Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
COLIN MILLAR WE’LL BE AVON A REAL GO
By Smith confident Loughgall can repeat famous Irish Cup victory
LOUGHGALL boss Dean Smith is confident his team can once again topple Glenavon in tonight’s Mid-ulster Cup final.
Smith masterminded a famous 2-1 victory for the Championship side at Mourneview Park two years ago in the Irish Cup quarter finals, but tonight’s showdown sees his men hold home advantage.
The Lakeview Park outfit have not lifted the trophy since 2008 while the Lurgan Blues are the record competition holders and have triumphed in each of the last two editions.
“This is a senior cup final and it’s a massive game for the entire club,” Smith told Match On Tuesday.
“There are many players and clubs who will be in the top division for years but will never have the opportunity to win silverware.
“This is an opportunity not just for us to contest the final but also to win it – we have the ability to do it and having it at our place is a big deal too.
“The amount of work our players have put in this season both and off the pitch is fully deserving of where we are now and the possibility of lifting silverware.
“It was only two seasons ago we were in the semi-final of the Irish Cup and beating top flight opposition along the way.
“We beat a very strong Dungannon team along the way this season and beat Glenavon in that Irish Cup run, so this is not luck because we are doing it consistently.
“This bunch of players is only going to get better and this is the start.”
Loughgall have not only impressed in the Mid Ulster Cup this year but also in the Championship – they are currently third and on course for a possible promotion play-off.
“We have applied for the relevant promotion licence and that is our aim to get it passed,” Smith (right) responded when asked if the club are in a position off the pitch to earn promotion.
“We know there is a little bit of work needs done for bits and pieces around the ground that need upgraded and replaced, but we know what we need to do to reach that point.
“There has been a lot that has gone on behind the scenes to ensure we are in a position to achieve promotion should we have that success on the pitch.
“That is a big statement from the club in terms of moving forwards and wanting to progress as a club, to rub shoulders with the very best in the country.
“It is the league where everyone wants to be and we are no different. Loughgall are in a very good place on and off the pitch – we have a full size 4G training pitch in our complex, our own in-house gym and a very wellmaintained pitch.
“There aren’t many other clubs in our position who have the facilities we have.”
Loughgall have been in a top three slot for virtually the entire campaign to date – but only eight points separate the club from Ards, in sixth, while Newry and Dundela are also closing in – with the three sides immediately below the Villagers having a game in hand.
“If we finish top three, it’s the highlight of my managerial career,” continued Smith.
“We know we are punching above our weight and there’s plenty of clubs around us with more financial power, so the boys on the pitch deserve all the credit in the world.
“We had a bit of a rocky period in December when we weren’t good enough, but last week we beat Ballinamallard away – our second win there this season – and in our last 10 games it’s been all against the top five clubs, more or less.
“The position we are in is due to merit and not through luck or the downfall of others – we have a lot of talent in our ranks and they compliment that with hard work.
“We have a great mix of youth and experience.”
Following three straight league defeats in December, Loughgall have improved since the turn of the year
– winning 2-1 at second-placed Ballinamallard before Saturday’s draw at Dundela.
“We started slowly but once we got into the game, we should have gone on to win,” said the boss.
“We dominated the middle third of the game and missed a penalty at 1-1 and whilst we are disappointed with the result, this is one of the toughest grounds to visit in the league.
“We are always disappointed when we don’t win but obviously you can’t be too down when you pick up a point at a tough ground.”
Loughgall host Glenavon in tonight’s Mid Ulster Cup final at 7.45pm before returning to league action on Saturday, when they host basement side Knockbreda with a 2pm start.