Keith Ricken: Rebel Óg must develop strong underage rivalries to save northside football
Michael O'Leary, St Vincent's, checks his passing options in the McCarthy Insurance Group IIAFC relegation play-off against Na Piarsaigh at Mayfield GAA. Picture: Larry Cummins
There was a natural air of relief for St Vincent’s coach Keith Ricken after hard-fought 2-5 to 1-7 win over neighbours Na Piarsaigh in the Intermediate A Football Championship relegation final.
Presently there is a major debate going on with the decline of football on the northside of the city and Ricken was forthright in his views of where the problem lies.
“You always end up where you belong and that’s the reality of championship football and despite playing some good championship games this season, we ended up losing all three mainly due to some injuries with our key players,” Ricken said.
Despite not scoring in the second half Vincent’s managed to win by the minimum and again the injury hoodoo hit them during the game.
“We lost our influential captain Gavin McCarthy at half-time and he was a huge loss particularly after Wayne Long got sent off five minutes into the second half and there is little doubt we were hanging on."
At the end of the game, there was no gloating in the Vincent’s camp.
“We were like the man that dug hole in his back garden and fell into it, but there certainly was no celebrations as we had put ourselves in this position and were lucky to escape the drop.”
So, after being a Senior club to the brink of relegation back to the Junior grade how does Ricken see the decline?
Having no rivalry on the northside has affected clubs and getting numbers is a huge problem.
“I am not slating Rebel Óg but in truth, they have done little for the northside clubs and I think when people look into this decline, they will identify what I have just stated.
We played Na Piarsaigh this season at U14 level and it was like the good old days as remember many of these young lads go to school together and the opportunity of playing against your schoolmates brings an extra edge which is all good fun.
“I couldn’t remember the last time I had taken in an underage local northside derby game but it was a pleasure to watch in a fine sporting game."
Parish rivalry is what the GAA is all about according to Ricken.
“Look you still have it in West Cork with Castlehaven and the surrounding clubs and even in East Cork there is always great sporting rivalry but sadly in the northside of our city it is nowhere to be seen."
Looking back on the early years of Ricken’s involvement in coaching in the 1980s and '90s local rivalry was the fun part of the season.
“In our club, you had one of the teams called Ballycannon and in those years you played in your grade and not above it.
“The problems are not alone with St Vincent’s as you look at St Nicks, Na Piarsaigh and Mayfield all have had relegation problems in recent years and that’s not coincidental.”
Looking back on Vincent’s close shave against Na Piarsaigh Ricken feels it was a sad day for their opponents.
“How could you gloat and not feel sorry for Na Piarsaigh? In recent years players have chosen hurling over football, but you saw that when these hurlers were introduced, they almost got over the line despite trailing by eight points at the break.”
The lack of housebuilding on the northside also came in for special attention from Ricken.
“On my own behalf I moved to Carrigtwohill over 20 years ago and my son plays with the local club and that’s the presently reality for many of the teams on the northside.”
On a final note, Ricken feels the decline of players in football on the northside needs to be addresses sooner than later.
“As I previously said Rebel Óg do tremendous work for many parishes in this county but I am appealing to the people that run the show to have a serious look at the present situation on the northside and give them back the CPR, the Community, Parish, Rivalry, they so badly need.”
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