I’d love to get the BARA of you again!
North & South on collision course and new gaffer at Windsor Baraclough wants to repeat 2014 Setanta Cup win over Kenny
THE stakes will be considerably higher if Ian Baraclough gets his wish to “lock horns” with Stephen Kenny in November – this time with a place in the Euro 2020 finals on the line.
The last time they met in a final was in the 2014 Setanta Sports Cup in a rain-soaked Tallaght stadium, when Baraclough’s Sligo Rovers saw off Kenny’s Dundalk courtesy of Paul O’conor’s winner.
Six years on, Kenny is the new Republic of Ireland manager and – on Monday – he sent a congratulatory text to Baraclough after his appointment as Northern Ireland’s new boss (right).
“It was good to hear from him,” grinned Baraclough, who also led Sligo to their first league title in 35 years.
“He got the job several months ago now and I immediately texted him my congratulations. It was strange. I said it would be good to lock horns again in November – or the possibility of it.
“We had some good tussles as managers and you’d allow me to say I got the better of him on a couple of occasions, in a Cup final and when he was at Shamrock
Rovers.
“But he managed to turn the tables just as I was leaving
Sligo and he took Dundalk onto great things. It would be nice to meet up in November because that would mean we have beaten Bosnia.”
The play-off final is set for November 12 and, if the Republic overcome Slovakia away in the October 8 semi-final, they will have to travel to Belfast or Bosnia for the decider.
Baraclough exclaimed: “I would love to repeat the 1-0 win I had over Stephen Kenny’s
Dundalk in a cup final! take that in November.
“You build up experiences throughout your career. I can look back on the playoff win over Rangers [as Motherwell manager in 2015] in a two-legged game.
“We went to Ibrox and beat them 3-1 in their own back yard with only 300 of our own in the stadium.
“At Sligo, we achieved a lot in one-off games. You have to treat them as special occasions.
“You can’t allow the players to get too excited, you have to keep your cool. You have to think clearly, not over complicate things and clear processes.
“The players want clarity. They want to know their role. It’s also important they understand each other’s roles as you might have inter-change players at points. Some players may have to play in positions they’re not familiar with.
“But this group of players
I’ll have that knowledge as they have played in big games before. Unfortunately, against Switzerland it didn’t go our way, but the referee didn’t help us.
“The staff have also been involved in these big games. I will glean information from them. Hopefully, we hit the right tone when it comes to it.”
Like Kenny, Baraclough is ascending to the hot seat after a stint in charge of the under-21s, and he described the three years he had in the role as a learning curve.
“I’ve had to adapt the way I coach and manage,” he said.
“It’s the way England and the Republic have gone. I also know the Romanian manager has also stepped up from the under-21s having played against them.
“So it’s a trend that I was pleased the Irish FA went down and it’s certainly one that has got me prepared for what’s ahead.”