairview as their top display of the season.



Maymount, founded in 1995 by William O'Keeffe and John Murphy, have had mixed luck at the Cross in recent years. They lost the President's Cup decider to Innishannon in 1997 but won the Saxone final against Millstreet the following season.



The Cross though hasn't been a lucky venue for the Kinsale lads. They narrowly lost the 1994 County Cup final to Leeside, were trashed by Greenmount in the 96 Linnane, and lost the 1998 President's Cup decider on spotters to Evergreen.



While AUL skipper Peter Jones is perhaps the best known of the Kinsale players, they are far from being a one man band. Team captain Derek McCarthy has played with the AUL this season and is the side's leading scorer. Other impressive performers include Michael Madden (Player of the Year last term), Trevor Irwin (Players' Player of the Year), and hot shots David O'Donovan and Neil Lynch.



Maymount are a well balanced side that carry a huge threat upfront where Thomas Flynn, Niall O'Regan, and Mickey Barrett, are all capable of netting. Add in the midfield power of Kevin Goldsmith and Darren Geaney, the guile of skipper Brian Lee, tenacious defenders such as Derek O'Driscoll, and a brave keeper in Stephen Jones, and it means they go into every game with at least a fifty fifty chance.



Stephen O'Connell is the referee for Sunday's decider and his assistants are Tony Horgan and Noel Ahern.



PREVIOUS WINNERS: Ballincollig (1982); St John Bosco's (83); Carrigaline Utd (84); St Mary's (85); Ballincollig (86); Douglas Hall (87); Mayfield Utd (88); Ballincollig (89); Greenmount Rangers (90); Casement Celtic (91); Bandon (92); Rockmount (93); Hibernians (94); Brooklodge Utd (95); Passage wanderers (96); Hill Celtic )(97); Corinthians Athletic (98); and St John Bosco's (99).



PATHS TO THE FINAL

Remarkably Maymount have scored four in each round on their way to The Cross, setting that pattern with a 4 - 1 win over Brooklodge Utd in round one when Ray Murphy (2 pens.), O'Regan, and O'Driscoll, all scored. Kinsale went one better as they beat Hill Celtic 5 - 2; Thomas Sutherland, Niall Lynch, Derek McCarthy, and David O'Donovan (2), scored.



Both sides got byes to round three where Kinsale came up against a formidable Ballyvolane and pipped their hosts 3 - 2 in a thriller. Jones and Derek McCarthy (2, including the winner) scored for the seasiders. Ken Murphy cracked in a long range decider as Maymount edged out Castleview 4 - 3, their other scores from O'Driscoll, Lloyd Leahy, and O'Regan.



Maymount then needed extra time to defeat College Corinthians 4 - 2. O'Regan and James Long goaled in extra time while the normal time marksmen were Murphy and Flynn. Kinsale slipped past Blarney Street Athletic on a 1 - 0 decision, Jones getting the winner after a terrific run by David O'Donovan.



Kinsale were away to Fairview, a good cup team, in the semi-final and Derek McCarthy's goal was enough to put them through to the Cross. Maymount powered their way to a 4 - 1 victory over hosts Temple Utd. Cracking first half scores by Barrett and Leahy started the southward move and the second half marksmen were Ray Murphy (pen.) and Flynn.