Connolly Celtic Celebrate 21 years

Connolly Celtic Soccer Club are celebrating their 21^st anniversary with a dinner dance at Magowna House Hotel on Saturday 19^th January 2008. Music will be by Country Fever and tickets at €25 each are available from any committee member. Past and present club members are all welcome to attend as well as parents of all our underage members. There will be a presentation to the clubs first ever league title winners, the team that won the Div 3 league in the 1989/90 season.

Connolly Celtic was founded in 1987 and the four founder members of Michael Lydon, Patrick Dillon, Anthony Dillon and Kevin Hassett formed the club in time for the 1987/88 season. With a committee of James Meehan as Chairman, Michael Dillon as Vice-Chairman, and Gerry Vaughan as Treasurer, the team played its first matches at Kearney’s Field in Connolly, before moving to a pitch owned by Josie Keating.  During the following years the club has played on fields generously provided by Danny Hickey, Tony Hehir, Frank Killeen and Paddy Pyne. Connolly Celtic are now fortunate to have a lifetime lease at Kilmaley Community Sports Field at Kilmaley NS and enjoy an excellent playing facility with dressing rooms and flood lights. The continuous progress of Connolly Celtic throughout the last 21 years is due to the committed efforts of committee members, players, parents, sponsors and supporters ever since the first committee was formed back in 1987.

Michael Lydon was the clubs junior team manager for the first five seasons, guiding the team to the 3rd Division League Title in 1989/90, thus gaining promotion to Division 2.  Martin Hickey then became manager for the next five years, winning the 2nd Division Shield in 1992/93, and the 2nd Division League Title in 1995/96, leading the club to promotion to the 1st Division.  Kieran Dillon, Sean Mounsey and Donie Lynch are in charge of the present junior side that competes in Div 1 of the Clare and District Soccer League. Michael Lydon is the clubs Chairman again this year while Martin Hehir as secretary and Anthony Cahill as treasurer are supported by a strong committee.

Connolly Celtic soccer club wishes to thank its many sponsors and supporters throughout their 21 year history, especially all who supported our many Golf Classics, Christmas raffles, Bag Packing and other fundraisers. A very special thanks to Pauline and Tom Carmody, Carmel and Patsy Pilkington, PJ Murphy, Liam Moloney and Simon Moroney.

Roll of Honour
1988/89 Kildysart Tournament Winners   
1989/90 3rd Division Shield Runners Up 
1989/90 3rd Division League Winners                 
1990/91 2nd Division Shield Winners                  
1992/93 2nd Division Shield Winners                  
1995/96 2nd Division League Winners                

Schoolboys

The 2007 season saw the Clare Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Soccer League introduce Summer Soccer for the first time in Clare, playing all their soccer leagues in the calendar year. Connolly Celtic proposed the switch to the summer months in 2005 in an attempt to improve conditions and facilities for boys and girls playing soccer with Connolly Celtic and throughout Clare. Connolly’s proposal was supported by a large majority of clubs and a CSSL sub-committee introduced Summer Soccer in July of this year with great success, despite the weather. The club entered two schoolboys’ teams at Under 13 and Under 15 while the schoolgirls participated in Under 9 and Under 11 blitz competitions.

Connolly Celtic hosted a Level 1 soccer-coaching course at Kilmaley NS in May with 30 trainers from various clubs achieving Kickstart 1 coaching qualifications. 15 male and female trainers from the club now hold qualifications to coach our underage members.

The U15 boys squad have a panel of 25 players and are in a good position to win the Div 2 league title, the first trophy for the club since the schoolboy section was formed in 1999. This team are finishing their season in top form after an inconsistent start and play Tulla Utd in the Clare cup semi-final at the time of writing. Hopes are high for a cup final appearance in the New Year as managers Martin Hehir, Pat Johnson and John Murphy continue with their progression. They have also advanced to the fourth round of the National cup where they will play Newcastlewest Rovers, recording an impressive win over Asdee Rovers of Kerry along the way.

The U13 boys panel consists of 18 players and manager Michael Lydon has seen considerable improvement in his squad this season, finishing in third place in the Div 1 League. These lads were unlucky to finish runners up in Div 2 last year, pushing Newton FC to the final game of the season. They face St. Pats from Kilmihil in the Clare Cup quarterfinal and also had an excellent run in the National Cup, defeating Newtown and Kilcornan from Limerick at Kilmaley NS. They were unfortunate to bow out of the competition in Mastergeeha in Kerry after a penalty shoot-out, following a spirited performance during normal and extra time.

The Under 8 and Under 10 boys had a very busy year, training and competing in Blitz competitions held at Lees Rd, Ennistymon and Kilmaley NS. They also travelled to Park Rangers in Shannon during October and continued to train indoors at Kilmaley Hall in November. Trainers Martin Hehir, Mike Cleary and Pat Devitt have a very enthusiastic group of players and this squad will be well ready for action in the CSSL Under 11 league next May. This ever-increasing panel of players have a very bright future ahead.

Schoolgirls

Connolly Celtic held a 10 week Introduction and Development program called “Soccer Sisters” for schoolgirls Under 10 at Kilmaley NS during June, July and August 2007. 30 schoolgirls enjoyed fun and games each week and were introduced to the basics of soccer by qualified Kickstart 1 and 2 club coaches. Further 10 week programs are planned for 2008 as the girls advance to more competitive action.

The Under 9 and Under 11 girls had their first introduction to competitive soccer when they competed in three blitz competitions organised by the CSSL at Lees Road. There are now 25 girls registered in each age group with numbers increasing every week. All the girls enjoyed playing against teams from Lifford, Mountshannon, Fern Celtic and Moneypoint and everyone involved are already looking forward to next year’s activities. Maggs Hehir, Brid Keane, Orla Keane, Laura and Sarah Reidy are guiding the Under 9 girls in the right direction while Sean Cregan and Killian Torpey train the Under 11 girls.

Sean Cregan also coached the outdoor and indoor girls for this years Community Games. The U12 Outdoor team won Gold medals at the Clare finals with wins over Ennis and Sixmilebridge, Ashling Cregan and Chloe McAleer scoring the goals in their two 1-0 victories. The girls were defeated by a strong Kerry side at the Munster finals in Tralee in July. The U15 Outdoor girls won County Bronze medals in Clare with a convincing win over Ennis in the third place playoff.

The Indoor girls were also in the medals with the Under 13’s taking bronze and the Under 15 side winning Gold medals in Clare, again travelling to Tralee for the Munster finals. A narrow 2-1 defeat in the semi-final will be an encouragement for these girls to progress further in the competition next year, with six of the squad again eligible to play.

Congratulations to Niamh Cahill and Lauren McGuane who were both honoured for their outstanding achievements at soccer, at the 2007 Community Games All-Star awards function at the West County Inn in October.