Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BOB THE JOB FOR MOONEY
Radcliffe Cup tie now a must win game for skip
BY GARETH FULLERTON
PADDY MOONEY believes it is only a matter of time before Dollingstown’s season clicks into gear.
The Dollybirds’ defence of the Intermediate Cup ended with Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Banbridge Town.
Man of the Match Chris Mcmahon (inset) got the only goal of a scrappy first-round clash at Crystal Park.
It leaves Dollingstown with the Premier Intermediate League and Bob Radcliffe Cup to concentrate on this term.
“It was a disappointing result,” Mooney told Match on Tuesday.
“It was one of those scrappy games and one goal was always going to win it, and unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of things.
“Fair play to Banbridge, they worked hard and it was a real battle. There were plenty of good tackles and plenty of bad ones.
“The two clubs are situated about 10 minutes away from each other, so there is a rivalry there and that added to things.
“There are a lot of lads at Banbridge who I would have played alongside at one stage, and a few who I grew up with. There are a lot of familiar faces in both teams.
“I played at Newry alongside Chris Mcmahon who scored the winning goal. So there is a rivalry between the two teams, but a lot of friendships as well.
“The two teams know a lot about each other, and we will play each other in the league in a few weeks’ time. I think it is December 4, and we will look forward to that.”
Defender Mooney believes Dollingstown have been missing some lady luck this season.
Stephen Uprichard’s side have yet to record back-to-back wins in the Premier Intermediate League this season, while the Bob Radcliffe remains the sole cup competition they are left in.
“We hit the post and had one cleared off the line against Banbridge, so we were unlucky,” Mooney added.
“We are the holders of the Intermediate Cup and we wanted to defend it. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we have to turn our focus to Saturday now.
“It wasn’t meant to be this season, but thankfully we have another cup competition to prepare for this weekend.
“The Bob Radcliffe is the only cup competition we are left in now, so we will try and have a run in that.”
The 30-year-old added: “We would love to string a couple of wins together and build some momentum. We haven’t managed to do that.
“It isn’t down to performances, I think luck comes into it, too. And we just need that rub of the green.
“We are working hard and will continue to do that. And I am confident it will come and the results will follow.”
He added: “We can’t put a finger on what exactly is wrong, but things will click soon.
“We have a lot of new faces, and some players have left. So we are still getting to know each other. It has been a bit of a slow burner so far this season.
“There is also a lot of expectation on our shoulders. We won the Intermediate
Cup last time and we finished third in the Premier Intermediate before Covid.
“So people are out to beat Dollingstown, and you notice that teams do raise their games against us.
“We are working hard in training, and we will work hard on Tuesday and Thursday night. Something isn’t just clicking at the minute, but it will come.
“It’s not as if we’re under-performing.
“The good thing with football is there is a quick turnaround and we have another big cup game to look forward to.”
That next cup game is a Bob Radcliffe quarter-final clash with Richhill this Saturday.
Richhill, who got a bye throught to the next round of the Intermediate Cup, currently sit ninth in Mid Ulster Intermediate A and Mooney expects a stern test.
“I have been looking at some of the results and they have been picking up some good wins,” he said.
“We played St Mary’s a few weeks ago, and they are in the same league as Richhill. We won 1-0 and it was a very tough game.
“Richhill will be another tricky test. Cups are different, and sometimes the underdog has more to play for.
“This is the only cup we are left in, so it is one we want to go and win now.
“It should be a good game.”
The Bob Radcliffe is the only cup competition we are left in now, so we will try and have a run in that.