*Bridge Utd’s Lee Mulready. Photograph: Joe Buckley
INCHES away from claiming a first Premier Division title since 2006, Bridge Utd are trying to bring a different mentality as they look to claim one of the major titles in Clare soccer.
Winners of the Hugh Kelly Cup (League Cup) after beating Avenue Utd on penalties last September, Bridge Utd went further than any Clare club in the Munster Junior Cup while also going down to the wire in the Premier Division, losing a dramatic showdown with Avenue Utd and exiting the Clare Cup at the semi-final stage to Tulla Utd.
It was certainly progress but it didnโt ease the disappointment at the end of the season for Mark Culbert, his squad of players and management. โWhen I look back we were obviously disappointed with how the bigger games went. Against Coachford we could have done more and we could have won the game to qualify for a Munster semi-final. The cup semi-final against Tulla Utd was similar and that was frustrating whereas on the final day of the season Avenue Utd were the better team and we can have no complaints about that.
โWeโve made strides each year, weโre still a very young squad, it is maybe more of a mentality thing late in the game to go and get the winners, we conceded late to Evergreen in the FAI and to Coachford in Munster so maybe it is a mentality thing and we just have to keep going. It is a young side so weโre still learning, 18 to 23 is the majority of our side, weโve lads from the youths that have joined this season, Darragh Whyte and Alex Gladys, theyโre just out of youths with Kyle Kirby and Aidan Moloney, ahead of them we have Jack OโHalloran and Luc Fitzpatrick, then Lee Mulready and Liam Flynn with Scott Kirkland and Filip Mostowy just gone 22. Theyโre still learning the game, they are quality players, they are getting better and improving, weโre getting closer and please God this year we can get over the line,โ the Sixmilebridge man said.
Coming so close last season has added a sense of determination to their squad, he felt. โWhen we look back, we won the Hugh Kelly at the start of the season beating Avenue, it was great to get a taste of success and beat Avenue, it definitely helped us and brought us on, the taste of winning and celebrating together played a part in our progress but we will be pulling on all of that. We spoke about that in dressing room in Roslevan after losing the league, we had to take it on the chin, accept that we werenโt good enough and right the wrongs in the new season, we had to train harder, get fitter and stronger, the lads so far have done a very good pre-season and have worked very hardโ.
Now in his fifth year as manager, Mark is of the view it comes down to mentality for his side to make the big breakthrough. โWhen we took over it was a completely different mentality in terms of what we needed to get right in the A team, that took a season or two to embed what we wanted to do in training properly and getting lads to turn up with the right attitude, we have definitely made progress in those areas. Scott Kirkland coming back from Treaty has been a big plus, now we have Adam Fitzpatrick back who tried it out in town, Filip is the same so weโve a core of Bridge lads who really care. Weโve a family of Bridge lads with Witness (Odirile), Caleb (Lategan), Dean Neary, Conor Henry added to it and Tuts (Paul Tuohy) who has always been a Bridge man. The heart is there from the Bridge lads and that could be the deciding factor. Weโve made progress every season, the heart is there from the Bridge lads to get us over the line, thereโs a bit more energy about us in pre-season, thereโs more of a do or die attitude in a way which seems to be the case this seasonโ.
Culbert is adamant that the Premier Division is much more competitive than when he first became manager. โTake last season as an example, you had four teams with very little between them points wise in all the games, there was really competitive games and this year I feel is going to be the most competitive season to date. Shannon Town have improved, Fair Green and Ennis Dons are coming up with no fear, their League Cup results show they have acquitted themselves well. It will be massively competitive and more competitive than I can think of in the Premier Division, that is what you want, we want competitive games every week, last season there was big scores put up, I canโt see that this year, it will be really tough games. Clubs have signed well, Fair Green have kept their core of lads that have got them to the Premier, they have showed in the League Cup with their results that they are not making up the numbersโ.
Ger Myles had been the leading goal scorer for Bridge Utd last season but has signed for Avenue Utd. โHe scored a lot of goals in fairness,โ said Culbert. There is likely to be even more bite when the sides clash this season with midfielder Mikey Guerin also jumping ship from Sixmilebridge to Roslevan while Avenue Utd were unsuccessful in their efforts to sign more Bridge players.
Ex Tulla Utd player Conor Whelan and Caleb Lategan who joins Bridge from Fairview Rangers will strengthen their side along with the return of Adam Fitz. When it comes to shopping around, what players can add to the mix is a big consideration for Culbert.
He told The Clare Echo, โthere is a certain calibre of player to bring in, you want to do your homework to see their attitude and if they will fit in well, we donโt want to bring in someone who is missing training or not hitting the same standards, there is a bit of homework involved. It is more of a conversation then, you tell them what youโre doing and what you feel they can add, we had other lads in with us during pre-season and it didnโt work out. We feel our squad is stronger than last season, weโre happy and excited to get goingโ.
Bridge Utd Fact File:
Management: Mark Culbert (manager), Eoghan McNulty (coach), Albert Finnin, John Keane, Trevor Maxwell.
Captain: John Mulready
Vice Captain: Liam Buckley
Key Player: Scott Kirkland
One to watch: Darragh Whyte
Fresh blood: Conor Whelan (signed from Avondale Utd), Caleb Lategan (signed from Fairview Rangers, Adam Fitzpatrick (returned from Regional Utd), Paul Tuohy (rejoins from Kilkishen Celtic), Conor Henry (signed from Kilkishen Celtic), Dean Neary (signed from Kilrush Rangers), Darragh Whyte (promoted from youths), Alex Gladys (promoted from youths)
Departures Gate: Ger Myles (transferred to Avenue Utd), Mikey Guerin (transferred to Avenue Utd), Dominic Griffin (gone to USA on scholarship), Eric Carr (transferred to Shelbourne AFC), Brian Monaghan (returned to Shannon Town Utd).
Treatment table: Lee Mulready (hips), Luc Fitzpatrick (ankle),
Last yearโs run: Finished second in Premier Division after losing title-decider to Avenue Utd on last day of the season, beaten by Tulla Utd in Clare Cup semi-final, knocked out in last 32 of FAI Junior Cup by Evergreen FC, lost in extra time to Coachford in Munster Junior Cup quarter-final.
