Drumaness begin defence of titles as new season starts

Drumaness begin defence of titles as new season starts

6 August 2014

THE new soccer season is back and kicks off on Saturday.

Leading the charge for honours will be DRUMANESS MILLS who are intent on successfully defending the Jefferson and Clarence Cups, won in such style last season, but they will soon find that retaining the trophies will be much harder than winning them ever was.

Managers Dessie Campbell and David Straney are fully aware of this and have been busy consolidating their squad and adding to it. They may have lost Paul Walsh (Canada), Rory Mason (Kilmore Rec), Nathan Jones (Dundela) and Philip Rogan (Ballynahinch Olympic), but they have enticed Darren McConnell away from Killyleagh YC, Mark Feenan from Ardglass, Adam Neale from Killyleagh YC, Colin Manley from Knockbreda and Mickey Savage from Ballynahinch Olympic.

The Mills start the defence of their Amateur League title with a home game against Albert Foundry on Saturday and follow that up with a derby game away to Killyleagh on Tuesday night. A tough game away to Chimney Corner awaits them on Saturday, August 16, in the first round of the Steel and Sons Cup before they entertain Ardglass in the league on Tuesday, August 19.

The Mills will again be relying on a strong midfield of Steven Rogan, Conor Walsh, Gavin McEvoy and Sean McQuoid.

Hot on Drumaness’ heels in the chase for honours will be KILMORE REC who have also been pretty busy over the summer. Manager Paul Mullan has appointed former Rec and Downpatrick FC midfielder Neil Obank as team coach and assistant manager and with Joe McStay also back in the fold, Kilmore will be there or thereabouts next May.

Kilmore have lost the services of Mark Holland, Michael McKenna and Eoin Boyle, all to Downpatrick FC and Peter Telford has left to join Ardglass, but in come Shane Murray, who had a spell at Knockbreda FC and Paddy Branney from Saintfield AYC, goalkeeper Conan Russell from Downpatrick FC, Ruari Sharvin from Glentoran and Lee Morrison and Stephen Kennedy from Killyleagh YC.

Kilmore open their campaign with four extremely tough matches. They entertain Ards Rangers on the opening day of the season before taking on newly-promoted Derriaghy CC three days later at Robert Adams Park. They then visit Crumlin Star on Saturday, August 16, before travelling to Comber Rec on August 19.

It is all change for a third consecutive season at the Killyleagh Showgrounds.

Barney Ross is back in the hot seat at KILLYLEAGH YC, the third different manager in as many seasons since Dee Heron stepped down.

Ross was previously manager in 1992 when Dee Heron was his assistant, and Heron has returned to help out Ross, a former assistant manger of the Amateur League representative team whose playing career includes league representative honours and captaining the YC to their first Border Cup triumph in 1984.

He will need all that experience as there has been a mass exodus with players leaving the Showgrounds including Ryan Montgomery (gone to the USA), goalkeeper Alastair Coburn (Lisburn Rangers), Darren McConnell (Drumaness), Stevie Kennedy (Kilmore Rec), Andy Carberry (Temple).

The last time Ross was in charge he guided the YC to their only Intermediate Cup final appearance, The target this time will be more modest, to keep the YC in the Premier Section’s top flight after two years of dogfights under Bobby Murphy and Stephen Johnston.

It has been a very youthful YC that has been lining out in the pre-season friendlies with derby rivals first up on the opening day this Saturday.

Killyleagh open with a derby clash at home to Comber Rec before travelling to champions Drumaness Mills three days later. They definitely drew the short straw in the Steel and Sons Cup as they then face Ards FC in the first round on Saturday, August 16, before travelling to Drome Park to take on Ards Rangers in the league three days later.

ARDGLASS will be looking to build on the sort of form that saw them close with last season and manager Stevie Deegan has retained all bar one of last year’s panel, Mark Feenan moving to join Drumaness Mills.

Deegan has added Peter O’Shea, who along with Brian Healy, masterminded the club’s elevation into the Premier Section, to his backroom staff and has enticed Peter Telford away from Kilmore Rec.

Ardglass face a tough trip to Malachians on the opening Saturday before travelling to Albert Foundry three days later. They are then back on the road on Saturday, August 16, when they travel to play Bloomfield in the first round of the Steel and Sons Cup. It’s back to league action on August 19 when they travel to Meadowvale and a clash with Drumaness Mills.

Phil and Graham McDonagh remain in charge at COMBER REC and they start their campaign with an opening day fixture away to Killyleagh YC. They then go to Monkstown on Tuesday night for a game with Nortel and on Saturday 16 they entertain Islandmagee. Three days later they take on Kilmore Rec to complete a tough opening 10 days to the season.

DOWNPATRICK FC will be hoping this will be the year they get back into the Premier Section as they have signed Mark Holland, Michel McKenna and Eoin Boyle from Kilmore and Niall Walsh from Killyleagh, but they have been dealt a severe blow with news that top scorer Stephen Galbraith has opted to join his dad in the Newcastle League with Ballynagross.

Downpatrick open with a home game against Rosario and three days later entertain Lisburn Rangers. They then face Dundonald at home in the first round of the Steel and Sons Cup before travelling to Orangefield in the league on August 19.

DROMARA VILLAGE, relegated from the Premier Section last season, will be looking to bounce straight back under Gerard McMahon, but that is easier said than done.

The former Northern Ireland international has been pretty busy in the pre-season and has signed Kieran Gordon (Ardglass), Darren Munce, Gerard Rooney

(Loughgall), Alex Wright (Dollingstown), Oran McCann (Lurgan Celtic), Caolan McCann (Lurgan Celtic), Adam Smyth (Lurgan Celtic), Michael McGuinness, Robert Coady, Matty McConnell (all Dromore) and Ross Kerr (Moneyslane).

A derby clash with Rathfriland Rangers awaits them on the opening day and three days later they entertain newly-promoted St. Patrick’s Young Men. They then travel to face UUJ on Saturday 16 and then face Rathfriland away on the 19th.

Keith Hamilton and Colin Murray are back in charge at BALLYNAHINCH UNITED and they also face four tough opening games in Division 1B.

In come Paul Dickson (Saintfield United), Craig Bowman (Saintfield United], Craig McMullan (Temple Rangers) and Dalton Tate (Glentoran) and out go Aaron Cheevers (Temple Rangers), Lee Maxwell (Temple Rangers), and Ian McMullan (UUJ).

Wellington Rec are visitors on the opening day before United entertain Newcastle on the Tuesday night. An away trip to Wellington faces them on August 16 and three days later they travel to play Sirocco Works.

Ciaran Brannigan at NEWCASTLE FC will relish the opening fixture away to Ballywalter Rec before his side take on Ballynahinch United at Millbridge on the Tuesday night. Carrick Rangers will be visitors to Shimna College on Saturday 16 for a Steel and Sons Cup tie and three days later Newcastle have newly-promoted Ballynahinch Olympic as visitors in the league.

PORTAFERRY, who have taken the Amateur League by storm, will be looking to continue their amazing run of promotions in recent years. Manager Johnny McGrattan has all of last year’s squad available and he is fortunate that the club’s conveyor belt has delivered a host of young stars in Cal Smyth, Niall Smyth, Niall McCarthy, Ronan Keith, Cillian O’Neill and Michael Mageean and he will not he afraid to use them if required.

The Ports open with a home game against Sirocco before taking on Ballywalter away three days later. They then play in the Steel and Sons Cup for the first time when they entertain Crumlin United before a league game with Bloomfield at Cloughey Road on the 19th.

BALLYNAHINCH OLYMPIC, who have followed Portaferry up through the ranks, have retained all of last year’s panel and have added Philip Rogan, Conor Killen and Paul King

They open with a trip to Rathfriland before taking on 1st Bangor on Tuesday night. A home game against East Belfast on Saturday and an away game at Newcastle on the 19th completes a busy 10 days for managers Stevie Ward and Paul Sloan.

SAINTFIELD UNITED will be playing their football in Division 1C this year after their relegation last time out.

Manager Willie Hawkes has brought in Anthony McKenzie and Jack Davison, both from Comber Rec and out go Craig Bowman and Paul Dickson, both to Ballynahinch United.

They open with an away game to Colin Valley before entertaining Donard Hospital on the Tuesday night. They entertain Dromore on Saturday 16 before facing Iveagh United at home on Tuesday the 19th.

TEMPLE RANGERS, who will again be playing in Division 2B, complete the list of local teams battling it out for honours in the Amateur League, but they don’t start their campaign until the start of September.

New manager Glynn Robinson, who has bags of experience as a player and in later years as a manager, is busy getting his squad ready for the start of their season and there is no doubt that he will have his side challenging for honours at the end of the season.

Glynn has managed to bring back a host of players who were with the team when they reached the semi-final of the Clarence Cup two years ago and Temple will certainly be ones to watch this season.