Memorable year for Blarney United FC
It's been a year to remember to say the very least at Blarney United Football Club.
2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the club whose celebrations went further then they could have imagined when the Under 17 side won the National Cup this year for the first time in their history. Not only that but the Under 17s also captured the Teddy Healy Cup, the icing on the cake for the players and management team.
Beating teams such as Fermoy, Kilreen Celtic, Salthill Devon and Aisling Annacotty in the first rounds of the National Cup, Blarney's greatest test was the quarter-final against Douglas Hall, a tie that went all the way to penalties and saw Blarney progress to the semi-final, where they faced Cabinteely, beating them 3-1 for their place in the final.
Dublin side St Kevin's awaited Blarney in the final which took place at Dalymount Park in April and Michael O'Mahony was the hero on the day, scoring the game's only goal to ensure Blarney were crowned champions.
Greg Constant is the team's manager, having been offered the role during the summer of 2018. Constant had already spent several years coaching and managing the senior team.
Following the double, Blarney FC says it is optimistic that the successes achieved this year can be replicated next year by this group of players and that they will be an inspiration to the teams coming up through the ranks as well as being the future bedrock of the club’s adult teams in years to come.
The club currently serves just over 500 active players from under 6 to senior adults and participates in non-competitive small sided games for the academy age group, Cork Schoolboys League, Cork Women’s & Girls’ Leagues, Cork Youth League and the Munster Senior League. These teams are being looked after by 70 dedicated club members.
The club just completed its 13th season in the Munster Senior League, finishing fourth in the First Division, having decided it had achieved all its goals in the Cork AUL, winning several leagues and cup competitions in the build up to the transition.
The club regularly has schoolboys on the Cork squads and has produced four amateur internationals over the years.
Blarney FC is aiming to achieve the FAI Club Mark award and invests as much as possible in its coaches and members to help them develop their skills and build the right conditions for success.
To mark the Under 17 double, Blarney FC was also named as the Cork City and County Youth Award winners for April, with the team being presented with their award at a special function at the Metropole Hotel.