Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STAND & DELIVER
Teenage keeper Matthews hopes to upstage Blues and emulate his father by lifting some silverware
BY
DUNDELA teenager Marc Matthews is preparing for the biggest test of his goalkeeping career to date against Linfield in the County Antrim Shield this evening.
Matthews, son of former Lisburn Distillery No1 Philip who retired in 2011, is currently on loan at the Championship club from top-flight Glenavon.
And the 19-year-old is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against the Blues, who lifted the league and Irish Cup double last season, at Windsor Park.
“It’ll be a challenge, but I’m excited,” he said. “Everyone who plays football wants to play at the national stadium, no matter what age you are.
“We know everyone will be tipping Linfield to progress and it’ll be a tough one, but we have nothing to lose and we’ll go there with confidence.
“On a personal level it’ll be a great experience. We’ll be big underdogs, but we have a lot of players who have played at Windsor before, so that’ll be a big help.”
Dundela, who have experienced Irish League operators Tony Kane, Johnny Taylor, Jay Magee, Willie Faulkner and Kyle Owens in their squad, have struggled for results this season.
But with new boss Niall Currie, who succeeded Colin Nixon last month, settling into his new role, Matthews is confident the East Belfast club’s fortunes will turn.
“We had a tough start to the season and were unlucky with a few results, but I feel we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
“I’m loving it at
Dundela and the senior players have really taken me under their wing.
“To have the likes of Tony Kane, Jay
Magee, Kyle Owens and
Johnny Taylor playing in front of me is fantastic and you learn so much.”
Given his dad Philip’s (inset) long and distinguished career ‘between the sticks’ in the Irish
League, it was probably inevitable that Marc would follow in his footsteps.
Philip, who hung his gloves up a decade ago, made almost 400 appearances for Distillery and lifted the League Cup with the Whites in 2011. “I remember travelling up to watch my dad play for Distillery when I was young and every match I came away wanting to be like him,” said Marc.
“He goes to all my matches, home and away, so if I ever need advice, he’s always there to give it. Good or bad, he’ll tell me what I can do to improve.”