Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RUSSIAN ROULETTE FOR HARRY
Intermediate Cup Group One could see Northern Ireland on their travels
MICHAEL O’NEILL’S men may have missed out on the opportunity to compete at the 2018 World Cup Finals, however there could yet be a Northern Ireland representative in Russia.
Harry Mcconkey’s Regions Cup team were draw out of the hat in Intermediate Group One along with Russia, Portugal and the winner of the preliminary round Group A which includes Wales, Greece, Macedonia and Sweden.
“Any one of the four teams can offer to be the host in their group, so like ourselves Russia can through their hat in the ring,” said Mcconkey. No doubt that scenario would hardly be welcomed by Mcconkey’s bosses at the IFA, considering the expense and logistical nightmare that would come with it.
However, from Mcconkey’s perspective that decision won’t happen until after June 10 – and for now the former school teacher is more worried about putting together his squad of players from the East and West of the Province.
“I’ve watched a lot of Championship and Intermediate Premier League football over the past few months and have put together preliminary squads which will be whittled down to 20 come May,” explained Harry.
“We’ve based ourselves at Moyola Park’s ground at Mill Meadow in Castledawson and with it being a 3G surface it gives us more flexibility with games.
“Mervyn Pattison and the club have been very welcoming and although it means a bit of a drive for the lads from the East, it nevertheless ticks all the boxes for what we need.
“We’re still in the very early stages of our preparations for putting a squad together and by the time February is out we’ll have had a better opportunity to look at both squads.
“We had a hastily arranged game at the end of January to facilitate a request from Kenny Shiels to play Derry City and it gave a few of the boys an opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition.
“With the season at such an important stage at both ends of the respective tables it’s difficult to arrange friendly games that suit everyone.
“However, we’ve arranged an in-house game between both squads for Wednesday, February 21 and after that it will be a case of just keeping track on those players and a few others that can still force their way into the reckoning come May.”
The Regions Cup is Europe’s top competition for Amateur players and 39 nations will be involved in the preliminary and intermediate stages of the competition.
The eventual eight group winners of the intermediate round will qualify for the final tournament, with the finals taking place in the last two weeks of June 2019, hosted by one of the teams that qualify.