ALTHOUGH they were defeated, perhaps surprisingly, in last year’s premier final by a determined Cronin’s Tyres from Castlemaine, Charlie’s Angels are expected to be back in contention for the top prize in this year’s Killarney Credit Union sponsored Killarney Athletic summer seven-a-side soccer tournament which will kick off on June 26.
The slick tournament specialists, representing Charlie Foley’s pub, have claimed the title on a number of occasions in recent years and few would bet against them achieving that goal again this year.
Charlie’s Angels have been there or thereabouts over the past two decades with outright victories in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012 and they could well be the side to beat when the eagerly-awaited tournament gets underway at Woodlawn.
They won’t have it all their own way, however, and last year’s champs from Castlemaine will be bidding to make it two-in-a-row while star-studded sides like the Tatler Toffees and The Failte, as well as some talented new kids on the block, are also expected to be back in the mix.
Although it has attracted several hundred teams, since its inception in 1977, when The Bounty Boys took the honours and 19 teams competed, the Killarney seven-a-side has been mainly dominated by a small number of teams and though the faces on the field might change as the years progress, the names of the same sponsors keep cropping up.
Teams representing the Tatler Jack – mainly comprising Dr Crokes and Killarney Athletic players – are always to be feared and they have enjoyed several successes over the past four decades.
The Tatler’s first tournament win was way back in 1978 and, although the players have changed, the success has continued as the tournament grew in stature.
Tatler won again in 1994 and 1997 before the Tatler Toffees emerged as the big force with Premier victories in 2001, 2011 and a memorable three-in-a-row from 2013-2015.
Sevens fans, of course, will remember the star-studded sides that have graced the tournament over the years, including Haircut 100, Kentucky Reds, Killarney Hardware, The Failte and The Minstrels who have all carved their names into seven-a-side folklore.
Seven-a-side Roll of Honour
1977: The Bounty Boys
1978: The Tatler Jack
1979: Millstreet
1980: Kentucky Reds
1981: Kentucky Reds
1982: Lions
1983: Lyne’s Tavern
1984: Killorglin Mail Order
1985: Sweeney’s Men
1986: Killarney Hardware
1987: Killarney Hardware
1988: Haircut 100
1989: The Fáilte Family Inn
1990: Haircut 100
1991; Killarney Hardware
1992: The Fáilte
1993: The Fáilte
1994: Tatler Jack
1995: The Fáilte
1996: Milltown Cosmos
1997: Tatler Jack
1998: Fuji Snapshot
1999: Minstrels
2000: Charlie’s Angels
2001: Tatler Toffees
2002: Minstrels
2003: Charlie’s Angels
2004: Leane’s Tool Hire
2005: Charlie’s Angels
2006: Charlie’s Angels
2007: Haircut 100
2008: Charlie’s Angels
2009: Beaufort Bar
2010: Falvey’s Bar
2011: Tatler Toffees
2012: Charlie’s Bar
2013: Tatler Toffees
2014: Tatler Toffees
2015: Tatler Toffees
2016: Cronin’s Tyres
KillarneyToday.com: It’s the talk of the town. To advertise call 087-2229761
