Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MAC HAD TO SHOW METTLE..
Mccaul happy to see off dogged Killyleagh to set up Linfield semi
BRIAN MCCAUL admits Immaculata had to dig deep to see off a lively Killyleagh in their Steel Cup quarter-final shootout at the Cage on Saturday.
The former Linfield ace, who was named man of the match in the tie, was hugely impressed with the visitors who bossed large parts on the game, only for goals from Mccaul and Mathew Fitzpatrick to send Tony Heagney’s men through to the semis, with Linfield Swifts lying in wait at Seaview on Monday, November 27.
Mccaul made his name in the Irish League as a goalscoring midfielder with the Blues but, after returning to the club in a player-coach capacity under Kevin Lawlor last January, has found himself thrust into the heart of the defence this season in the absence of injured skipper Sean Mcgovern.
And admits he’s enjoying his new role, with the Mac now just two games away from atoning for their Steel Cup capitulation to Dundela in the showpiece final in the winter of 2013.
“To be honest, for large parts of the game, I thought they were the better side in terms of getting the ball down and playing,” said Mccaul.
“I think we just ground the game out a bit, we got the lead and then once we got the second goal we were home and hosed but they were a very good side.
“We played them in pre-season and they beat us so we weren’t too surprised that they were a good side and then obviously, going by their results, they have been flying so we were just happy to get over the line – we’re glad to get through.
“The Steel Cup is a point of emphasis for us. There are a lot of other cups we play in and while you never go out to lose a match, there are ones with a higher priority and, as regards the Steel & Sons, a team from the Amateur League would be keen to get their hands on it.”
And for a team like the Mac, the same goes for the Premier Division title.
After being dethroned as champions by Crumlin Star last season, it’s fair to say the Mac are no longer the most feared team in the Amateur League.
And with two defeats already in their league campaign, the early signs are that their rivals from Ardoyne, boasting maximum points from four outings in the top flight and through to the semi-finals of the Border Cup, remain the benchmark.
But Mccaul insists Immaculata have the quality and experience to go the distance with Paul Trainor’s men.
“The Steel Cup and the league are top priorities at the minute,” he said.
“We’ve only played a few league games with all the cups but from my experience it comes down to who can hold it up come April and May when you are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday.
“We haven’t been playing our best the last few weeks but we have experienced players there so we know how to win games and we know we can stay in the mix.”