The senior lads begin their Division 2 campaign tomorrow afternoon with an opener away to Geevagh, throw-in 1pm.
The team are this year managed by David O’Neill, who has been part of the set-up as a selector for the past three seasons. He is assisted by Paul Hannon and Conor Davey.
The team will be looking to solidify it’s place in division 2 after just staying up last year with a last round victory over Ballymote. That in itself was steady progress for the side as we have struggled to maintain our place at this level in previous seasons after promotion from division 3. We competed well in almost all games last year and indeed could have been higher up the table had we not come out on the wrong side of some tight contests. The victory over eventual league winners Drumcliffe/Rosses Point (their only division 2 defeat) provided the highlight of the campaign.
John Core and Keelan Bolton have transferred to Dublin and Kildare clubs respectively and they will be missed from the full-back line for 2017. Dylan McMorrow will be missing from the full-forward line as he goes travelling and the loss of Conor Davey to a re-occurring shoulder injury is a major blow, arguably our best player of 2016. We wish Conor well as he is in for surgery on Good Friday.
However the graduation of a number of younger players from the minor set-up is a boost to the squad and will bring energy and enthusiasm. Derek Lynch, Kevin Healy and Bryan McPartland have impressed in the Benson Cup, with a number of others showing good form in training. The return of Simon Cashman from injury gives us a lift in the midfield engine. Up front the experienced duo of Alan Flynn and Aaron Nicholson will lead the charges, with Ryan Philips providing the thrust, and Ross Farrell showing excellent form in pre-season. County Minor trio of Roland Anderson, James Duffy and Jack Foley and U-21 Brian Mahon are also yet to be intoduced to the squad and will provide a major boost to the panel.
With 5 games in April it will be a crucial month for our league aspirations. Best of luck to the lads for the season ahead, please get out and show your support in what is a very competitive division.