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guished career in the Irish League, first with the Dixon Park club, then latterly with Ballymena United and Coleraine, whom he represented in the Uefa Cup.

He brought the curtain down on his playing days, aged 43, at Ballinamallard United, the club he would guide to a Second Division title some years later, before assisting Joe Mcaree at Dungannon Swifts during their run to the Irish Cup final and subsequent forays into Europe. It’s been quite a career, but where does this rank among all that?

“It would say it’s definitely one of the highlights of my career for sure,” he said.

“When you win a league title like I did with Ballinamallard, and you know how much you put into the whole year, and we were underdogs too, there’s no doubt about it, that was incredible.

“We built a team there on pittance and no one was giving us a chance but things went our way with the league title.

“This is more of a shorter-term thing, but having said that I’ve been doing this for 12 years so to finally get a piece of silverware at the end of this one, it’s right up there.” Mcconkey also reserved a special word for his backroom team, always the unsung heroes in any successful football side.

“Always surround yourself with good people they say,” added Mcconkey.

“My coach Gerald Boyle is a former junior international captain of mine at Ballinamallard and Dergview and has been brilliant for me and the players since he joined me in 2013.

“The kitman Ernie Conlon, who was my kitman at Ballinamallard, has been with me since 2005 when I started – they are two of the best.

“And Fred Mccleary, also formerly Ballinamallard, and Trevor Mckendry (now at Coleraine) were my two previous coaches and both great lads to work with.”

PITCHING IN On the sidelines during a Regions Cup match in Serravalle, San Marino TALKING TACTICS Over the past 12 years Harry has always prepared his squad as best as he could IT’S GAME ON The players enter the pitch for the clash with the Isle of...