A EFFORT BY NEW MEN.. Joint bosses Smyth and Nash turn weak United into strong favourites for title win

TABLE-TOPPING Derryhirk United know they will get a true sense of where they are this weekend.

The Lurgan outfit have Division Two in the palm of their hands with eight wins from 10 outings so far.

Five victories on the spin in all competitions has the wind firmly in their sails.

It’s all a far cry from last season when they won three games in total and finished second bottom.

In came new management team Michael Smyth and Colm Nash, who brought with them a recruitment plan and a clear idea of how they wanted their team to play.

And, boy, has it been working.

Next in their sights is top-flight Ballymacash Rangers in this weekend’s Marshall Cup fourth round.

A brilliant 2-1 win over Oxford Sunnyside in the Marshall Cup at the end of November was the springboard to a fine run for Derryhirk.

That sequence yielded three league wins in a row, scoring 16 goals along the way, and continued into Saturday’s Foster Cup triumph over Lurgan United.

Cash will be the first Intermediate A side Hirk will have faced so far this season.

And Smyth (below) wants his side to go out and enjoy the challenge.

“All of the pressure is on Ballymacash in this game,” he insisted, “they have it all to lose.

“They had someone down watching us against Lurgan United so it shows they’re treating us with respect.

“It’s a big tie for us and, as a young manager, I love these big games.

“We put Lower Maze out earlier in the season and Oxford Sunnyside in the third round so the boys have stood up when it’s mattered.

“We had actually lost the week before that

Oxford game against

Goodyear but I went there quietly confident for some reason.

“I’ve the same feeling about this Saturday, we’re really looking forward to playing Ballymacash.

“It will be a good test for our boys and a good measurement of where we are and how far we have come.

“It’s been a crazy season already, I think we’ve surprised a lot of people.

“We’ve come a long way from last season and there’s not much fear from the lads going into any games.

“We’ve scored the most goals in the league and conceded the fewest which is great to see.

“It’s very difficult to get a clean sheet in this league because there are some good sides in it but the most important thing is to keep winning.

“That’s what we have been doing and that’s down to the lads we have here – there’s a good blend of youth and experience and we have something really special in that dressing room this season.

“I’ve been about different clubs but there’s just a really special feeling here and long may that continue.”

With eight wins, a draw and just the one defeat, it’s been an impressive opening half to the campaign by Derryhirk.

Goodyear share the same points tally at the top of the pile but United have five games in hand on them.

However, the temptation to assume it’s going to be a stroll to the title and promotion isn’t one that the management team or players are falling victim to. Smyth added: “There’s a long way to go still.

“We have to play Banbridge YCOB twice, we’ve to play Scarva, we’ve to play a lot of difficult league games. We’re delighted to be where we are but we have to finish the job now.”

Not only do they meet the Old Boys in the league home and away, the two will go head-to-head in a mouthwatering Foster Cup semi-final.

Hirk booked their place in that tie with a 3-2 win over Lurgan United on Saturday with two goals from Ryan Hughes and one by Jamie Lavery.

Lurgan may be languishing at the foot of the table but Smyth admitted to butterflies ahead of the game.

“I was nervous, yeah, “he said. “Lurgan United have strengthened a lot and will cause teams problems.

“Saturday was probably like a cup final for them which made me nervous – more so than the Oxford game.

“But I thought we did very well and the final 3-2 scoreline wasn’t really a true reflection of the match.

“I thought we were always in control and could have scored a few more on the day.

“Form goes out of the window in a cup game so a win was all that matters and we got that.

“That sets us up for Banbridge YCOB in the semi-final which should be a cracking game.

“I don’t know a great deal about them but they will definitely be difficult opponents.

“They’ve only lost once in the league so far, the same as ourselves, and both sides will want a cup final place so we can’t wait for that.

“But our focus is now on Saturday and playing Ballymacash in the Marshall.”

That game is one of three Marshall Cup ties this weekend.

Also in the fourth round, Valley Rangers host Laurelvale in what should be a close affair, while there’s a third round tie between Coalisland Athletic and Hillsborough Boys.