Stedfast the undoubted stars of the show
June 13th 2000. The Evening Herald by Jimmy Geoghegan.
How to get the better of United? It's a question many in the Premiership have been
asking all season and it's a similiar problem for teams in the UCFL's top flight Stedfast
United once again proved to be the team to beat in the Premier Division, adding the
divisional title to victories in the Richard Knight and Shield finals. United lost only
one game in their league compaign - to Trinity Corinthians who capped a fine season by
finishing second, pipping Clontarf Athletic who themselves maintained the pressure on
Stedfast for a long spell before their challenge subsided near the end. Balally Celtic
did well in their first season in the Premier while St. Mary's improved on last years
position. Strand United didn't quite produce the league form their lofty ambitions
demand but their success in the Irish Life Challenge Cup was sweet consolation.
The Stedfast United 2nds also topped Division 1 with the Challenge cup finalist FC
Ailesbury among the chasing pack while North Athletic continued on their upward curve by
taking the Division 2 crown. As expected from very early on Enniskerry won Division 2A
becoming the only team in the UCFL to maintain an unbeaten league run - an achievement
manager Karl Bradshaw can be rightly proud of. They are surely destined for the Premier.
In 2B we witnessed one of the closest races for a divisional title with DMC, Lucan United
and Stedfast all in close contention with Lucan emerging the victors. Castle Rovers showed
some fine form to win the Division 3 race while in 3A there was another tight contest, Brayzil
emerging ahead of Glen Oaks and AC Portabello. Dollymount FC can reflect on the season with
a not-so-quite satisfaction. League success evaded them but their win over York Athletic in
the Leslie Reynolds ended a long cup drought.
And for player of the year?
Stedfast's goal machine Gary Whyte would be hard to better. His sharpness in front of goals
helped to make United the team everybody sought to beat. He's as sharp as a pin around goal
making life difficult for defenders and his approach play has been of the highest order.