Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
12MATCH STUARTY A HAPPY ALSO-RAN
Title fight is between Star and Rathfriland, but Foundry boss is still aiming to mix it with Premier’s best
STUARTY DOYLE wants Albert Foundry to finish as the best of the rest in the Premier Division as he tipped Rathfriland to run Crumlin Star close in the race for the title.
The West Belfast outfit conceded late on Saturday to be denied what would have been a huge win against the Whites at Iveagh Park.
Nevertheless, after witnessing Aaron Black’s men tear Immaculata apart a few days before his side met them, he believes the Mourne outfit are quite possibly the best team in the Premier Division.
While East Belfast have the points on the board, Doyle fully expects Rathfriland and Star to overtake them when the games even out, bumping Stephen Matthews’ side down into third.
And after that, he reckons that last top four spot is up for grabs.
Two weeks ago, Foundry also took points off the East – in fact they were only denied all three points after once again squandering a lead at the death.
But the frustration of the dropped points aside, Doyle reckons his team can take heart from the fact they have gone toe-to-toe with two of the three contenders for the title.
He has set his sights on finishing inside the top four, and following a summer of upheaval at Paisley Park, both in terms of the new management team which was installed and significant changes to the playing personnel, he believes that would represent a successful and satisfying season for Foundry.
“I watched Rathfriland last Tuesday night and they were different gravy, they were better than Star,” said
Doyle (right).
“The left winger is a smasher, the No 8 is a cracker and the No 10 was brilliant on the night.
“So after watching them, I was getting myself up for Saturday’s game, thinking about different shapes and challenging myself as a manager on how to play them.
“We needed to get a system to try and shut them down and get something from it and we did that.
“But Rathfriland are quality, I have no doubt they will go on a run of six or seven games and they will be right up there with Star. “My personal opinion is it’s going to be between Rathfriland and Star. Star are favourites because they have got points on the board, they have got quality and have the experience.
“The East have the points but for me, personally, I think they will finish third, and for us there are a couple of teams above us we want to be catching – 1st Bangor and Ards Rangers. “So I’m hoping we can get to 40 points, that would be unbelievable for us.”
In his debut season in the dugout, Doyle has had to contend with an excessive list of injuries, with forward Paul Mccord the latest withdrawal from his decimated squad.
But he has taken comfort from the fact it hasn’t dented their fighting spirit, with the Foundry chief buoyed by how his players rolled their sleeves up when the chips were down.
“We’re competitive, there’s no doubt about that, but with the amount of obstacles we have had from the start of the season to now, with injuries, it’s been quite tough,” he said.
“For the boys to be where they are is good. Around October time, after the first nine weeks of the season, we were flying.
“But I think that maybe gave a false indication to people, and then we had a bad run after that, but with the bad weather and all the cup matches you are not really too sure where you are.
“But I said to the boys this is exactly where I thought we are in terms of progression.
“When I came in, I said I wanted to get the camaraderie going, get a run in the cups, steady the ship and get more points than we did last year, 29, and to finish higher than we did.
“Nobody has really battered us this season and people have been putting their bodies on the line all over the pitch for me.
“And the most pleasing thing for me is that no matter what I tell them to do, or what system I tell them to play, they go and do it.
“I haven’t heard one mute, they have went and done it and they are digging in for me.”
Doyle also hailed the impact of teenage goalkeeper Tony Martin who has come in and solved what was a problem position earlier in the season.
“I gave him a go and he’s taken his chance,” said the Foundry chief. “And you want to have seen him on Saturday, he saved a penalty from James Costello (circled above) after about 10 minutes and he tipped another one onto the bar.
“They could have been two or three up but he’s been brilliant and I told him on Saturday he’s been the best signing I’ve made this season.
“I feel if we had have had him at the start of the season we would have a couple more points.”