Last Saturday was the last match of the season and my last match in charge of the Shamrocks. Even though we were beaten 8-1, the heaviest defeat of my period in charge, it was still all smiles afterwards because it was the end of a long tough season which started back in September. All in all its been a good season when you consider the recent problems within the club and somehow we were still able to field a team every week, sometimes with only ten other weeks with a full fourteen players.

 

The Shamrocks as a team was set up four years ago for players who perhaps were unable to get a game with either the firsts or the seconds but were good people that we wanted to stay involved with the club. In that respect I think it has been a resounding success. Even though the club committee were perhaps only lukewarm initially to the suggested formation of the Shamrocks team , they soon came round to the concept and I don’t think the team has been an additional burden on the club in any way over the last four years.

 

I would like to thank all those who have been involved over these last four years with the Rocks , playing or helping out in any shape or form. First of all I would like to give a special vote to Kingso who for three and a half of those four years went to all the league meetings, but was also a hugely influential player on the park for Paul Fullerton and myself. Secondly I would like to thank ‘Rocks stalwarts Walshy, Gerard Smyth, Housty, Stephen Doyle, Scooby, Squiggs, Micky Devine, Briersy, Kevin Feighan and all the others, too numerous to mention, who have turned out for the team.

 

Last but not least I would like to say a big thank you to Paul Fullerton who in truth was the football brains as far as the management team was concerned. Without Paul’s help and support this year the season would have been even tougher than it was and I know that each and every one of the Shamrocks’ players would like to thank him sincerely for all his efforts this year. Paul Fullerton is a true Mals’ legend and it has been an honour and a privilege managing the team with him.

 

Thanks too to Larry Shields who since he has returned to the committee has gone out of his way to help the ‘Rocks and to Vinty McGovern who has never shied away from compiling match reports or ensuring we got our fair share of exposure on the club website. I would like to thank Gerry McKenna for looking after the team kit every week and for letting me bend his ear most weeks down in Pat’s Bar after a few beers.

 

As I step down I would like to congratulate firstly the seconds on winning the league after all that has happened and secondly the first team management for the improvements they have brought to the club as compared to recent years. I am looking forward to the Player of the Year dinner and I wish everyone at the club continued success. Up the ‘Rocks ! Up the Mals !

 

Jim “Maxi” Mackel

8th May 2010