ST JOHN BOSCO'S JAN 2002

St John Bosco's




Midleton based St John Bosco's, who have won most of the AUL trophies available to them, don't have Player of the Year Awards. "We just don't have them. We believe it is a team game", said long serving secretary Denis McSweeney, ironically winner of an Distinguished Service Award himself at the Cork Soccer Honours in 1998.



Bosco's, long term tenants of Tom Cleere at Water Rock Park, field two junior sides in the league, one in Premier A, the other in AUL 1B. They train twice weekly, at the Midleton Community Hall on Tuesdays and at Midleton AFC's all weather facility on Thursdays.



McSweeney was sombre when training was mentioned: "When we go training this week, we'll be short three players who were with us at the start of the season". The three who have died tragically in recent months are Trevor Desmond, Wesley Murphy and Paddy Long. The lads will always be remembered at Bosco's and indeed the club, according to Sweeney, "has bonded like never before" following the deaths.



The B team, who had already lost some key personnel to newcomers Carrigtwohill at the start of the season, were hardest hit but they have knuckled down and recorded a great semi-final win over Villa Utd to reach the decider of the St Michael's Cup against Blackpool Celtic.



Sweeper James O'Connor is manager of the B team and Sweeney rates him highly: "He more or less had to start from scratch and is doing a good job. He has a high proportion of new players but, though they are finding it hard to score, should manage to stay up and, of course, they'll be going all out in the Michael's final." Captain here is Graham Dennehy and leading marksmen is Willie Crowley.



McSweeney's A team are also going well, through to the 5th round of the AOH and topping the standings in Premier A and all that despite the early season loss of skipper Dave Bailey. Dave picked up the injury after just three game but is expected back next month. In the meantime, ace forward Jim O'Donoghue has taken over as captain. The defence has also been hit by the absence of Kieran Murphy.



O'Donoghue is one of the top scorers while Aidan McSweeney is also doing well in this department. McSweeney senior has strengthened his squad by signing defender Vincent O'Sullivan and former Golden Boot winner Mark Duggan, both from Midleton, while Eric Costigan has returned from Australia where he kept in touch with the club's progress via the AUL website.



It was O'Sullivan who scored the 88th minute winner as Bosco's pipped Alberts 1-0 in what McSweeney reckons was their best league performance of the season. The lowlight was the keenly felt loss to Park United in the Munster Junior Cup.



McSweeney is happy enough with the way things are going and reckons that a league and AOH double are within reach this season. The secretary has been around a long time but that is often the way at Bosco's. Tony Moore of the Meeting Place has been their main sponsor for the past 15 years.



Bosco's Premier A panel: Nigel Berry (keeper), Mark Duggan, Vincent O'Sullivan, Brendan Foley, Aidan Kelleher, Frank Hegarty, John Cody, Eric Costigan, Jim O'Donoghue, Kenneth O'Mahony, Sean Corcoran, Joe Hartnett, Kieran O'Hanlon, Tadhg O'Connor, Aidan McSweeney, Kieran Murphy and Dave Bailey.