Boyne Harps hoping to be in the shake-up

BOYNE Harps manager Wayne Wright is hoping a kinder fixture schedule than last year will boost his side’s chances of finishing in the title shake-up in the interim season.

Twelve months ago the Drogheda side - who play their home games at United Park - started the campaign strongly and were still top of the table going into the Christmas period, but it was a false position to an extent as they had played up to seven games more than their rivals.

Understandably, their challenged faded in the New Year as the difficulties posed by only playing once a month proved insurmountable, but they’re starting with a clean slate now and Wright believes the short season could be fiercely competitive.

‘It’s a bit silly (the interim season), but everyone voted for it and it’s about about next March when the new calendar season starts,’ he said.

‘We were top of the table for a lot of last season and I feel the league handled our fixtures very badly, but I’d like to think we’d be up there again.

‘March is the target, so we just want to stay in the division first and foremost, but there’s no team I can say is better than us by a million miles and we’re not better than anyone else by a million miles.

‘Everyone said Trim or Muirhevnamor would win it last season and the ‘Well cruised it, so you just don’t know.

‘Muirhevnamor and Trim will be strong again. I don’t know about the ‘Well, but they seem to have steadied the ship, and Duleek will be decent as well - Pete Brennan seems to have signed half of Brazil for them!’

Former League of Ireland star Gavin Brennan, who arrived during last season, has moved on to Warrenpoint Town - he made his debut for the Irish League club against Coleraine last Saturday - and keeper Bryan Smith has gone to Duleek, but the squad otherwise remains intact.

Additions include Danny Coyle, Shane Lowney, Jack Boylan, Nathan Seery and Dylan Rice and this weekend’s first game away to Trim Celtic should give some sort of indication about how strong Harps are likely to be.

‘They’re a good bunch, they’re working hard and we’re getting there,’ Wright summised. Watch this space!