A lot to look forward to in Newtown
Kelly optimistic about next season
AT the recent Wicklow soccer awards Newtown joint managers Gary Kelly and Trevor O’Brien took home the joint manager of the year award for their role in steering Newtown United to a highly successful season. In a season which presented many challenges for the two men Newtown finished in at least the top 2 of all 4 of Wicklow’s major competitions.
On behalf of the duo Gary Kelly gave us his thoughts on receiving the award and on the twists and turns of the year gone by.
“We’re both really chuffed to get the award as there are a lot of top managers in this league. It’s a real justification for the hard work we’ve put in as a team from the start of the year so really myself and Trevor are accepting this on behalf of the whole team and entire coaching staff. Dave Moran is our main coach and has been instrumental in getting us to where we are and John Purdy came in at the tail end of the season from the B team and his contribution as a coach has been invaluable also.”
“Without doubt it’s been one of the most challenging seasons myself and Trevor have had as managers. Through lads not being able to commit or injuries throughout the year we’ve had a lot of obstacles but to be fair the young lads that have come in have been brilliant. I think in total we lost 6 starters from last year’s Wicklow Cup win for whatever reason but I can’t credit enough the lads who stepped in and maintained the high standards.”
“Guys like Ross Davies, who’s 19, has come in and looked like an experienced campaigner at centre half while Dylan Carty is younger again at 17 and he’s been great at banging in the goals for us as one of our main strikers. They’re just two examples of many but I think that having the experienced campaigners in the team really helped the younger lad’s bed into the team well so everyone has had a huge part to play”.
Newtown finished 2nd to Rathnew in the league and lost out agonisingly to Ashford in the Wicklow Cup final but won the Charlie Bishop Cup and still have the Jim McLaughlin Trophy to look forward to.
“To lose the Wicklow Cup final the way we did, to a last minute goal, was devastating but overall we’ll look at the season has being fairly successful.
“PJ Dowling, who’s probably one of the best players to ever play in the Wicklow league, played most of that match with one arm and that’s sort of epitomised our season as just when things seem to be going steady someone gets injured.
“There probably is a small thought of what might have been but I think this year will really stand to younger lads in the team.
If we can get everyone fit and ready at the same time I’d be very optimistic for the season to come.”