WISER SHARVIN NOW SOLELY FOCUSED ON

PAUL SHARVIN says Killyleagh will be wiser in picking their fights this year after declaring the title is his No.1 aim.

The Showgrounds men, who kicked off their Division 1A campaign with a 2-1 home win over Kilmore on Saturday, were hoping to gatecrash the race for promotion last season but ultimately ran out of steam over the last two months as the games mounted up.

Reflecting on where things went wrong Sharvin, new to the post last August after spending the entirety of his coaching career in youth football, felt his approach was perhaps too gung-ho and a little naive as he failed to properly prioritise the league.

This season, while still naturally setting his team up to win every game they contest, he intends to be more cute with his squad to ensure they don’t suffer burnout or fade in the make-or-break run-in next spring.

“We’re a hell of a lot stronger this season, we kept everybody we wanted to keep and if you’re asking me about targets, in one word, champions,” declared Sharvin confidently.

“I’m not being arrogant or anything, that’s our aim and that’s what we are going for.

“A good run in the cups would be nice but we’ll learn from last season.

“Last year I thought we needed to win every pre-season game and every cup game to get the crowds back again down at the Showgrounds.

“That helped us but it also crippled us, especially when it came to the midweek games.

“I thought we could do it because we had a young squad but it crippled us.

“At Christmas time this year, I would love to have played about 10 or 12 games, because last year, we had only played four and it’s no good.”

Sharvin may be frustrated at how last season ultimately panned out, but that they made huge strides forward is beyond doubt.

After too long bumping along aimlessly in 1A, Killyleagh are a force again -- Sharvin has put them back on the map with the club now an attractive proposition once more for players.

It is a fact borne out by their summer recruitment with

Killyleagh’s three main additions all jumping ship from local rivals; centre back Macauley

Foster arriving from