Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER
Mcneill praises squad’s approach
JOE MCNEILL hailed the togetherness of the Amateur League representative side after his brother Aidan’s matchwinner recaptured the Britton Rose Bowl crown on Saturday.
After a run of three successive wins, the NAFL were well beaten on Scottish soil last year, crashing 4-1 at Lesser Hampden to relinquish their hold on the end of season showpiece.
But they earned their revenge at Iveagh Park at the weekend as Mcneill and co, captained by Albert Foundry defender John Burns and managed by Crumlin Star chief Paul Trainor, secured a tight but deserved 1-0 win. The performance was all the more impressive considering preparations were hardly ideal, with Trainor parachuted in at the last minute with barely enough time to put a squad together.
“It went well, I thought we were always in control of it,” said the Star midfielder (inset) who was representing the Amateur League for a third time.
“Now there wasn’t loads and loads of chances, but all the chances, we had them,” he added.
“We hit the crossbar, we had a oneon-one we missed, and in my opinion we had two stonewall penalties for handball that weren’t given either.
“But to be honest Chew [Trainor] pulled together a good team, it was strong and we were really in control, and after about 20 minutes it just felt like I was playing with the boys at Star.
“Even speaking to all the boys after it, they loved him, how motivated and how pumped up he got us all.”
Mcneill believes his Amateur League counterparts were faultless to a man, but felt skipper Burns was deserving of extra praise for the way he led his troops.
“I thought John Burns was unreal, great leadership qualities and a great lad too,” said Mcneill.
“And Nathan O’neill did very well in centre midfield as well, protecting the back four.
“But all the lads played well, everyone did their bit from one to 16.”
Back on the league front, and Mcneill says last week’s 2-2 draw at Ards Rangers was the reality check Star needed as they bid to complete their quest for a remarkable Premier Division, Clarence and Border Cup treble.
With the latter already in the bag, Trainor’s men need just seven points from their last four games to secure back-to-back titles with Crumlin United next up tonight, before their showdown with Sirocco in the last cup final of the season.
“Obviously, we have five massive games left,” said Mcneill.
“It will be a tough game tonight, it’s always tough going up there.
“They will put it up to us but we have great momentum behind us.
“Ards Rangers put a wee dent in it but it was probably the kick up the backside we needed because after we beat Rathfriland 4-0, we maybe thought we were untouchable and we never brought the same intensity or attitude into the game last Saturday and it came back to bite us.”