Inside Track: Shamrock Rovers jerseys again worn in Bellurgan
Inside Track with Joe Carroll
Shamrock Rovers teams were back in Bellurgan recently. This time it was the famous Dublin club’s under-age squads, competing in the annual Peninsula Cup tournament, organised by the local United outfit.
The first Rovers side to play in the area was the League of Ireland side. Among those who wore the famed green-and-white hooped jersey that day was Jacko McDonagh, a solid centre-half who won three international caps with the Republic of Ireland in the 1980s.
Rovers were down for a pre-season friendly with a Dundalk/Bellurgan selection, the game taking place at the Station pitch, renowned over the years for its safe, natural sand-based sod. It’s still in use.
Jim McLaughlin was in charge of Rovers at the time, and specifically asked that the game take place in Bellurgan. More than that, he lined out, and when Rovers were awarded a penalty he stepped up to take it. He couldn’t, however, find a way past Tommy Tasker.
All the activity at the Peninsula Cup was at Flynn Park. Seventeen clubs, many of them based in Dublin, had teams entered in competitions for age groups from under-11 to under-14.
Rovers took the under-11, and there were also victories for Shelbourne (u-12 and 13), and Swords Celtic. The sponsoring club had two players-of-the-tournament, Alex McGovern (u-13), and Oisín Joyce (u-12). The two other awards went to Swords Celtic players, Ryan Donohoe (u-11) and Tadhg Brady (u-14).
Keep an eye on that quartet and others in action at Flynn Park, to see if the figure on senior teams one day.Running the day-long tournament is a huge undertaking for the promoting club. But as always, everything went smoothly, the dozens of games going ahead at the appointed times.
Bellurgan United have asked Inside Track to thank all coaches, referees and their own club members for making the day so successful. They also send best wishes to the Crumlin player who sustained an injury. Once again, local firm, ktf, provided valuable sponsorship.