*Mikey McInerney is captain of this year’s Newmarket-on-Fergus side. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
It’s definitely been a case of so far, so good for Tomas Ryan and his management team who were handed the unenviable task of transitioning the senior winning side of 2012 with a crop of new talent mainly emanating from the Minor B and Under 21A sides that contested county finals in the last four years.
Coming within a whisker of taking down eventual champions Ballyea at the semi-final stage in 2021 was backed up by last year’s quarter-final appearance that saw neighbours Cratloe prove the kore consistent side on the day.
With the same opponents up first, Ryan certainly won’t need to reach for a hairdryer or any other electronic motivational implements and is happy with how the squad has evolved. “Of course, we’d be disappointed to have gone out on both occasions but overall you’d have to say that progress has been made over the last two years. Lads are developing well so we’re just hoping that we can build on it.
“It’s also encouraging to see our most experienced lads still as eager as ever to play. Okay James [McInerney] is actually injured at the moment but Colin [Ryan] and Enda [Barrett] are probably the lads at that other end of the spectrum but are still chomping at the bit to play.
“That’s great as it provides that leadership and stability and helps the younger lads that are now in their second and third years at senior level to develop all the time and are ultimately helping that transition. There’s a good mix there so we’d be happy with the profile of the group as you always have one or two coming through each year as well which again is important in any club.
“That said however, everyone is back at square one now again so what happened over the last two years won’t matter too much coming into this championship as it’s primality about how we can get the best out of the lads on Friday starting off”.
While other groups vary in terms of ambition, Ryan is quick to point out that the expectation lev-els among all of Group 3 are high as Newmarket, Cratloe, Wolfe Tones and Clooney/Quin look to replicate their feats of 2022.
All four teams made the quarter-finals last year so every team in this group doesn’t just hope to get out of it but expects to get out of the group so it’s going to be very tight as inevitably two of those will be ultimately disappointed
“The players will know each other fairly well in all four teams but I don’t think it will make too much of a difference outside of adding to the spice of a derby which will be probably more important for supporters than the players themselves. Looking down through all the groups, whatever one you ended up in was going to be tough so it’s about performing really is the main thing regardless of who you play.”
While he doesn’t directly buy into the derby impact, the sight of Cratloe is sure to whet the Blues appetites as along with revenge, getting an early step ahead is almost critical in such a cut-throat group.
“Friday is a good opportunity to get off to a good start and on the flip side of that, nobody wants to be caught in the situation especially in a group of four of losing your first game and having to play catch up. It’s just so even right throughout the championship. I think almost every club is going into the championship really looking to get out of their group, there’s no-one looking the other way over their shoulders. That’s the beauty of the first round as everyone brings that opti-mism and enthusiasm to the table in order to put their best foot forward and we will be no differ-ent on Friday evening”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Management: Tomas Ryan (Manager); Alan Duggan, Cathal Fleming (Coaches); James Car-rig (Selector); Derek Morris (S&C); Brian Clancy (Analysis); John Earls (Physio)
Captain: Mikey McInerney
Key Player: Enda Barrett
One to Watch: Mark Delaney
Fresh Blood: Darragh Jones
Departure Gate: Jack O’Connor (abroad); James McInerney, Liam O’Connor (Injured)
Titles Won: 23
Last season’s run: Quarter-Finalists
Schedule
Round 1 – v Cratloe at Cusack Park Ennis, Friday 7pm
Round 2 – v Clooney/Quin (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)
Round 3 – v Wolfe Tones (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)
