Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FOOTBALL’S COME HUME
Robbie’s double helps make it a memorable season as super Limavady put the Roe Valley club firmly back on the map
IN the end, it just had to be him. The man whose goals helped shoot Limavady United to the Premier Intermediate League title was at it again in the cup final.
And a double salvo from hitman Robbie Hume was enough to put the gloss on a season that will live long in the club’s record books. Hume took his total goals return for the season to 43 with a brace against Linfield Swifts in last week’s Intermediate Cup decider at the National Stadium. Hugh Carlin was also on the mark as the Roesiders added the famous trophy to the league title and Craig Memorial Cup clinched earlier in the campaign. And Hume admitted: “It was a very good way to finish the season. “We were confident coming into the game because we’ve been winning a lot of matches. “We have a lot of confidence and had prepared well for the final. “Linfield Swifts are definitely a good side and we knew by looking at the team sheet they would be tough opponents. “But we were so determined to win the competition – particularly as it was our last chance to do so. “We were all set to go and it was great to win it on the big occasion at Windsor Park with a good crowd watching.” Hume has been arguably the main man in a team full of star performers this season. His 29 goals in 27 league games helped steer them to the title but that only tells half the story. He has broken through the 40-goal mark in all competitions with those two in last week’s final the icing on the cake. And the 25-year-old admitted his return has surprised even him. “I’ve managed to get 43 in all competitions so I’m delighted with that,” he said. “Before the season started I would have taken 23, never mind 43, so I’m very happy. I have had a few hard seasons so I was determined this one would be better. “The whole team knows their roles and full credit to the rest of the boys because there’s a lot of hard work goes in where they maybe don’t get the same credit that we do for scoring the goals. “Personally I’m going into games full of confidence and feel if I get a chance I’ll score. For a striker that’s a great feeling and long may it last.” Such has been the impact Hume has made this past season that other suitors have already shown an interest in him. The Roesiders’ top scorer last season Cathair Friel went on to do the business for Ballymena in the Premiership and many have tipped Hume to do something similar. But he insists he’s more than happy where he’s at and is already looking forward to a crack at Championship defences – after he’s had a rest. “It was a very long, tough season with a lot of games,” said Hume. “At the end of the league season, when we were going for the title, we were having to play Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday and so on. “It was a tough division to play in – no easy games at all. And it’s going to be a good season for the club next year. If we can keep this team together then we won’t be afraid of anyone. Personally I’m enjoying my football for the first time in a long time. “At the minute all I’m thinking about is playing for Limavady in the Championship next season. “The Championship is going to be very strong next season – with the likes of Portadown in there for the first time in a long while. “Going to Shamrock Park and these others places is going to be exciting for the club and reward for the performances the boys have put in this season.”