McDonnell expecting nothing ‘Andy’ from Gaels
ANDY McDonnell reckons Newtown Blues should have more final appearances under their belts, and even a few more Joe Wards, but he’s taking nothing granted against Dundalk Gaels on Sunday.
‘The last time we were in the final was 2013, before that, before I came, it was ‘08. So I suppose with the talent we have we probably haven’t been in as many finals as or we’d like.
‘We’re looking forward to Sunday, but we know it’s going to be a tough game. The Gaels probably the form team at the minute.
‘They haven’t been beaten since, obviously Clogher’ got them in the semi final of the league but they’re flying and we’ll be up against it on Sunday.
‘Everyone knows the way they play and it’s going to be tough, to try and break them down.
‘But, we’ve got a good bunch of lads here and over the last couple of months we’ve managed to turn it around and the main thing after June, I suppose, was staying up in the league.
‘That was the main thing and nothing else mattered. To progress through the group stages was a bonus.’
It’s probably no great surprise that Blues have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes since McDonnell returned from a two-year spell abroad, but he paid tribute to new boss Ronan Phillips.
‘I was away for a few years traveling. I don’t regret it but, I came back last year and maybe didn’t get a run when I thought I should have.
‘But Ronan’s come in this year and he’s been very good, you know. He’s a good club man and he has the boys on board, Donal, Feargal and Darren. They were there since the start of the year and we’d only seven or eight training. I’s been tough for them but they stuck at it and the lads now have bought into to what it’s about.
‘Ronan is a very good man manager and he knows the game himself. He’s done a bit of managing before as well. So, yeah we got a good core management there. And you know, everyone gets on well and if you’ve something to say, people aren’t afraid to say it to him or he’s not afraid to say it to players.’
While getting embroiled in a relegation battle in the league was a difficult time for everyone, but it has also inspired the Blues.
‘We just got off to a bad start and we got a hammering against the Dreadnohts and it’s embarrassing with people laughing at you - it’s not nice. But we turned it around, I suppose we got a few lads back. Lads with the 21s, a few injuries cleared up and lads playing soccer and that came back.
‘We’ve I suppose you’re better off clicking this time of the year than the start.’
The Gaels are moving well too and possibly peaking at the right time also, but McDonnell insists the Blues just have to concentrate on their own gameplan.
‘We can only control what we do. Obviously we will keep an eye on what they do, Ger McSorley is flying. They’ve got a lot of players you need to keep an eye on, but as I said, we’ll go in confident and hopeful at the same time.’