Six-pointer for Duleek and Ardee on day one

BOTH Ardee Celtic and Duleek flirted with top-flight relegation last year and survival will be the chief target for both clubs again going into the short interim season.

Against that backdrop, next Sunday’s clash between the two clubs at the Tollstone is as close to a six-pointer as you can get in an opening game and it could be a feisty affair given events last spring.

Duleek claimed that Ardee had fielded an ineligible player against them, and had they succeeded they would have moved out of the relegation zone and Ardee would have gone down.

A long drawn-out appeals process ensued, but the decision ultimately went against Duleek and ultimately they had to win a play-off against Athboy Celtic to stay up.

As far as Ardee boss John Flanagan is concerned, though, that’s all water under the bridge at this stage and his priority is dealing with the challenges posed by the change to summer soccer - and in the short term winning enough games in the interim season to ensure his team remain a Premier club.

‘There was a bit of nonsense at the end of last year, but that’s gone now and we’re starting again,’ said the former Dundalk and Drogheda United player.

‘We’ve had a sit-down with the club to see which way is the best to go forward, because there’s going to be clashes with the GAA, that kind of thing.

‘A lot of clubs would have duel players who play once the Gaelic season is finished, and vice-versa, but they are not going to have that choice from next year.

‘We have a very, very young squad - the average age is only 19 - but they are very good players and we still have Ross and Darryn Gaynor providing experience, and the only way forward is to build from the ground up with local players as much as possible.

‘The only good thing is that a lot of teams are going to struggle - the likes of Quay Celtic and Bellurgan would have a lot of GAA players as well - but I would be confident enough about our ability.

‘Only one team is going down this year and I think three or four good results will allow us to stay up.’

The big question is, will Flanagan stick to his plan to retire from football altogether and concentrate on management?

‘The boots are gone,’ he quipped. ‘I will sign on, but I didn’t play any pre-season games.

‘The mind wants to play, but if I play then there’s a young lad who’s not playing and I’m not the future of anything, except maybe on the off-field side of things.

‘If we’re stuck I’ll play, but it’s better if I don’t.’