Bradley eyes double Slaughtneil boost
SLAUGHTNEIL manager Paul Bradley is keeping his fingers crossed that he might yet enjoy a dual bonus ahead of the start of the club season.
With inter-county action expected to get under way in May, Bradley has been offered a reprieve of sorts as he continues to monitor the fitness of key duo Karl Mckaigue and Padraig Cassidy.
The vastly experienced Mckaigue, one of the best defenders in the province, was forced to miss Slaughtneil’s return to power in Derry last year because of injury, while Cassidy also missed out on the team’s fifth capture of the county title in seven years.
Mckaigue, who has gained considerable experience in the county team’s colours in both football and hurling, would certainly further bolster the defence, while Cassidy had been showing impressive form in the midfield sector before injury.
Manager Bradley has already made a huge impact since settling into his new role and the manner in which he plotted last year’s title triumph augurs well for his team’s chances this time round.
But Bradley, who only stepped down from playing quite recently, is adopting a cautious approach as he contemplates the season ahead.
“Obviously we would like to have Karl and Padraig back on board again but we want to make certain that they are in peak condition,” pointed out Bradley.
“The Derry Championship in particular has become a much more demanding competition with several teams now more strongly in the hunt for the title.
“We would like to have a fullstrength side on duty but we are taking nothing for granted. The league is also very important and I have no doubt that when the action gets under way the matches will come thick and fast, and we will have to be ready for that.”
Bradley, like many of his counterparts throughout the island, is relieved that it has been decided to adopt the split season formula going forward, with inter-county action first on the menu followed by the club leagues and Championships in every county.
“I have never envisaged any problem in going with inter-county action first, and now that we have got clarity, county teams and club sides can focus more strongly on their overall preparations,” pointed out Bradley.
“I think the same principles that were applied last year can be in vogue again this time round. The staging of the Club Championship programme later in the year might also allow for the return of spectators, even in a limited way.”
The 2021 Master Fixtures plan was put into the public domain as far back as December but this must now be redrawn. There are still six county football finals, including that of Donegal, outstanding from last year and it remains to be seen if these will be played or not.
“Obviously there is extra work for the fixtures people at all levels, but we will see how things go. We have to remain conscious that the Covid-19 threat is still with us and we can take nothing for granted on any front,” added Bradley.
Meanwhile, new Louth manager Mickey Harte can take considerable encouragement from the county board’s determination to see work on a proposed new stadium commence in September.
Harte is understood to have drafted his squad and is focused on bringing success to the Wee County while chairman Peter Fitzpatrick drives home the message that no obstacles will be allowed to hinder progress.
“Take my word for it, until we have a stadium which we can truly call home, Louth GAA will beg, borrow or steal to achieve this,” insisted Fitzpatrick.
With a new Strategic Review having been launched earlier this week and fund-raising already under way for the new stadium, it’s all systems go as a county which has wallowed in the shadows for too long sets its sights on better days.
The new €12m (£10.2m) 14,000-seater stadium will be located within a 14-acre site on the Inner Relief Road in Dundalk, making it readily accessible.
Since former Tyrone boss Harte’s arrival towards the end of last year, spirits have soared in Louth and the fund-raising efforts for the new stadium are expected to elicit support from numerous quarters.
Louth have been playing their football in Division Three of the Allianz League and, in common with most other teams, have been nothing more than interested onlookers as Dublin have claimed ownership of the Leinster Football Championship title over the course of recent years.