Neilly hungry for glory after bitter defeats

GLENCORMAC UNITED could be putting Neilly Martin’s retirement plans on hold. The Newtown United captain lifted Wicklow’s blue ribbon trophy in 2010/11 but after two defeats on the trot in the final, the Magpie wants another success on his CV before hanging up his boots.

Ashford Rovers’ Andy Premier success has also made him reconsider retirement but should Newtown axe the Glens on Sunday, don’t be surprised to see Martin and his fellow 30 somethings happily walking off into the sunset.

Still reeling from two successive final defeats, his side need little inspiration but he is hoping that Glencormac don’t use on of his greatest days against him when he defeated a team a division above him in a cup final in the noughties.

“I’ve been thinking about lifting the Wicklow Cup for a while now. The only reason myself and PJ (Dowling) are still playing football is because we lost last year and that’s the truth. Myself and PJ had said we’d retire but we were hoping to win the league too and we didn’t win the league so we might have to hang around a little bit longer.

“I said to someone today about the first cup I ever won with Newtown United - it was the Charlie Bishop Cup about 15 years ago. We played Enniskerry and we were a Division 1 team and Enniskerry were a Premier team. They expected to walk all over us and we played them down in Wicklow and we kicked lumps out of them down there. They thought they’d just turn up on the day and play it around us and beat us but it didn’t happen.”

Martin and co. are no strangers to the big days out. Their trophy cabinet almost needs an annual extension, while the Glens have had the Mr. Muscle out to polish theirs down after 16 years without an addition. Newtown’s superior experience could benefit them but Martin knows what the Kilmacanogue side are capable of.

“I think they’ll be nervous alright but I think a few of our lads will be nervous too. There’s a good few who aren’t as old as myself and haven’t been around and they might feel the nerves. I think they’ll (Glencormac) be nervous though and the first 10-15 minutes will show that. We’ll see who is up for it and who isn’t up for it. Nerves will always show.

“We played them in that and they went ahead twice. They brought on a couple of subs that hadn’t been there to start the game and that changed the game a bit. We got into it then and did kick on and play well but it was definitely a fright.”

Despite a few injuries, Martin thinks the side that takes to the field on Sunday is in a better place than the last two years. Victory on Sunday would mean the Magpies are halfway to a possible quadruple. Martin hasn’t given it much thought – nor has he considered a third Wicklow Cup silver medal in a row.

“We lost last year and the team we had last year was very good. The team this year; lads have gotten a year older and (matured)...we’ve a few injuries though - Evan (Moran) is still injured and Matt (Kennedy) is still injured which doesn’t help. They’ll be hoping to get back in next week if they’re fit but the lads that played well on Sunday; it’s hard just to take them out of the team and put them (Matthew or Evan) back into the team. It’s not as easy as that. We’ll be up for it. I’ll be up for it.

“I usually don’t think too far ahead of myself. I usually think one game at a time and especially being captain. The lads do think ahead like that and I know the management do too because at half time on Sunday they were telling us to be careful not to get sent off because next week is more important - we were winning 2-0 at the time. I never think too far ahead. We’ll get through next week and think about the next final after that.

“Even thinking about it (losing) hurts. It’d be devastating. We lost last year because they (Ashford Rovers) were better than us, a lot of the lads won’t say that but I’ll say it. It’s up to us. We played well against Ashford during the week after losing the league final basically but then we went down to Ashford and beat them and we played well again on Sunday even with a couple of lads missing.”

Everything is riding on Sunday for Newtown. Their town expects a Wicklow Cup trophy to be delivered. With all eyes on Newtown, Glencormac could sneak in the back door and pinch the prize.

“We’re definitely favourites. We’re a Premier team so we’re definitely favourites. As long as the lads don’t take it easy (we’ll be okay) because lads might think ‘ah it’s a Division 1 team’.

“This is their (Glencormac’s) year. They won on Saturday but this is their year and they’ll be well up for it. They’ve nothing to lose at all and we’ve everything to lose. Myself and PJ and a few of the lads have everything to lose. “