(This article appeared in the Southern Star edition Saturday April 7th - Author Ger McCarthy).
NEW WEST CORK MASTERS SEASON DRAWS NEAR
Another summer of West Cork Masters soccer is nearly upon us with Cloughduv set to defend their league title writes Ger McCarthy.
The opening meeting of the 2012 West Cork Masters soccer tournament took place in Rosscarbery last week with 11 clubs represented by attending delegates. Ardfield, Bunratty United, Castletown Celtic, Clonakilty AFC, Clonakilty Town, Cloughduv, Courtmacsherry, Drinagh Rangers, Dunmanway Town, Rosscarbery and Skibbereen are set to battle it out during the summer months for the West Cork Masters League, Cup and Shield trophies.
The West Cork Masters tournaments are held throughout the summer months for players over the age of 33 representing clubs from the West Cork region. Games are played under West Cork League rules and are one hour in duration (30 minutes a half) with interchangeable substitutes. Cloughduv won the 2011 League title sponsored by Pascal O’Brien’s Bar in Rosscarbery with striker Dermot Crowley winning the player of the year award and the golden boot for finishing top overall scorer. Dunmanway Town defeated Castletown Celtic 2-1 to win the Cup sponsored by Bernard Hayes Travel and Skibbereen overcame the challenge of Ardfield to lift the Shield trophy sponsored by Justin Crowley’s ‘A Cut Above’ salon.
Tournament organisers Noel O’Donovan and Diarmuid Keohane from the Ardfield AFC club are hoping to kick off the new league programme at the beginning of June, playing every Wednesday night throughout the summer apart from Wednesday June 14th when the Republic of Ireland face Spain in Euro 2012. A fixture list is currently being compiled and will be made available as soon as the deadline passes for club registrations. The draws for the opening rounds of the West Cork Masters Cup competition will be drawn prior to Ardfield’s first League game and published on the newly launched West Cork Masters (Over33’s) League Facebook page and website.
Details of suspensions were also discussed at last week’s get-together with three yellow cards resulting in a one match ban for the coming campaign. A straight red means a player will automatically have to sit out the next game regardless of whether the League Committee notifies his club or not. Should the red card be deemed a more serious offence by the match official then a further one game suspension may apply. Clubs will be advised of any such decisions by the League Committee and will have the right to appeal. It was agreed by all delegates present at the meeting that the verbal abuse to referees has to stop this season and the message of zero tolerance from the match officials will be made clear to every players, manager and club official. The point was made that the West Cork Masters wouldn't exist if we didn't have referees to officiate the fixtures so all verbal abuse needs to be stamped out as soon as possible.Another item discussed and agreed upon at the inaugural 2012 meeting was an amendment to the West Cork Masters players’ registration form. A new condition added to the top of the form will state that any player signing the registration form agrees to the League Committee being able to request a copy of identification i.e. Birth Cert, passport or Drivers License should a question mark arise about age eligibility. Failure to produce suitable identification having signed the agreement could result in the expulsion of that player’s club from the league.
* The final closing date for any clubs interested in entering a team in this summer’s West Cork Masters tournament(s) is Saturday April 21st. Please email Noel O’Donovan using the o33wcl@gmail.com email address as soon as possible to receive an entry form.
