ALBERT ROVERS 1993

ALBERT ROVERS 1993

Some of Cork's most illustrious footballers have sported the famous red and

black of Albert Rovers and made the club a force in Munster football over the

years. Founded in 1946, the club is based in the Albert Road and Marina area.

Indeed, the "Jewtown" corner, opposite the Marina Filling Station, has been

the players' match day pick up point from year one right down to the present.



From the start, Alberts fielded junior and senior sides. Rovers is quite a an

appropriate name as the club has been "at home" in many different venues:

Southern Park (Blackrock), Ballinure, Knockraha, Bottle Hill, Water Rock

(Midleton), Farmer's Cross, and in Lakewood (Ovens).



They almost set up a home of their own in the early eighties. The target then

was to fully develop a pitch on the Carrigrohane Road but this was eventually

abandoned due to the prohibitive costs. Nowadays, Alberts play their football

on AUL Number One, off the Skehard Road, Blackrock.



The name of Albert Rovers has been engraved on major national and provincial

trophies. In 1950, a powerful side defeated League of Ireland teams Cork

United and Waterford on their way to winning the Munster Senior Cup. In 1954

and 1959, they won the FAI Intermediate Cup and captured the Munster Senior

League title in 1959 and 1960.



The club then hit a comparatively lean period but fielded a formidable junior

side which reached the quarter-final of the FAI Junior Cup in 1968. Back in

senior football again, the club won the Elvery Cup in 1974, followed by a

terrific 8 - 0 triumph over Crosshaven in the 1976 Pop Keller Cup final.



A season in the League of Ireland followed for Alberts in 1977. In the

following season, they were back in the MSl and also continued to field a

strong side in Division Two of the AUL Junior leagues.



During 1978 and 79, there was a League of Ireland team called Cork Alberts

who, though it had connections with Rovers, was a separate entity and played

home fixtures at Turner's Cross. Throughout the 1980s, very strong schoolboy

and minor squads represented the club. Pat Horgan (later to manage victorious

UCC Collingwood Cup teams) managed the junior side that, in 1984/85, won

promotion from AUL 2 to AUL 1.



The club went out of senior football after 1990 but many of the players stayed

to play leading roles in the strong junior sides, one in first division, the

other in second. These AUL teams are now the only two being fielded by the

club who are no longer represented in underage football.



Albert Rovers finished two points off the top of League 1 in 1991/92 and were

beaten finalists in the City Challenge Cup. The second string, Albert Utd,

managed by Michael Dalton, finished second in League 3A in the same season and

a few points off the top of League 2A in the next.



In 1992/93, the first team, managed then by Seamus Cotter, were Cork area

qualifiers for the Munster Junior Cup and were most unlucky losers to eventual

finalists Mungret Regional who won with a late goal.



Success was just around the corner when, last May, Albert fashioned a

thrilling 2 - 1 victory over Grangevale in the City Challenge Cup final at

Turner's Cross. This fine victory was a fitting reward for Cotter's hard work

over the season. The event was celebrated in style, a generous helping hand

given by sponsors John Treacy (Venue Bar) and Willie O'Leary (Marina Bar).



The winning team was; Ger Condon, Brendan Allen, Tadgh Leonard (captain),

Willie O'Brien, John Lowry, Noel Hayes, Steve Walsh, Richard Lowry, Peter

Creedon, Martin Davies, and Barry Twomey. Sub used: Philip Graham. Others

who contributed to the run were: Patsy O'Herlihy, Mark Murray, Mark Healy,

John O'Connor, Gary Connolly, Aidan Foley, Colin McTaggart, John Allen, Martin

Cooney, and Pat Harrington.



This is an experienced bunch of players and should serve Alberts well in the

seasons to come. There is still a burning ambition to have a place of their

won, to win more competitions, to move on to higher levels.



The club officers are Seamus Cotter, Finbarr Desmond, and John Lowry. Amongst

those active at committee level are: John O'Mahony, Jim O'Sullivan, Michael

O'Connor, and Tim Leonard. The managers are Joe Whelton and Trevor Duggan and

their assistants are Seamus Cotter and Finbarr Desmond.



Supporters, sponsors, and others willing to work are always welcome to the

club which is now providing a platform for the youth of the area. It has a

great tradition. It has enjoyed the good years and survived the bad, and

stands proud among Cork football clubs as it looks forward to the fiftieth

birthday celebrations in a few years time.



With that 50th anniversary in mind, the club is researching its history and

would dearly like to hear from ex players and members. Chairman Seamus Cotter

can be contacted at 364463 and secretary Finbarr Desmond at 13 Maryville

Estate, Ballintemple.