St. Anne's Celtic Football Club Dublin

St. Annes's Celtic was formed in 1999 after a dispute involving the players and management of Mid-Sutton. Many of the Celtic team have played with Mid-Sutton since under 17's, and after playing under 18's they went into the AFL as Mid-Suttons 3rd team. After Finishing 4th in a competitive Division 3 in 1997/8, the following year the lads won Division 3 at a canter, scoring almost 100 goals and losing only 1 game. John Gates was also called into the AFL Oscar Traynor Panel, which is a fantastic achievement for a Divison 3  Player. They were also unluckly beaten in the Loftus cup semi-finals by a last-minute extra time winner v Rivermeade.

After the team's success, Mid-Sutton wanted to divide the team up i.e. put some of the players on the 1st's and some players on the 2nds, but the lads and manager Colm Keogh decided to stick together and form their own team, so in the summer of '99 St. Anne's Celtic F.C. was formed

1999/2000 season

Following a meeting with the AFL, the Saints were moved up to Division 1A for their very first season. Following a good start, and an opening day 4-1 victory away to Clover United (now LSL), they lost vital games mid-way through the season to Clontarf, Killester and Grange United, but they still were in contention going into the last few games. They needed to beat Clover to have any chance of winning the league, but in a dramatic game the Saints lost 7-6 on a day some incredible goals were scored, and some howlers were conceded. However the Saints regrouped and managed to get promoted, finishing 3rd behind Clover & Killester Athletic (now Ramble Inn Celtic) Eamon Martin became St. Anne's Celtic's first ever player of the season

League Position: 3rd

2000/2001 season

The Saints were crowed Champions of Division 1 after a long tough season, which culminated in a dramatic end of season penalty shoot-out to decide the league. The Saints and Ramble Inn Celtic were neck and neck the whole season and eventually finished level on points. The play-off match finished 0-0 after extra time, though the Saints we're lucky to get that far and had keeper Johnnie Keane to thank. Player of the season Eoghan Kelly buried the winning penalty, much to the dismay of Ramble who felt they were the better team on the day. However the league is won over the season (normally anyway!) and the Saints throughly deserved it over the course of the season, having lost only one league game the entire season, and also took 4 points off Ramble.  Great performances over the season from Padraig Smith, Eoghan Kelly, Anto Murphy and Macker among others, seen a great level of consistancy achieved by the Saints over the season. In the cups, The Saints were extremely unlucky - beaten 2-1 by Trim Celtic in the LJ cup, 1-0 in extra time by Parkvale in the FAIJ cup, and on penos in the Amateur Cup.

League Position: 1st - Champions

2001/2002 season

The Major Divison adventure began with a hammering away to Fettercairn Rangers, who eventually won the league. The Saints were tipped to win the Major in their first season, but having lost some of their star players to AUL and LSL teams, this was never going to be the case. However they did finish a very respectable 5th, and were unluckly beaten 1-0 in the semi-final of the Amateur Cup by Fettercairn (for the 4th time that season having also beat us 2-1 in the Matt O'Leary Cup) For the first time the Saints had representatives on the AFL Oscar Traynor Panel, with Eoghan Kelly, Shane Dunlea and Kenny Healy all involved

League Position: 5th

2002/2003 season

With players gone to Australia, and the great Johnnie Gates leaving the club, the 2002/2003 season is one the player and management would rather forget! The Saints finished 2nd from bottom having lost 10 league games in the season - amazingly 7 of those were lost by the odd goal! However we did manage to beat Vianney (who finished as league runners-up as a result of that defeat) For the 2nd time in 3 seasons we were knocked out of the AFL cup on penalties, this time by Kilmount

League Position: 9th

2003/2004 season

Due to the AFL's decision to expand the league, The Saints were given a Major Divison reprieve. However the season was similar to the one before it - 9th again albeit in a bigger division. More heartbreak in the AFL cup with an extra-time defeat by major new boys Darndale. Padraig Smith was the shining light this season, with 15 Major Division goals, despite breaking his leg mid-way through the season, and been injured again towards the end. Relegation again stared us in the face, and we went into the last 2 games needing two victorys. Victory at Belclare brought us to the final game against fellow strugglers Glasnevin. Two goals from Andy Lambe ensured Major divison survival for another year, and sent Clontarf Celtic down in our place

League Position: 9th

2004/2005 season

Another Major Divison campaign - another fight against the drop! Perhaps the highlight of the season was a number of St. Kevins Boys U18's joining the club, provided a much needed injection of youth! Vital wins in the spring against Glasnevin, Beclare and Clonsilla were enough for survival. More heartbreak in the cups - A disappointing 1st round exit to Romstar in the Matt was eclipsed by another cruel penalty shhotout defeat in the last 16 of the AFL cup by holders Vianney Boys.

League Position: 9th again!