Sweeney turns around his fortunes with Exeter
Defender goes from being out of favour to Grecians’ hero with late winner at Bolton
AT the start of the 2020/21 season, it seemed that Pierce Sweeney’s Exeter City career was coming to an end.
Despite having made the most appearances of any player in the previous season, the Irishman was told by manager Matt Taylor he wasn’t going to be a regular part of the plans, lost his number 2 squad shirt, and then didn’t make his first start of the campaign until mid-October.
But now, the 26-year-old is one of the first names on the team sheet, having made 31 starts in 45 league games and crowning it with the dramatic stoppage time winner in the 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderes on Saturday.
However, he is out of contract in the summer, but his recent performances has given him hope that his five-year stay at St James Park may be extended - something that felt unthinkable when the season began in September.
“At the start of the season, it’s not a secret that me and Matty spoke after the play-off final and he said my place wasn’t guaranteed as he wanted to go down a different avenue of player,” Sweeney said.
“He’s the manager and he makes the decision, so it is what it is. It took me a week or two to get over it but the minute pre-season started I hit the ground running and worked my socks off. I didn’t play at the start but when an opportunity came up and came my way, I took it and showed the quality I had and the attitude I have.
“I kind of surprised myself with the way I took it as, if it was a couple of years ago, then I would have sulked and taken it the wrong way, but as you get older, you realise you have to get head down. I think I’ve played some good stuff this season and we have done well, not as well as we would have liked as a team, but on a personal note, I have come over the hurdles at the start of the season and it made me a better player.”
The Irishman is one of a number of Grecians out of contract this summer whose future has yet to be determined, but Sweeney, if offered the opportunity, said that he would be keen to stay at St James Park.
He said: “I am still kind of unsure what’s going to happen, as are a lot of players here and at other clubs. We may make play-offs and get promoted and there is still a lot to play for and we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve been here five years, played more than 200 games for the club, and I’d love to stay here for as long as
I can. If I don’t then that’s football and I won’t have a bad word to say about anyone and if it’s my time to leave then it is what it is and I’ll take it on the chin. But I’ve been proud of what I have done for the football club, and then, if handed a new contract, I’m more than happy to stay.”
Asked if the uncertainty of his future plays on the minds of players at this stage of the season, Sweeney admitted it did but that it was part and parcel of the job.
“I’m not going to lie, but when you have kids, a family, a mortgage, of course you are thinking about it,” he said. “It’s a difficult time as you don’t know if you’ll be living in Exeter in the house you own or have to move your girlfriend and baby away. It’s part and parcel of the job we are in and it is quite difficult to get your head at it but have no choice at the end of the day.”