The Castleisland AFC B team will take on Killorglin A in the Domino’s Pizza Reserve Cup Final on this Saturday, July 14th at Mounthawk Park, Tralee and the kick-off is set for 7.30pm.
The club is appealing for support for the Castleisland lads as they attempt to add to the impressive list of titles won on these ground in recent years.
Premier B Celebrations
This time last season the B team were celebrating clinching the Premier B title after beating Mastergeeha 2-0 in the decider at Mounthawk Park. The current rules in the Kerry league meant the team could not be promoted to the top level ‘Premier A’ as the club could not have two teams playing in the one division.
Big Changes
This led to big changes amongst the B team as Manager Dan Maunsell moved up to take over the A team taking with him some of the key members of the successful B squad who deserved their shot at playing in Premier A.
The B team was taken over by the new management team of Martin ‘Mazza’ Moriarty and Neil O’Sullivan who went about building a new squad made up of a few old reliables and some exciting young talent coming from the underage set up with the aim of keeping the team in Premier B.
Very Solid Season
The boys had a very solid season in Premier B finishing in fourth position and now have a chance to bring yet another piece of silverware back to the Island.
The cup run has seen the squad playing some of the best soccer they have played all season and they now have a settled look about them.
Kevin Moran has returned to the squad and has been excellent in goal throughout. The defensive unit has improved as the season has gone on with Ger Byrne and Dylan Curtin forming a good partnership at centre back.
Pa’s New Lease of Life
They have been joined by solid wing backs, Evan O Brien, Niall Barret and old timer Patrick O’Rourke who has found a new lease of life at left back.
Shane O’Loughlin has defied the laws of aging and has produced another stellar season in the centre of midfield, covering every blade of grass in Kerry.
Sean O’Donoghue has returned to the playing field after a few years out and has added the creative spark the team was lacking.
Energy and Enthusiasm
On the wings players such as Matthew Browne, Eamon McLoughlin and Ethan O’Connor have been in fine form, showing great energy and enthusiasm which has been very evident in this cup run.
Up front Danny Feehan and Ben Cooney have formed a lethal partnership scoring 15 goals in four games between them. Other players such as: Damien Feehan, Danny Browne, Josh Horan, Paraic O’ Connor, Tim O’Donoghue, Darren Maunsel and Mikey Broderick have all played important parts during the cup run.
In as Underdogs
Castleisland will go into the game as underdogs coming up against a Killorglin side which has a lot of experience playing at the top level of Kerry soccer but over recent years the underdog tag has worked out well for the men from the Island.
A win for Castleisland would no doubt bring a smile to the face of the late, great Georgie O’Callaghan who will be watching with great interest from above.
We hope to see a big crowd in Tralee to support the boys as it will be a first senior final appearance for many in the squad.
Good luck boys – Give it a lash.
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