Weather

News in Brief

	2-0 victory for SenAs away to Douglas Hall sets them up for the final of the Keane Cup. The SenAs will come up against St Mary's  who were comprehensive winners at home to Mallow. The final will take place on Friday Dec 12th in Turner's Cross. KO at 7:30pm.
	SenAs will face Dublin Bus AFC in the 3rd round of the FAI Intermediate Cup. KO at 2pm on O'Shea Park on Sunday, Dec 7th.
	U12As lose 2-1 away to Leeds
	U12Bs lose out 2-0 at home to Rockmount
	U13s lose 2-1 in challenge game to 2nd division Buttevant
	U14Bs draw 2-2 away to Rockmount
	U11As game off because of frozen pitch

2009 Coach Education Plan

The updated 2009 coaching plan has been released by the FAI. Click here for details of what courses are available in / around Cork

A CALL TO ARMS - Go On Blarney.. Make Some Noise

Less that 4 years ago, Blarney had never had a schoolboy team playing consistently at a premier level. This week, for the first time in its history, 4 of Blarney United's 7 schoolboy teams are in the top 3 of their respective leagues. Two of the premier teams currently occupy 1st position, a great achievement which bodes well for the future. Whilst winning at an underage level is far from being the most important success criteria for our club, it is nevertheless a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the players, the coaches and the parents involved.

Though our Youths may not as yet have produced the results they hoped for, they have produced and are continuing to develop some outstanding talent who are already knocking on the door of the adult teams. This is a core objective of any Youth team and Blarney's achievements over the past couple of years have been simply outstanding.

Our adult teams are developing apace. At Junior Premier Level, we are currently lying mid table and the cup form has been very impressive. For instance, this Friday night they will be hosting Corinthians in the Semi Final of the Junior Cup. That game kicks off at 8:15. The Juniors are also involved in the FAI Junior Cup and have had 3 players representing the MSL in the Oscar Traynor cup. Not a bad achievement for a team that were only promoted to the premier division at the start of last season.

Blarney's Intermediate team are also in the running. Finishing 4th in their 1st two years of the Senior Premier Division, this year they will be looking to improve. Currently lying in 2nd place, the "normal" big guns are obviously still in the reckoning.  This year though a maturing Douglas Hall will be hoping to create a bit of a stir. A resurgent UCC and, this year's new re - arrivals, St Mary's, are certainly looking to break into the top gun school as well, so it  should be interesting over the next couple of months. The Intermediate team are also through to the open draw of the FAI Intermediate Cup, this year drawing Dublin Bus at home on the weekend of Dec 7th. Who knows where that might end.... dare we hope! The intermediates are also fairing well in local cups. They will meet Douglas Hall in the Semi Finals of the Keane cup which may well act as a barometer for their league form. 

When you sit back and think...

	decent enough performance on the pitch
	a vibrant boys academy
	a blossoming girls academy (every Friday evening from 5 to 6:30)
	first class facilities

Not bad eh?

The success on the field is most likely a direct reflection of Blarney's commitment to coach education. The quality and type of football of each team, from adult through to underage, is being influenced by the coaching programs that were put in place 6 years ago. Each team (adult through academy) has at least one FAI - qualified coach involved. By way of furthering that process, there will be an FAI KS2 course on the last weekend of November. Give Don a shout if you are ready for the next step up.

Without a doubt the courage and enthusiasm of the club's various sub-committees are helping to lead us in the right direction. These sub committees focus on specific areas (E.G. facilities, football development, finance, social, PR, etc). If you believe that you can contribute in some small way to the ongoing success then please do not wait to be asked. Approach one of the committee, give them your contact details and let them know how you think you could help.

Two groups that we would specifically like to encourage are women and newly arrived ethnic groups. There are many legitimate reasons however the simple fact is that too many clubs have too few women involved. Maybe you could suggest a way in which women can feel more welcome. Blarney has experienced an explosion in ethnic diversity, but our club does not reflect that diversity. Young vibrant and hard working New Arrivals work in the shops, offices and other businesses around Blarney and Tower. Whether you are from Poland or Pouladuff, from Latvia or Little Island, from Nigeria or the North Side, we want you to feel that The World Game can help to accelerate your integration and reduce your separation anxiety.

So this little editorial is a call to arms. Sure we are enjoying some fabulous success currently and for it to continue, we must work as a community to ensure that that success is enjoyed long into the future.

Blarney United Girls Football Academy:

Last season the club started off football training for girls culminating in a very successful soccer sisters programme run under the auspices of the FAI. This year, the club sought to carry on the good work and have already had 8 training sessions for our Girls Football Academy.

There are over 30 players currently registered with the Girl’s Academy with ages ranging from age 7 up to 12 years. While the majority of these players trained with the club or participated in the soccer sisters’ programme, Blarney United has also managed to bring in some new recruits and is now actively looking for more.

The Girls Academy trains once a week for 1.5 hours every Friday from 5.00 to 6.30 pm on our FIFA – approved, all - weather pitch. These are the same facilities that the FAI now uses every Monday night as part of their emerging talent programme.

As a club we are anxious to continue to promote football for all and with that in mind to continue to develop girls’ / women’s football. We have already seen these players display some very high levels of skill and enthusiasm which bodes well for the future.

The club is also actively keeping in contact with FAI to help forge links with other clubs and to look at assisting the club in carrying out further Soccer Sisters Programmes.

Overall there are very few Girls / Ladies Football teams / clubs located on the north side of Cork City so the Blarney United Girls’ Academy is seen as a very positive development for the game. While Blarney is in the county, it’s located less than 7 miles from the city itself. Therefore its location makes it very accessible for all players from the surrounding Blarney, Tower, Whitechurch, Cloghroe, Kerrypike, Grenagh, Donoughmore, and Inniscarra areas as well as the city itself. So why not come to training on Fridays from 5.00 to 6.30 pm and join in the fun. New members are very welcome.  

OCT 2008: 2007/08 - Schoolboy Awards

Congratulations to all of the winners of Schoolboy awards.

Player of the Year: Kieran Murray (U14s)

Goalkeeper of the Year: Luke Conroy (U11s)

Golden Boot: Jason O'Keeffe (U14s)

Click here for details

July - FAI Summer Soccer Camp

The 5th FAI Summer Soccer School held in Blarney took place in July and this year was a massive success. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all of the children who attended. Their behaviour and good humour, during a long week, was brilliant and the respect shown to coaches, facilities and other players was a credit to them and their families. We were blessed with fine weather for the week and I think it fair to say that all of the children benefited from the football whilst the families benefited from their tiredness at the end of every day. Most just can't wait now for the start of next season. Click here for more details and pictures.