Current Clonakilty AFC centre-back Nick Harrison's old club, Abacus Media A.F.C. travelled from England to Clonakilty last weekend to play a Summer friendly against the AFC. Abacus were founded originally in 1997 by Michael Regan, and were originally named The Whitegate A.F.C. and played its football in the South East Lancashire Football League until 2003, when unfortunately the League ceased to exist. Abacus Media was subsequently formed and 'The Media’ entered the Lancashire and Cheshire League and in the following season expanded to 2 teams. The club went from strength to strength under the leadership of (the late) John Rees who helped the club obtain Adult FA Charter Standard status (continuing to retain this status from 2008 for another 3 years), John unfortunately passed away in late 2006 and is sadly missed by all members and friends of the club. The first team currently ply their trade in the Premier League while the 2nd team play in Division B in the Lancashire and Cheshire League. The visiting squad to Clonakilty last weekend was made up of 19 1st & 2nd team players. The first team finished 4th in what is an extremely competitive Premier Division, only 2 steps away from semi-professional football. Abacus Media arrived in Clonakilty on a fine run of form, unbeaten in their last 8 competitive games.

There was a lively opening to proceedings with both sides intent on attacking at the earliest opportunity. Clon enjoyed the brighter start and capitalised on their early possession when Martin White netted after 20 minutes with a great finish to put the hosts 1-0 ahead. Abacus responded well and forced Clon keeper' Padi Horan into a succession of excellent saves. The pressure eventually told on an overworked AFC defence when the visitors deservedly equalised shortly before half time to leave the sides level going into the break.

Clon thought they had regained the lead shortly after the restart but Martin White was denied a certain goal by a world class save from Media's goalkeeper. Abacus went 2-1 ahead five minutes into the second half with a well taken effort and looked set for victory. Noel Jordan had other ideas and the AFC striker scored an absolute stunner, curling his effort into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out to tie the game for a second time. Abacus were not to be denied however and scored the winner with 5 minutes to go after some poor Clon defending. Final Score: Clonakilty AFC 2 Abacus Media AFC 3.

Clon AFC: Padraig Horan, Micheal Griffin, Ian O'Driscoll, Nick Harrison, Aidan Pendlebury, Daniel Herod, Michal Ardelli, Donal O'Donoghue, Liam Anthony White, Martin White, Piotr Stankiewicz, David Gilbert, Chris Connors, Conal O'Donovan, Eoin O'Donoghue, Noel Jordan and Mike Sullivan.

Clonakilty AFC held Skibbereen to a 3-3 draw to clinch the SuperValu West Cork Schoolboys under-12 League title for 2007-08 in the Baltimore Road recently.

The under-12 league decider kicked off before an expectant crowd with Clon working hard at closing down the Skibb midfield. Skibb were forced to defend their 18 yard box in a dominant opening period for the visitors but Clon failed to make an impression in the final third. Skibb took advantage in the 8th minute in the home side’s first attack. The home side were awarded a penalty when Stephen McCarthy was brought down in the box. Sean Deasy took responsibility and put the hosts 1-0 ahead with a confident strike.

The visitors forced a succession of corners but defenders Felix Millar and Cillian Newman stood firm. Clon were rewarded for their attacking efforts in the 12th minute when Jack Cowhig was on the end of a flowing move, netting from 10 yards with a sweet left foot strike. The visitors were almost caught out by a quick Skibb counter-attack in the 18th minute but Stephen McCarthy was denied by a superb Niall McCarthy stop. Skibbereen continued to look dangerous on the break and Stephen McCarthy sprung the offside trap in the 25th minute. The striker made no mistake with a cool finish despite the close attention of two Clon defenders. The same player almost made it 3-1 right on half time but yet another Niall McCarthy stop kept his side in the game. A couple of surging runs from the excellent Jack O'Mahony brought Clon back into the game but a breathtaking opening 30 minutes concluded with Skibb 2-1 ahead.

Owen Collins had the first effort of the second period only to find the side-netting from an acute angle. Eoin Ryan tested Idriss Rqibi with a long range effort in the 35th minute but didn't have long to wait for a deserved equaliser. Ryan produced a moment of magic in the Skibbereen penalty area to net a real goal-poachers effort to tie an enthralling encounter at 2-2. Clon were guilty of losing concentration at the vital moment and Skibb re-took the lead within 60 seconds. Sean Deasy's free kick from just inside the Clon half was allowed to bounce all the way into the goal for a bizarre effort. 3-2 to Skibb and the hosts had one hand on the title.

The excitement reached fever pitch with the sixth goal of an extraordinary game. Jack Cowhig curled a free-kick into the top corner to tie the game at 3-3 and hand the advantage back to Clon. Skibb had little choice but to go for broke and pushed everyone forward in search of a winner. Owen Collins had an effort correctly ruled out for offside and Clon twice cleared off the line in frantic close to the game. Sean Deasy curled a fabulous effort just wide but AFC held out for the draw and the SuperValu under-12 League title.

SuperValu Man of the Match: Jack O’Mahony of Clonakilty AFC.

Skibbereen: Idris Rqibi, Colm Fitzgerald, Dan McCarthy, Felix Millar, Cillian Newman, Darragh Cahalane, Alan Crowley, Sean Deasy (Captain), Owen Collins, Stephen McCarthy, Darragh Casey, Sean O'Donovan, Eric Hilmer, Stephen Hourihane, Darren White and Adrian Crostan.

Clonakilty AFC: Niall McCarthy, Alan Creedon, Cian Crowley (Captain), Robert McCarthy, Jack Cullinane, Jack O'Mahony, Josh Henry, Cian O'Callaghan, Brian Chan, Jack Cowhig, Eoin Ryan, Paul Harte, Peter O'Regan, David Daly and Alex Gibbons.

Referee: Michael Daly (WCSL)

An outstanding extra time winner from Noel Jordan sent Clonakilty AFC through to their first Beamish Cup final in twelve years following a memorable 2-1 Semi Final victory over Dunmanway Town in Baltimore Road, Skibbereen. Clon were made to work hard for their victory by a dogged Dunmanway side after 90 minutes of an absorbing Beamish Cup tie failed to separate two evenly matched sides. Martin White broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when the Clon Captain timed his run to perfection to expertly slot the ball past a stranded goalkeeper and give Clonakilty a 1-0 lead. Dunmanway equalised in the 68th minute. Stephen O’Donovan unleashed a rocket into the bottom corner for a terrific individual effort. Dunmanway were reduced to ten men shortly before full time but the tie finished 1-1. The pressure finally told on an overworked Dunmanway defence when Martin White released Noel Jordan on the stroke of half time in extra time. The Clon striker looked to have overrun the ball but somehow managed to re-adjust his position and arrow a sublime shot past Vincent Healy for 2-1 Afc lead they would not relinquish. Clonakilty AFC had to withstand some anxious moments in the final minutes of extra time as Dunmanway threw everyone forward in an attempt to equalise until the final whistle eventually sounded and signalled a fabulous triumph for the Clon side.

Clonakilty AFC: Padraig Horan, Donal O'Donoghue, Eoin O'Donoghue, Ian O'Driscoll, Shane Buttimer, Liam Anthony White, Michal Ardelli, Daniel Herod, Martin White, Noel Jordan, Jonathan Hunt, Colin Lynch, Aidan Pendlebury, Joe Hennessy, Mike Sullivan, Micheal Griffin and Conal O'Donovan.

All roads lead back to Skibbereen now for a mouth-watering Beamish Cup final clash with Bunratty United on Easter Sunday.

Ger McCarthy.

* DRAWS AND DATES FOR THE ASTRO FLAMES CUP AND SHIELD COMPETITION NOW UPDATED!!!!

Tuesday 26/02/2008

Wednesday 27/02/2008

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* CLON AFC THROUGH TO LAST 8 OF BEAMISH CUP
Clonakilty AFC qualified for the quarter finals of the Beamish Cup with a hard fought 4-2 victory at home to Bay Rovers in Inchydoney last Sunday. The Premier division outfit were pushed all the way by a dogged Rovers performance. Two goals in either half were enough to see Clonakilty deservedly into the last eight of the prestigious competition with Noel Jordan and Aidan Pendlebury netting in the first half and Martin White and Daniel Herod after the break.

Clonakilty AFC: Padraig Horan, Eoin O'Donoghue, Ian O'Driscoll, Nick Harrison, Donal O'Donoghue, Shane Buttimer, Liam Anthony White, Michal Ardelli, Aidan Pendlebury, Martin White (Captain), Noel Jordan, Colin Lynch, Declan Murphy, Daniel Herod, Piotr Stankiewicz, Mike Sullivan and Conal O'Donovan.



* AFC DRAW DRINAGH RANGERS IN QUARTER FINALS
Clonakilty AFC’s reward for reaching the last eight is a daunting away trip to Cannon Crowley Park to face the current Beamish Cup holders, Drinagh Rangers. Date for this fixture is still to be decided:

Full Beamish Cup Quarter Final Draw:

Bunratty United vs. Castletown Celtic
Dunmanway Town vs. Leeside
Drinagh Rangers vs. Clonakilty AFC
Ballydehob vs. Castlelack


* CLONAKILTY AFC YOUTHS IN ACTION OVER THE WEEKEND
The Clonakilty AFC Under12s have gone three points clear at the top of SuperValu U12 Group1 thanks to a hard fought 3-1 victory at home to Leeside. Eoin Ryan scored all three Clonakilty goals with a fine individual hat trick. Sean Quinn grabbed a late consolation for Leeside who put in a superb display despite the defeat.

Leeside Under16's travelled to Ballyvackey and knocked Clonakilty AFC out of the U16 Cup on Saturday. Goals from Sean O'Leary, Cian Dineen, Kevin Manning and David Hourihane earned the Inchigeela side a place in the semi finals. Conor McKahey and Eoin Feen responded for Clonakilty AFC.

Clonakilty AFC Under16's: Michael Santry, Colin O'Flynn, Barry O'Hea, Garrett Lombard, Alan O'Sullivan, Eoin Feen, Kevin O'Neill, Chris O'Donovan, John O'Sullivan, Conor McKahey, Cillian McCaffrey and Terry O'Donovan.

Announcing details for the 2007 / 2008
Clonakilty AFC - Floodlit Astro Flames League.

Clonakilty AFC is now taking entries for it’s annual Floodlit Astro Flames League competition for 2007-08.
This year's Astro Flames tournament will be run as a 7-a-side competition with a maximum of 10 players per squad.
All games will be played in the Clonakilty Sport Complex and the closing date for Team entries is Tuesday the 13th November 2007.

Visit the Official Clonakilty AFC web site - Astro Flames Section - over the coming days for additional information .

Contact the Astro Flames Competition Administrator
on (087)7810564 with any queries.