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:: Senior training continues (22/01/06 - 18/02/06)
Since that first gruelling mountain session back in January senior training has been coming on in leaps and bounds. However carrickcruppengfc.com is saddened to note that the only leaping that Brian 'Humpy' O'Hanlon has done is leapt straight back into his nice warm bed after realising that he had in fact set his alarm clock wrong and was training in early January rather than June. Quality training not quantity isn't that right Brian?

Clear leader in the training's distance events continues to be super star Martin Ferris with James 'Diesel engine' Hughes not far behind. Great to see the young talent taking hold of the reigns and showing the older boys how it's done. This youthful exuberance has not been taken well by all members of the team though as was demonstrated by John 'The Shep' Mooney at a recent training session. Jealous that the 'wee lads' are so much fitter and prettier than he, John took it upon himself to try and snuff out two of his younger team-mates. The story goes a bit like this: in the midst of a recent training game a 50/50 ball situation arose between Sean 'The Bomber' Keenan and Mr Mooney, the two collided with Mooney slightly winning the battle, neither were floored, but so enraged was Mooney that his younger opponent was equal to his challenge that he continued with great force towards the out spilling ball. Caught totally unawares, young Ross Collins took the full force of Mooney's anger and was, for want of a better phrase, absolutely destroyed. Reliable sources have concluded though that young Ross must actually have been playing for the free as everyone knows Rita Mooney would actually do a better job of shouldering than John!

A final mention goes out to the spice boys of the club who must think they play for Armagh these days. So hard have they been training these last few weeks that they decided to take themselves off skiing for a week. The holidays over boys, Big Joe says get back at it!!!

P.S. Rumour has it that the Ballyholland team will play with a new Jersey this year. One with a yellow streak down it's back. Why else was it that they failed to participate in a recent 'friendly' with the mighty men from cruppen?

:: Pre-season training kicks off (22/01/06)
Carrickcruppen made a promising start to their 2006 season today as the usual 40,000 pre-season super stars turned out for what is traditionally the hardest session of the year. Just how many will survive the aching legs and show up next week is a different matter.

As expexted, Brendan and Art pulled the usual pre-season stunt and dragged the post christmas pot-bellied squad accross a mountain course that even the bravest of John Mooney's sheep wouldn't climb. Undeterred, marathon-man Michael J. Fox took off at break neck speed, and was the target of many unrepeatable swear words from the throughout the rest of the pack. Following Michael closely was Armagh U21 super star Martin 'Dewey' Ferris and the seemingly forever fit, Paddy 'Billy Mitchell' Duffy. Two new iron men also made unfamiliar appearances within the leading group, as brothers Ciaran and James Hughes raced round the course faster than big Daddy's Merc! Rumour has it the boys have breathed so many fumes workin on the shop's petrol pumps that they no longer have lungs but run on super-charged V8 engines.

At the other end of the pack, Neil Boyle caused a bit of a stir as he was seen to be talking to an invisible friend by the name of HUEY. Many of the boys reported seeing Neill bent double shouting into the bushes "HUEY! HUEY! HUEY!". Similar behaviour has been noted throughout previous seasons but normally by Decky 'Sicknote' Campbell immediately before the start of games. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of this HUEY character please inform Neill and Declan so as they can concentrate on their runnig in future.
Carrickcruppengfc.com would also like to congratulate Sean 'the big show' Keenan on a great show of companionship throughout the first pre-season session. So fit is he after a long winter of gruelling runs with his mate foxy that he didn't want to show-up the rest of the squad and instead stayed rooted in last place to make sure no one else got lost. A definite early contender for clubman of the year!

Finally, a special mention must go out to infamous 'warm-weather-only' trainer Brian 'Humpy' O'Hanlon as he returned to the Carrickcruppen squad. Perhaps this Global-Warming phenomenon affects milkmen too as Brian is not usually seen around these parts until atleast mid-summer championship time. Welcome back Brian, hope to see you next week!

To all the players, I'm only messing, well done today, keep up the good work!!!