*Tomás Hehir has made the step up from the Avenue Utd B side to the club’s A team. Photograph: Oliver Fitzpatrick
With the Maloney Hardware Premier Division set to get underway this weekend, clubs have been busy finalising arrangements over the past couple of weeks.
Some clubs have taken part in the League Cup competitions which have now reached the final stage with the deciders set to be played over the October Bank holiday weekend.
A number of clubs opted not to take part in the League Cup, some struggling to get panels together as players were reluctant to return as Covid is still prominent while others didn’t want to put pressure on players who were committed to other codes.
Avenue Utd A manager, David Russell said they treated the League Cup very seriously and will be bringing the same approach to the League as they bid to take down reigning champions Newmarket Celtic.
One club that has struggled to get a squad together is Shannon Olympic who will get their season underway this Sunday when they entertain local rivals Shannon Hibs at Olympic Park.
Clare District Soccer League Treasurer, Tony Downey is in the hot seat as Ennis Town manager, he flagged that their young side will take time to find their feet against more experienced outfits.
“Originally there was a fear that we would fold as we were unable to field in the league cup. This was due to a combination of factors including players waiting to get their vaccination. We don’t have players coming through as we don’t have underage teams. We are likely to be pushed to stay in the division this season. For a lot of the lads in our squad, it could be their last season as they have been part of the club for some time”, team manager Dave Flaherty explained to The Clare Echo.
“This is a big game for us on Sunday, a local derby in Olympic Park. We need to get a few results early in the campaign”, he added.
For Lifford manager Anton Mannering “it would be lovely to win a title as the club hasn’t achieved anything major in recent years. It’s the 60th anniversary of the club this year and while we would like to win to mark that anniversary, it would be crazy to put that pressure on. Right now the main focus for Lifford is to win more games than we lose in a season and if we can do that it will be great. There is no expectation that we must win anything but if we can manage to do so it will be great”.
“We are all delighted to be back playing. Covid has had an effect in that those not committed in the first place have drifted away whereas those who are committed to the game have kept themselves in gopod order and have have come back in great shape,” Mannering said.
