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The season officially started in July as all three teams (1sts, 2nds and 3rds) began the period in every season all players hate the dreaded preseason. The club welcomed a new 1st team manager (Mick McBride) and assistant (Ger McCarty), and as the start of the season drew closer the lads enlarged their backroom staff by appointing assistants David Looney on the administration side and Joey Burke on the coaching side.
Damien "Jemo" Jameson and David 'Sammy' Ryan due to work and family commitments stepped back from 1st team duties and agreed to take on the 2nd team. The 3rd team was once again under the stewardship of Tony "TC" Carroll who is joined this season by a new assistant Aidan "Ryaner" Ryan who replaced the mullet.
This season saw some old faces return to Ashbourne United. With the disbanding of Coolquay Corinthians saw the return of Eoin Gaughan, Jason McCann, John Connolly and Kevin Cullen. From our neighbours in Garristown on bosman free signings saw Conal O'Rourke, Rory and Brian Rice (the De Boer twins of Ashbourne United), Wayne Cantwell and Owen "Snake" Andrews returned to the club after a few years away. We also saw the return of the McKeown brothers, the pain of watching Liverpool must have become too much to bear. The club also saw the return of the Mullen brothers (David and Paul) who played their junior years with the club.
The senior section also saw for the first time in over 10 years the return of an over 35's team playing under the club colours once again. This was the brainchild of Robbie Giles and some parents of junior players within the club. The over 35's also gave players who had played for the senior teams over the past 15 years a chance to prolong their playing careers. Ashbourne has in the past achieved success with their over 35's team lifting the Clifford Cup in the mid 1990's under the stewardship of Maurice Swinburne.
1st Team
The 1st team started the season playing on Friday nights under lights in the Rugby club but due to a management decision switched to Sunday mornings. The 1st team squad currently find themselves sitting nicely in mid table and with a number of games in hand on the top three or four the possibility of playing Premier A AUL football next season is there for the taking.
Also a super cup run has seen the 1sts currently awaiting a mouth watering Nivea Cup quarterfinal against Killester in mid to late April.
Also Ger McCarty has been recently called up to the Junior International team, which is both a great honour for himself and the club.
2ndTeam
The 2nd team got their Division 1A Saturday season off to an excellent start with a tough 5 - 2 win over Booth Road Celtic (which included a contender for goal of the season scored by the left full Colm Ward). Then the team hit a rough patch with a defeat to Mellows and two disappointing draws with Howth Celtic and Valley Park. The 2nd team unluckily drew Ballymun at home in the Elastoplast Cup, leading to a two nil defeat but a spirited display was given by the home team.
Two further defeats against Mountview at home and away to Palmerstown left the team wondering if the open attacking football that was being preached by the two gaffers and the numerous goal scoring chances created but not taken by the team would ever lead to the winning results that all expected and hoped for. Was the season that promised so much about to turn into a relegation fight?
Then facing the league leaders Usher (who were unbeaten in 8 games) away in Islandbridge the season turned. The Usher test followed a comfortable 6 to 0 win the previous week against St. Malachys/Edenmore. The 2nd team in their best performance of the season then put Usher to the sword in a comprehensive 4 nil win (Philly Simpson bagging a few) in the late autumn sun. This then lead to a role of excellent results away to Donnycarney, Trinity/Donaghmede and Booth Road Celtic.
After the win against St. Malachys/Edenmore the 2nds completed a 5 game unbeaten run, resulting in nineteen goals for and none against. The 5 clean sheets must nearly be a club record (made up of the 4 in a row achieved by David "Billy" Looney and the 5th achieved by Darren "Marci" Marcello in the last game against Booth Road Celtic).
Unfortunately the 2nds did not play since the middle of November and were hoping to continue the 5 game unbeaten run into December and beyond but the weather put a stop to that.
Since the turn of the year and due to working commitments and injuries the 2nds have had a mixed bag of results in 2010. An excellent win against St Pauls/Ards in the Paddy Cole cup was followed by a 2-1 defeat to Clifton Celtic in the next round. The seconds have however continued their push for promotion from division 1A Saturday and with over 95% of their remaining fixtures at home promotion is still a possibility.
3rd Team
With early unlucky defeats to Collinstown and Laden the 3rds similar to 2nds may have believed all their hard work in preseason was not paying off. However comprehensive wins against St Brendans (9 -1 win), St. John Bosco and Beach Park along with an 8-goal thriller against St. Brendans with both teams taking a point each, showed the squad had settled and was ready for the challenges ahead.
The 3rds had progressed nicely into the 3rd round of the Unidare Cup and 2nd round of the Frank Roe Cup (a cup which TC has successfully won as both a player and manager in his 20 + years with the club) before the Christmas break. By Christmas the 3rds had also progressed through the early rounds of the Leinster Junior Shield but unfortunately on a foggy Saturday were knocked out in their first game of 2010.
Similar to the 2nds and since the turn of the year with working commitments and injuries the 3rds have had a mixed bag of results in 2010. A loss in the quarter final of the Frank Roe Cup however has been erased by the team reaching the semi finals of the Unidare Cup. The 3rds sit nicely in the league table and with games in hand could find themselves similar to the 1sts and 2nds with a promotion by the season end.
Christmas Party
The 2nds and 3rds celebrated the end of a successful 7-week period on December 12th by celebrating a joint Xmas party. With the commencement of the party in Kelly's around 16 squad members from both teams made their way into Thunderroad for a few liquid refreshments and snacks (the players wish to thank the management of Thunderroad for their hospitality).
After leaving Thunderroad (forgetting a few things before they left) the players enjoyed a few hours betting on the dogs in Shelbourne Park before clubbing the night away.
Dancing with Ice
Due to the cold and wet weather we all have suffered from November to March a couple of spin classes were organised for members of both the 2nd and 3rd team squads during the early months of 2010. The spin classes were situated in the new sports complex in Dublin City University and tutored by a member of the Bohs coaching staff.
The classes lasted about 60 minutes, with some players unable to sit for days afterwards. The players then gained access to the ice baths, sauna, steam room and pool. Bretser lead the way by putting head and all into the ice baths.
The session is highly recommended and hopefully can be utilised again next season. Some of the younger players also learned that Kid Rock just does not sing about "Listening to Sweet Home Alabama, All Summer Long".
Race night
After Paddy's day the senior section ran a race night in Kelly's. The night was enjoyed by all with the final race seeing some interesting bidding for horses. The club wish to thank Kelly's for their hospitality during the night.
Conclusion
As the business end of the season approaches we wish management and players all the best in the remaining 6 weeks or so, and who knows how the season will end but as my friend Robert Zimmermann says, "the answer my friend is blowing in the wind".
Like all football clubs and as fast as 'arry can wheel and deal this season may mark the end of the game for some managers and players, to these we say thanks and best of luck.
However for the remaining crew the 6 - 8 week break between May and June, watching the World Cup will bring a new longing for season 2010/11.