YOUGHAL UNITED AFC are currently running a draw that is offering the chance for two people to watch Barcelona FC play at their famous ground, the Nou Camp. Tickets for this very exciting prize are now on sale from players and committee members. The prizewinning ticket includes two match tickets, flights and two nights accommodation.

Committee member, Michael Twomey said the draw will attract a lot of attention because of the prize. “We (the club) looked at various options and we are delighted to have settled on this prize. We wanted something that would be attractive to everyone. You don’t have to be a football fan to want to visit the Nou Camp, it is one of the great sporting arenas in the world and Barcelona is a wonderful city and certainly, you don’t even have to be a football fan to enjoy the experience of watching Barcelona FC play at their own stadium.

They are now recognised as one of the greatest footballing sides in the history of the game and the opportunity to see them is not one to pass up. No matter what sport you like or are involved in, everyone enjoys seeing the very best perform from their chosen discipline. Of course, there is the added bonus of the warm climate not to mention that you can be guaranteed a great atmosphere because the Spanish title race will be coming to its conclusion and the match is bound to be very significant, it could even be the title winning game!”  The draw will take place at the Ardrath clubhouse on Tuesday May 3rd at 8pm. “Tickets are 5 euro each or 20 euro for a book of 5. That represents terrific value for a prize worth 1,000 euro. The winner can choose which match to go to. Michael added.

Despite tough financial times, Michael is expecting a positive response to the draw. “These are tough times, for everyone, but what you can always rely on, and even more so in this current climate, is what sporting clubs, and by that I mean all the clubs, can offer to people and especially young people. We have fantastic facilities, some of the best in the county and we know it was the people of Youghal and past committees that put them there. The large academy and youth teams that enjoy these facilities today will be the ones who go on to support the town’s sporting clubs in the future. Youghal clubs will always rely on the support of the people and in return the clubs can offer something vital, healthy, and life-affirming to future generations. We all want the same thing. We believe the trip to Barcelona is a great reward for the support we will receive from a town that has never been slow to support all its clubs.”

IN A spectacular display of pure raw courage, guts and determination in searing heat conditions of over 21 degrees Celsius, Youghal United AFC will enter the halls of history after beating the Guinness Book of Records for a ‘Continuous game of 5-A Side Soccer’ at Ardrath Park over the June Bank Holiday Weekend.
By Derek Kiely | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The official record did stand at 27 hours and 15 mins and as Youghal United started on their quest at 9.02am on Saturday the 5th of June they had beaten that record at 12.20pm on Sunday the 6th of June, where no less than 752 goal had been scored at that point in time, but the Youghal lads continued on their target of 33 hours plus which the incredibly achieved at 6.32pm on Sunday evening scoring 946 goals in total.

The concept of the whole event of trying to break the record came about in September 2009, when ideas were needed to raise funds for Youghal United’s Soccer Academy and money to support underage School Boy’s and School Girl teams.

The Original committee of Emmett Perry, Kevin ‘Jock’ Gallogley, Brian Wade, Finbar Walsh and Pierce Hennessy got the ball rolling on the record attempt and in just nine months the dream was achieved.

Emmett Perry said “It has been a long road, but the support we have received has been brilliant. Local sponsors like Farrell’s, Bertie’s, T & M Fitzgerald and the Quality Hotel Youghal has been great and the work by everyone involved in the attempt has been nothing short of miraculous”.

The rules governing a Guinness Book of Records attempt are very strict.

1. Only 16 players allowed in total.
2. An official referee has to be in control of the game at all times.
3. Every kick has to be recorded by Video, for proof of timing.
4. The game has to be played at a respectable pace and no time wasting is accepted.

All of the above were adhered to impeccably and Youghal United AFC must be congratulated for the way the venue was set up over the weekend.

The players were encamped in a special section of the ground visible to all and hundreds of people at some stage of the attempt either during the morning, afternoon, evening or during the night to support the lads.

Along with the obvious centre-piece of the Guinness Book of Record attempt, the Youghal United club also invited all the other sporting associations in the area to come along and set up stands displaying their sports, making the whole event a real community effort.

Perry said “The players are real heroes in my opinion, they have literally given everything they have for this attempt I can’t thank them enough. At 5 am on Sunday morning the will power was tested to the limit, it was cold, wet and fatigue was a huge issue, but they dug deep and showed unbelievable heart to keep going”.

The players who made this piece of Youghal sporting history are:

Patrick Morrissey, Christophe Colin, Kevin Gallogley, Barry Goggin, Diarmuid Schuel, David O’Keefe, Mike Lyons, Aidan Ryan, David Kenneally, Peter Geary, Leon Geary, Martin Cohen, Pierce Hennessy, Anthony Kelly, Gavin O’Leary and Stuart Hickey.

These 16 players will be admired and revered for many years to come after such an astonishing achievement.

Perry finished by saying “The support we have received is brilliant and we silenced the doubters who said we couldn’t do it and I must thank the referees, Eddie Foley, Ken Hennessy, Seamus Landers, Paul and Kieran Griffin, David Coleman and Ed McNally.

There are so many people we want to thank who gave their time up for this event and we would really like to thank Ken Dempsey who gave us all the Exercise and Nutritional advice we need throughout”.

Youghal United will now go into the history books for an amazing 33 ½ hour record for a continuous 5 A Side soccer match. Congratulations, it will take some effort to beat this one.
Click on image to enlarge – More photos to follow in later post – All Photos: www.youghalonline.com

Youghal United AFC will this June attempt to do something no other Irish football club has ever done, break the Guinness Book of Records 5-a-side record which currently stands at 27 hours and 15 mins Photo: Michael Hussey YoughalOnline.com

Youghal’s June Bank Holiday weekend will be filled with the sounds of soccer at Youghal United’s home ground ‘Ardrath Park’ where sixteen brave souls will attempt to break the current Guinness World Record for a 5-A-Side soccer match.

Youghal United Schoolboys/girls and Academies will benefit from funds raised during this gruelling challenge. The current record stands at 27 hours and 15 minutes and is held by two teams from Surrey County Council in England.

The day to day running costs such of a soccer club as everyone knows is significant with cost such as transport, equipment, maintenance amongst many other costs during the season.

So with great passion the powers that be at Youghal United AFC will use this mammoth challenge as an opportunity to seek sponsorship and raise as much funds as possible during this unique record breaking attempt.

This particular challenge is known throughout the World and prior to Youghal United’s attempt, Liverpool and England International soccer star Jamie Carragher is also attempting to break the current record, which could even set a tougher task for the Youghal men.

Youghal United Promotion Committee member Jock Gallogley said “To promote this key event we will have a fun filled family day to run in conjunction with the challenge. We believe that this challenge will carry very strong media interest, after all it is the first time an Irish club has ever attempted to break this record. We are seeking sponsorship from local and national organisations to help us fund this challenge, all support would be really appreciated. This opportunity will offer a great platform for advertising and branding for those sponsors”.

If you want to take part in sporting history and raise money for a great cause

Please contact Kevin Gallogley 087 2750855 / Emmett Perry  087 2835286 or email record@youghalunited.com

The annual Youghal United awards night took place at the Mall Arts Centre, Youghal, on Friday, January 29th to honour the top boys and girls of the 2008/2009 season. Chairman Sammy Revins kicked-off the evening by noting the many achievements that made last season one of the best in the club’s recent history. Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com

08/09 Club Honours

Munster Senior League Beamish Cup Winners
Munster Senior League “Fair Play” Award Winners
U16 Cork Schoolgirls League Champions
U7 Boys Clashmore Tournament Winners
St. Patrick’s Day Parade “Best Club Display” Winners

Without further ado, Sammy turned over proceedings to the coaches, who gave out the following awards:

U11 Boys
Coach Christophe Colin
Most Improved Player — Kenneth Cantillon
Players’ Player — Darren O’Connor
Player of the Year — Andy Semple

Note: In a truly touching gesture, Christophe apologized for Thierry Henry’s handball. While unnecessary, it was much appreciated.

U12 Girls
Coach Michael Twomey
Most Improved Player — Holly Rose Twomey
Players’ Player — Rachel Galvin
Player of the Year — Rachel Galvin

U12 Boys
Coach Jamie Daly
Most Improved Player — Tommy Kenefick
Players’ Player — Eric Murphy
Player of the Year — Leonard O’Flynn

U13 Boys
Coach Finbarr Walsh
Most Improved Player — Dylan Mason
Players’ Player — Cian Daly
Player of the Year — Colin Keenaghan

U14 Girls
Coach Dick Sheehan
Most Improved Player — Molly Schofield
Players’ Player — Jessica Lawton
Player of the Year — Biane Roche

U14 Boys
Coaches Gavin O’Leary, Kevin Gallogley
Most Improved Player — Steven Sheehan
Players’ Player — Dale O’Donohue
Player of the Year — David O’Mahoney

U16 Girls
Coach Dick Sheehan
Most Improved Player — Shannon Crowley
Players’ Player — Aisling Coleman
Player of the Year — Kate Sheehan

U16 Boys
Coach Chris Walsh
Most Improved Player — Kevin Flavin
Players’ Player — Alan Keniry
Player of the Year — Jason O’Neill

Awards where then given to players who represented Youghal United by playing for Cork and Munster sides.

U17 Cork Team — Rose Sheehan
Cork Umbro Cup Team — Kirsty Mason, Aisling Coleman, Kate Sheehan (Captain)
Munster Gaylor Cup Team — Kate Sheehan, Lisa O’Sullivan
U12 Cork Team — Rachel Galvin, Katie Manning

Click on image to enlarge: Photo copyright to www.youghalonline.com

By Anthony Horgan & Eugene Crotty

Ladies football team players Aisling Coleman and Jessica Lawton

The clubs AGM was held recently at the Walter Raleigh Hotel and it proved to be one of the better AGM’s in recent times. As the club was very short on bodies committee wise, the club was struggling with the day to day operation and effectively running at a loss. Letters were sent out to past members and players to try and get them back involved again and the response I have to say was excellent. The meeting was chaired by Damien O’Brien in Billy Cotters absence and each officer gave their report on the situation of the Read more

By Anthony Horgan | Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

John O’Flynn Cork City FC and Billy Cotter Chairman Youghal United with committee members

The Annual Youghal United A.F.C. Schoolboys and Girls Awards night took place at the Mall Arts Centre. Guest of honour was Cork City’s striker John O’Flynn where he presented teams and individual’s with their awards. He congratulated the teams for their success during the season and also the boys and girls who represented the Read more

By Anthony Horgan | Photo Michael Hussey (Youghalonline.com)

The U-13 Division 4 Schoolboy League Champions 2008 with coaches Tommy Coleman and Kevin Gallogley

CIT 1 – 2 Youghal United
We also had another game in between all the playoff ones when we travelled to CIT for a Beamish cup tie. This was not a spectacular game but we came away with a win and into the quarter finals. We were drawn at home against premier division side Douglas Hall who sit in third position in their league. This is a game we are all looking forward to and a Read more

By Anthony Horgan

Youghal Utd 3 – Lakewood 0

Back Row: Liam Ryan, Mick Durkin, Sean Kenneally, Mark Hennessey, Brett Maloney, Jamie Clarkin, Brendan O’Sullivan, Barry Goggin, Robert Cronin, Mossie Clohesy, Anthony Horgan

Front Row: Shane Ryan, Ger Cotter, Paul Hennessey, Darren Hennessey, Anthony Kelly, Chris Hennessey, Paul Moylan, Dave O’Brien

This game promised to be an exciting encounter under the lights at Ardrath Park on Friday night 7th March ,as the outcome of this tie was going to be very significant as to where the league title would go this season. Youghal started the game well and you knew they were up for this tie from the first whistle. Youghal began the match like they finished it playing a high tempo fast flowing game which I think the visitors could not deal with. The tackles were flying in as the lads hunted in packs and put pressure on Lakewood in every area of pitch. The defenders were well organised and worked very well as a unit and the mid fielders/forwards linked up superbly.

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