The Weigh Inn Dripsey

Venue: Ballincollig Regional Park

Team Colours (Shirts, Shorts, Socks): Green, White, Green

The Weigh Inn Dripsey FC (or Dripsey Celtic AFC as it was known as then) was formed back in 1992 and joined the AUL for the 1992/93 season. In their first season, Dripsey finished 6th in the league and their best victory that season was against local and to be ongoing rivals Strand Utd. In their first meeting and also Dripsey’s first competitive match Dripsey came out winners 3-2. Dripsey then got promoted to Division 2 the following season, but it was in 1997 that Dripsey Celtic reached their first final and it was against Glanworth in the Saxone Cup at Turners Cross Stadium. Unfortunately, even though Dripsey held most of the ball possession in the final they lost 2-0.

In 1999 Dripsey Celtic started a U18 team and this team made all the headlines in the Club in ’99, with some remarkable victories. They also reached the semi-final of the League Cup going out in penalties to Grattan Utd. who went on to win the competition. The club went under the radar for a while then but finally tasted silverware in 2001 where they won the Saxone Cup 1-0 against West End United, Billy Murphy with the winner in what was a historic night for Dripsey Celtic in what paved way for a run in a few good seasons.

In 2002 they lost the Saxone Cup final against Ardmanning. In 2003 they won Division 2 and the Saxone Cup against local rivals Coachford. The best season coming in 2004 winning Division 1, where they went undefeated in the league and secured top-flight status in the Premier Division.

The team was disbanded a couple of years later as they struggled to make numbers with growing GAA popularity saw Dripsey form a GAA team who have been the backbone of the community since. But over a decade later, a bitter taste of what could have been set in and saw a growing interest in Soccer again locally which saw the foundation of Dripsey Celtic once again. This time things were different and saw the team enter the Cork Business League for the first time ever. The Weigh Inn Dripsey was then re-established in 2019, and with that, confirmed its status as one of the many new entrants to the Sports Gear Direct Cork Business League. With the new management of the club in place, came the decision to join the Cork Business League under the name The Weigh Inn Dripsey FC. This decision was made as long-running club sponsors The Weigh Inn was the birthplace of the re-establishment of the new club.

With a slow start to the season, we slowly picked up several players along the way as results started to pick up and are under the management of Dominic Twohig Sr who came into the fold shortly into the pre-season, are determined to have a strong showing for the rest of the season and will aim for some silverware next season.

“The aim at the start of the season was to have a consistent number at matches and training sessions and we’ve surpassed that. We consistently have 12-15 players at training and have always had a starting 11 and a full complement of subs at every game. We have strong players and weak players but the experience in the squad is bringing on the weaker players and first-time soccer players are coming on leaps and bounds, most notably Jack Casey deserves a mention. He’s been improving every game. He does the simple things right and has been one of our best players consistently every game. We struggled to find a consistent goalscorer for a period at the start of the season and it reflected in our results, but after some reshuffling in the squad, we found the missing link in Daniel O Driscoll who caused every defence he faces serious problems. But we’ve taken nothing but positives from day one and will continue to do so going forward.” Club Chairman Marc O Donovan.

The team has a wide mix of players ranging from people who have never played before to people who played at underage level and 5 aside. We are also boosted by several very experienced players who have played at the top level in the AUL in the form of goalkeeper Marc O Donovan, central defender Frank Field, Dominic Twohig Jr in midfield and Captain Killian Kelleher on the wing who is joined top scorer in all competitions with striker Daniel O Driscoll who has been impressive for us all season. We also have very experienced players in Darren ‘Dobsy’ O Brien, Noel ‘Stan’ Looney, Mossie Mooney and Noel O Sullivan who have all had long successful careers in the AUL with Dripsey and Coachford long before some of the players in the team were even born. There is an age gap of 33 years between the youngest and oldest on the team as well the youngest being 16 and the oldest 49, but we won’t mention names.

The club is fronted by Chairman Marc O Donovan, Treasurer Daniel O Brien, Secretary Dominic Twohig Jr, and committee members Frank Field and Killian Kelleher. Also, a special mention is due for Liam and Ben O Brien who do tremendous work off the pitch as well.

We are currently playing out home games in The Regional Park in Ballincollig but are working on getting a pitch closer to home in the coming years.

A special thanks once again goes out to Kevin and Helen Feeney of the Weigh Inn who are our Main sponsor and continue to cater for the team after every game. Shane Nott of Teamwearworld deserves credit for the printing on the jerseys and tracksuits as well as recreating the new club crest. Also to everyone who has sponsored or donated towards the club we would love to thank ye all here but there are far too many to mention but an equally big Thank You goes out to be all as well.

“Many of the players have worked or spent much of their spare time in The Weigh Inn and the club decided it was time to give back to the business that held so many fond memories for many players past and present throughout the years. The Cork Business League is a solid platform for teams to grow and businesses to prosper and has been for many years and the club believes it will be great foundation for clubs in the city and county alike.” Marc O’Donovan, Chairman.

Below are pictures from this season as well as the two fundraisers we had during the year, one of which we raised €870 for Cork Penny Dinners. And also pictures from past Dripsey teams aswell.