12MATCH

A BULLISH Phil Mcdonagh insisted Comber Rec were fired up to silence the doubters after they thrashed Newcastle to claim only their third league win of the season.

After a couple of years challenging for the 1A title, the Park Way outfit have been uncharacteristically off colour in the early stages of the season, leading observers – and even some players who Mcdonagh has tried to sign – to draw the conclusion they are a club on the slide.

But in an impassioned defence of his team, the defiant Comber boss has explained away their troubles, and points to a number of reasons for optimism – an easing injury crisis chief among them.

The recent capture of talented teenager Jack Smith has certainly boosted the club – the former Crusaders youngster grabbed a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-1 rout – while the return of Jordan Dougherty is also hugely significant.

Last season’s top goalscorer and player of the year had been sidelined for eight weeks, but made his first appearance after injury off the bench at the weekend.

Also on the comeback trail from injury is influential midfielder Simon Hanna, a player Mcdonagh, right, rates as one of the best in the Amateur League, while club captain Adam Whitehead is available again following a shoulder problem and Manus O’gorman is also nearing a return after a groin strain.

All in all, the manager will be welcoming four key players back into the fold, and with back-to-back league wins banked for the first time this season, he’s predicting a muchimproved campaign from here on in.

“We’ve had a poor enough start to the season but, to be honest, we have had a lot of injuries,” said Mcdonagh.

“That hasn’t helped but we have had two good victories there over the last few weeks which is pleasing and it was always coming.

“We have been training hard, there’s a great atmosphere and togetherness in the changing room and a lot of