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Through the Years
:: Introduction 1957-1979 :: Intro :: Bernie Delaney's Team :: In the Beginning :: "Jack" (The Bocco) :: Most Successful Team Ever? :: Saint John Bosco |
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 Bernie Delaney's Team In just six short schoolboy years from under 13 to under 18 (1966 - 1971) this team would win the league four times, be runners up twice, win eight cups including the FAI Schoolboy Under 15 Cup. In their final year they would be the FAI Youths Cup Runners Up and they would win the Leinster Youths Cup. In all they won two doubles and two trebles.Click on the pics below to view the larger version.   
Who would ever have thought that when this under aged team was formed in 1964/1965 after the Drimnagh Road Leagues that they would go on to be one of Dublin's most successful teams of all time. It is fair to say that there would be very few teams to match their achievements over the latter part of the 60's. In fact in a newspaper article dated 31st December 1969 the Editor called this team "schoolboy team of the year and perhaps the schoolboy team of the decade" - a very fitting tribute. Start of the glory years Although most of this team was under age when they started under 13 they performed well in their first year in schoolboy football and finished well up in their league. The following season they were still under 13 but they started to put last years experience to good use and it was no surprise to see them winning the league and to finish runners up in the Lynch Cup. It would be the first of many league wins and the team got very use to finishing in the top two of all competitions that they entered, losing just wasn't an option for this team. Under 14 (1966/1967) Everyone was curious to see if the team could emulate last years success, but it came again as no surprise to the lads themselves as they went on to win the League and Thunder Cup double. This was the first double that they would win but it wouldn't be the last. People were starting to take notice of this team as its reputation grew and there were lots of "Scouts and Caps" on the horizon. Under 15 (1967/1968) How far could this team go? Every schoolboys dream was winning the big one, The Evans FAI Schoolboys Cup. Well the dream was realised as they did win the big one after a great final in Limerick. They won 2-1 and also went on to win the League and to complete the treble, they also won the Cannon Cup. To win a treble at 15 - what a great year. Could things get any better than this!. Keep reading. Under 16A (1968/1969) The talk around Drimnagh was that the Bosco team was breaking up. Some new faces had to come in as other schoolboy teams were getting stronger but the lads themselves just kept going. Some would say it was a bad year for them they only finished runners up in the League and won the Ardiff Cup but for other clubs and other teams it would have been a fantastic season. Back with a bang! Under 17A (1969/1970) With the so called 'bad season' out of the way it was back to winning ways. The lads had a good pre season talk, only two years left in schoolboy football, lets go out and win, win, win. That was the message they sent out and they kept their promise. Not only did they win the League they also won the Reilly Cup and finished runners up in the Blakely Cup. Another double. Under 18A (1970/1971) The final year. After a wonderful schoolboy career how could this team finish off. First they had to compete against teams from the League of Ireland which had formed youth teams and many of their players had League of Ireland experience. In true Bosco style however the lads just played their own style which brought them so much success and such a huge support over the years from all parts of Dublin. In a great league campaign they finished runners up after a play-off, then it was the PJ Casey Cup which they won. Then came the big one - the FAI Youths Cup, the pinnacle of all schoolboy football competition. They played Drogheda Youths in the final in Drogheda, (not bad to play a cup final in your own back yard!), and after a great game unfortunately the result went the wrong way, we lost 2-1. Then came the Leinster Youths Cup two weeks later, it was Drogheda Youths again who provided the opposition but this time the final was played on neutral territory in Tolka Park, and in another great match and a brilliant performance revenge was ascertained. We won 2-1. Did anyone ever think that when Bernie Delaney went around Drimnagh on his famous RED BIKE that this underage team of his would ever go on to become one of Bosco's if not Dublin's greatest teams and win all the trophies that they did. There formed a friendship of players that to this day is still as strong as ever. People will say that this was one of the great teams, but to us - the players it was just great fun. Thanks for the memories. Manager: B. Delaney / D. Sullivan
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Paul Martyn (P.R.O.) Tel. 086-8272597 |  |
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