JOE.ie attended the official launch for the brand new SSE Airtricity League season in the Aviva and spoke exclusively to two of the managers. Here’s what they had to say.
Martin O’Neill was the guest of honour at the launch and he spoke as he always does, with passion and charisma. He realises the value of a strong local game and said that he would be attending as many Airticity Leage games as possible. He was at pains to point out that he wouldn’t be going to the games merely as a PR exercise, but for genuine interest in the young players coming through, adding that 12 of the squad that he picked last time out had come through the League of Ireland at one stage or another, so he knows the local game is a potent source of future international talent.
First up, we spoke with Bohemian Football Club manager, Owen Heary (pictured below) who announced that he was the official manager now after not being able to take the mantle last season due to not completing the required level of coaching badges. Heary took over last season in all but name from Aaron O’Callaghan who departed after a run of poor results. He helped the club stave off relegation and is looking to do more this season, stating ‘I think we have the squad to do well this season. Looking to be nowhere near the bottom three and hopefully a good cup run too.’
Bohs have made some decent signings in the close season including the capture of experienced campaigners such as Jason Byrne, Aidan Price and Paddy Kavanagh, with those signing being a key part of their preparation for this campaign: ‘At the end of the season, myself and [assistant manager] Graham O’Hanlon sat down and reviewed the season and we both felt that we needed more experience. When Dave Mulcahy and Anto Murphy were out injured we only really had Derek Pender there to lend us his experience on the pitch. We knew we had to address that so that’s why we brought those players in. The younger players in our squad will learn from these guys, players who have won league medals throughout their careers.’
Heary was impressed with Martin O’Neill and not just his speech at the launch. ‘In fairness to Martin, he seems genuinely interested in the local game and he even popped up to us on the Pro Licence course last week for a pep talk, telling us tales of his experiences as a manager, it was really insightful. He has taken an office up in the FAI and he is doing what he says he’s going to do, it’s not just lip service. I’m actually going out to Malahide to meet up with both Martin and Roy Keane at the squad training session next week and it’s something I’m really looking forward to.’
One of the most colourful and always entertaining characters in the local game is the irrepressible Roddy Collins (pictured below) who is the new manager at Derry City. The Candystripes have been a bit of a sleeping giant in Irish soccer and haven’t won the league since 1997 and Collins has been appointed by the board with that one exact mandate – take home the league title.
‘That’s 100% true. The only reason I’ve gone to Derry is to do just that – win the league. I had other options, but Derry have the potential, the history, the structure, the support, they have everything needed to succeed and that’s all I’m interested in. It’s been way too long since this club won the league, way too long! Our new signing Cliff Byrne, who has been in England with various clubs for the past 12 years, said to me recently that apart from Sunderland, Derry City is the most professional outfit he’s been at. Sean Barrett has been great to me since joining. Everything I ask for is delivered. At some clubs you’d face a battle if you asked for extra training balls, but not here which is great. The other side of that is that it leaves me with no excuses; I have the squad and the structure. Everything is in place’.
He’s made some very strong signings during the close season and this has added to his own self-belief that Derry are about to make a serious assault on the league crown. ‘We signed Danny Ventre from Sligo Rovers, their all time most successful captain. Straight away I have a ready made captain and I’m thrilled that he’s joined us this season. We’ve also signed Cliff Byrne and Mark Stewart as well as Aaron Barry from Sheffield United, and all of those lads are just adding to the talent that is already up there in Derry. That squad finished 4th last season and were the top scorers in the league so we have made some great acquisitions. Even just today we signed Jon Paul McGovern who has played over 450 games at Championship and League One level and the credit again goes to the men behind the scenes such as Sean Barrett for making this all happen.’
There’s no doubting that there’s a real buzz about the League this year with some of those aforementioned players bringing their talent and experience back home, and with big names like Keith Fahey and Stephen McPhail getting a huge amount of attention from media and fans alike, we could be in store for one of the most exciting campaigns to date.
