*Ian Collins of Newmarket Celtic. Photograph: Joe Buckley
NEWMARKET CELTIC’s bid to reclaim the Maloney Hardware Premier Division title has resulted in the addition of fresh and familiar faces to their cause.
Ex Portsmouth and Fulham goalkeeper, Alan Gough who also lined out for Galway Utd, Shelbourne, Derry City, Bray Wanderers and Longford Town has succeeded nine-time Clare Cup winner, Eoin O’Brien in charge of Celtic.
Darragh Leahy and Kieran Mahoney have returned to the fold to lead Newmarket’s attack. Shannon native Leahy was central to the club’s FAI Junior Cup success in 2023 and has served a one-year ban. Mahoney scored 21 goals for the club in his breakthrough season of 2019 which saw him earn player of the season. They have also been boosted by the return of Colin Smyth after a year with Ennis club, Fair Green Celtic.
With Shane Cusack between the posts they have one of the top junior soccer goalkeepers in the country while the experience of Eoin Hayes who has represented his country on several occasions and David McCarthy a two-time Oscar Traynor winner is invaluable to their cause. With Harvey Cullinan remaining at the heart of their defence, they will remain a strong force bulked up by the industrious trio of Conor McDaid, Ian Collins and captain Jack Kelly.
Having won six of the last ten league titles, the 2021 Premier Division did not proceed, Newmarket have watched Avenue claim three of the last four leagues and last year fell outside the top two. They did cap off the season by winning the Clare Cup for the twentieth time but are eager to claim further success following premature exits in external competitions over the past two seasons, subsequent to winning the FAI and contesting the Munster Junior decider in 2023.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Alan admitted he turned down an initial approach from Pat McDaid to take charge of Newmarket Celtic. “I told him I wouldn’t but he asked again, I met with Jody Halpin and Crusher (Liam Murphy), then I met Eoin Hayes and Shane Cusack, then I said we’d give it a go. I saw the talent in the dressing room and we’ve a good coaching team in place”.
First impressions have been very positive for Alan. “I have to say the people here throughout the club from Jody as Chairman to Grainne (Hayes) as secretary to Crusher, they’ve tried to help me in anyway they can to get the lads as organised as we can for the season. They’re really nice people and I’m not just saying that, it really helps”.
On the targets for the coming season, he stated, “It isn’t my first rodeo but we will try and be competitive in every fixture that we have. You can’t look too far down the road. The plan this week is to train Tuesday, Thursday and play Shannon Town on Saturday, we’ll take it from there”.
Although he wouldn’t possess the in-depth knowledge of the Clare league that his predecessor O’Brien has, Gough is keeping the focus on building his own dressing room. He managed Coole FC to win the First Division and has faced Clare’s Oscar Traynor sides.
A sales representative for Best Price Tiles in Ennis, he admitted his experience of playing for Portsmouth, Fulham and in the League of Ireland is of “zero help” when it comes to management. “From playing to management or coaching is totally different, it is a help in terms of the experience and dealing with players but it is a different kettle of fish, I’ve to work with what I have in Newmarket”.
Following his resignation as Longford Town manager in 2009, Alan has been in charge of Coole FC, Tuam Celtic, Swinford FC in Mayo, Ballina Town FC and most recently Kiltimagh Knock Utd. “Success is looked upon in different ways, Swinford stayed in the Super League when it went from ten to eight teams after coming up from the lower division. Tuam Celtic stayed in the Premier League after they were promoted. Ballina finished second and got to the Connacht Final. From a coaching perspective, there’s different forms of success depending on where you are”.
His latest challenge is one he is readily enjoying and points to the enthusiasm within the Newmarket dressing. “Since I’ve come in, what I’ve been struck by is their enthusiasm and what I could see in the dressing room was definitely talent. Since we’ve got to work, they’ve showed a really good work ethic, the pre-season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan but I’m pretty happy with it. The focus is on the first game of the league on Saturday away to Shannon Town and it will be a tough game”.
Newmarket Celtic Fact File
Management: Alan Gough (manager), Mark McKeogh (coach), Aaron Ryan (S&C), Johnny Ryan (goalkeeper coach) Owen McCarthy (kit man), Martin Cooney (medical)
Captain: Jack Kelly
Key Player: Shane Cusack
One to watch: Martin McCarthy
Fresh blood: Darragh Leahy (returned following suspension), Kieran Mahony (rejoined from Hermitage), Colin Smyth (rejoined from Fair Green Celtic).
Departures Gate: Brian O’Connor (return to Regional Utd), Kieran Hackett (returned to Shannon Town), Antony Dabryntes
Treatment table: None.
Last year’s run: Finished joint third in Premier Division with Tulla Utd, crowned Clare Cup champions for the twentieth time, exited the FAI Junior Cup in fourth round losing to Mungret Regional.
