BY MATTHEW WILSON
BONAGEE United manager Mickey Funston is expecting a stern test this Sunday when his side travel to Central Park for a clash with Keadue Rovers.
Bonagee United have been a few weeks without competitive action, with their 1-1 draw away to Glenea United being their last outing three weeks ago.
Four players from the group were involved in the recent Oscar Traynor Cup meeting against Inishowen League is part of the reason for this gap in competitive fixtures.
Funston said that it’s been difficult being without the weekly routine of preparing for action on a Sunday, with him expressing this period as the most challenging part of the season.
However, the group have been continuing to train and compete for places at training on a weekly basis and the Boangee boss discussed that the time on the training pitch tells him a lot about his players.
“It’s a bit difficult when you don’t have a game to prepare for on a Sunday when you’re used to it.” said Funston. “I went and watched the Occar Traynor last week and it was a very entertaining game, both teams tried to play football in the conditions which is a credit to them.
“As I say to my players, this is the most difficult part of the season. The novelty of pre-season and the start of the season is over and this tells me a lot about the group. The boys who turn up on a Tuesday and Thursday and train properly to stake a place in the team.
“I’m lucky with my squad as we don’t have any outstanding players, everyone is a similar calibre of player which is really good. If you don’t show up on a Tuesday and Thursday then you won’t get your place on a Sunday and I’ve also said when you play, don’t be quiet about it. Go and show everyone what you can do.
“I don’t care who I play, if you put in a shift no matter who you are or what age you are I’ll play you.”
The Dry Arch Park residents have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier Division season. They lost out on the title last term to neighbours Letterkenny Rovers but they’ll be aiming to finish on top this time out.
They currently sit top of the tree, one place ahead of the Leckview Park outfit with Donegal Town in third, four points adrift.
It’s the sort of start that Bonagee United would have hoped for but Funston is remaining reserved on the current league standings, expressing that there’s still a long way to go in the campaign where many things can change.
“I’m one of these people, I don’t get too up or too down. We’ve only played six league games, it is what it is. Nobody worries about who’s top at Christmas, nothing is decided at Christmas. This is the time of the year that you need to be focused about the job at hand
“We’ll only know if the point against Glenea a few weeks ago is a good point in May and that’s where we’re at. When we play Keadue we won’t even have played all of our games as the Donegal Town game was called off because of weather conditions.
“We’re not even half way through our games yet. I’m pleased but am I thinking that it’s a sign of things to come ? No, because you’re only as good as your last game, it’s the great thing about sport.
After a successful playing career in the sport, Funston has stepped into the hotseat at Dry Arch Park this term to oversee the first team.
He was part of Packie Mailey’s backroom staff at the club last year and the rest of the management involved in that side appear to have stayed on alongside Funston.
With the management and group of players staying relatively similar between the two campaign’s, the Boangee boss is viewing this as phase two and is hoping to carry on the work that Mailey did last term.
“I’ve been around a long time, I helped Packie out last year so I don’t really see it as that. I might be the man in charge but as a collective I’ve Damien McClafferty, Michael McHugh, Kyle Maloney and John Rouston there.
“That’s pretty much the backroom staff that Packie had so I see it as phase two. The majority of the players are all of the same so I’m just trying to get on with the work that Packie did.
“I’m trying to continue the standard that he set and keep the boys pushing forward cause it’s a really good group of lads that we have.”
After their three week break from competitive action, Bonagee United return to the field this Sunday when they make the trip to Central Park for a meeting with Keadue Rovers.
It will be an interesting contest, with Funston’s good friend and former Finn Harps team mate Mark Forker standing in the opposite dugout.
It will be the Central Park outfit’s first outing in a month, when they shared the spoils with Donegal Town in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
The former Finn Harps stalwart is aware of the threat that Keadue Rovers will bring in the encounter this Sunday in their own backyard but will be hoping that his side are up for the test.
“We always embrace everybody. We’ve a few injuries but that’s good for the group. We’ve a big squad and if you’re waiting to play and an injury comes up then you should be seeing it as a chance to get your foot in the door and get onto the pitch.
“Keadue is a dangerous side. I know Mark Forker, he’s a good friend of mine so I know Keadue well and Forker also knows the way Bonagee set up because he knows me well.
“Keadue are a serious side and if all things click for them then they’ll cause a lot of teams problems, especially down there.
“I’m very aware of what Keadue will bring on Sunday but that’s the challenge and you have to be up for the test and challenge every week.”
