Bridge United review successful year

Following a very successful season, the annual general meeting of Bridge United took place last Wednesday to plan for the fast-approaching 2013-14 season.

The main talking point from the AGM was the focus on fundraising and the plans to develop the grounds as well as plans to build a clubhouse. The clubhouse plans are currently being reviewed with the intention to submit revised plans for approval in the near future. Chairman Finbarr Toomey expressed huge disappointment at being overlooked in this year’s Sports Capital Grant process.

There were many tributes paid to all involved in last season’s successes.

Club secretary, Mark Egan congratulated the A Team, U-17 U-19 management and players on their league title wins. Special mention was made of the U-19 squad, who became the first team at any level in the club’s history to complete a league and cup double.

Mark Egan also congratulated the B team management of Ian Fawl and Mikey Whyte for completing what turned out to be a very difficult season, ending in relegation. They fulfilled every fixture and avoided any fines or suspensions for the club.

Special thanks was also given to Trevor Noonan as registrar, who ensured every player had completed registration and were fully paid up members before kicking a ball.

The election of officers and team management ran off smoothly. Finbar Toomey, Mark Egan and Jonathan Downes will continue in their roles as chairman, secretary and treasurer respectively. Long-serving clubman, Christy Murphy was elected to the role of vice-chairman, with Johnny Hayes and Michelle Toomey filling the remaining assistant roles. Barry Downes continues as PRO, Trevor Noonan as registrar and Mikey Whyte as club president. Tina Downes was elected as assistant registrar and Mikey Maxwell will head up the fundraising committee.  Eoghan McNulty, Darragh Fitzgerald and Johnny Hayes were elected as Clare League delegates.

Greg Deegan, Albert Finnan and Sean Fitzgerald continue as the management team for the A team with Ian Fawl, Mikey Whyte and Darren Gavin given the role of guiding the B team back to the second Division.
Eoghan McNulty and Trevor Noonan will continue in their positions as management of the U-17/19 teams.

Preparations ­underway
Preparations for the new season are underway, with training taking place Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The A team welcomed Limerick Premier League champions Carew Park to Sixmilebridge last Saturday and although defeated 2-3, the management will be delighted they were able to give more than 20 players a run-out. John Keogh and Christy Griffin scored for the home side. The teams will play a reverse fixture in the coming weeks. The team travel to play Coonagh Utd from the Limerick League on Sunday morning.

The youths side travelled to Cals in Limerick on Saturday evening, where they had a convincing 5-0 win.
Any player interested in playing should contact Mark Egan on 086 8039059 for further details.

Hugh Kelly ­Memorial final
Bridge United will host the final of the Hugh Kelly Memorial Tournament on Friday evening.

Hugh was a former Derry City player and led Clare to its first Oscar Traynor Trophy in 2004. He managed Bridge United on two occasions, leading them to the last 16 of the FAI Cup in 2001.

Club fixtures
Bridge United friendlies for their A and B sides v Leeside Celtic (Cork) and Newmarket Celtic respectively were postponed at the weekend.

This week, the A team will be contesting the Hugh Kelly Tournament while the B team will travel to Bunratty Cratloe for a friendly on Friday evening.

In the opening round of the Premier Division League Cup on Wednesday next. Bridge United will entertain Tulla United A while on Friday Bridge United will have a home League Cup tie against Lifford B and both will kick-off at 6.45pm.

Meanwhile, the U-13 side defeated Sporting Ennistymon in the Clare Cup at the weekend 6-1. Scorers on the day were Jordan Downes (3), Jack Corry (2) and Jamie Hoffman.

Eric Greene ­Tournament

The Eric Greene Memorial Tournament takes place at Bridge United grounds in Sixmilebridge this Saturday. Eric, who was resident in Germany, played with the club in the early 80s and was acknowledged by many as one of the best players to wear the club colours.

He will always be remembered for scoring the winning penalty in the 1984 cup final, a campaign in which he had scored in every round along the way. The club are delighted to welcome Eric’s family home for the weekend.

The eight-team U-9 tournament involving two teams from the club, Park United, Avenue Utd, Newmarket Celtic, Shelbourne FC, Shannon Town and Shannon Hibernians will kick off at 12 noon.

The teams will be split into two groups, with the winners and runners-up from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

The winners of the competition will be presented with the Eric Greene Memorial Cup.

Kickers grace Thomond Park
Bridge United Kickers were guests at Thomond Park last Friday night as ballboys/girls for the League of Ireland Premier game between Limerick FC and UCD.

The players also got to play a game during the interval.