BY MATTHEW WILSON
GLENEA United manager Sean Coll is hoping that his side can build a bit of form to try and ease their relegation fears in the Premier Division.
Glenea United were in action last Sunday where they held Keadue Rovers to a 0-0 draw at Central Park, keeping their first clean sheet of the campaign.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Coll expressed his delight with the team’s display away from home, keeping their shape and structure for the duration.
“If you had given me a draw going over, I’d have snatched the hand off because we were down a few boys. Barry McGinley’s stag was on and we’d a few away on holidays so I was really pleased.
“It’s the only clean sheet we’ve kept this year. Keadue are a really good side and they play very good football, especially at home.
“I was worried that they might expose us but we focused on keeping a decent shape and it did work and frustrated them.
“We had two or three chances of our own chances that if we’d have taken them then we may have nicked one. I don’t think it’d have been overly fair on Keadue but I thought we played it fairly well on the break as well so overall I’m delighted with it.”
It might only be one point added to Glenea’s tally for the season but it’s one that has lifted them off the foot of the Premier Division and a point that could prove vital come crunch time in April.
There are a cluster of teams above Coll’s outfit that are only a number of points away and the Glenea United boss is hoping that Sunday’s positive performance can help them to build some form.
“It’s huge because one team goes down automatically and a play-off then gives you a real fighting chance.
“From fifth place down, it’s very tight and a couple of wins here and there can do wonders for you. It was good to get over there away from home and take something with you.
“It lifts us off the foot of the table as well which is nice. Even though you’re only a result away from going back down there, looking at the table and seeing that you’re not down there is something to build on.
“A good result, a good performance and hopefully now we can try to build on it.”
The Glenea men have registered six points from their ten league games to date however, they have contested very well in the majority of their encounters, with three of their six defeats being lost by a single goal margin.
Coll feels that his side have performed well throughout the season but feels that in a division of this standard and quality, you’ll get taught a lesson for your errors.
“Performance wise it probably doesn’t. We played pretty well in a lot of our games and I don’t think we’ve been overly embarrassed by anybody.
“It’s small margins, the quality is so good there and it’s small margins. If you don’t take your chances on a given day then good teams are going to punish you.
“It’s been a real learning experience for a lot of the lads. Coming up and playing away from home, we’re not in Pairc Joe this year and that’s probably another thing. You’re playing all of your games away from home in a sense.
“Small things like that make a difference when the margins are so slim and the teams are so well equipped to punish you when you make mistakes.”
It’s been a stop-start season for Glenea United in recent times, with the side playing three games since the beginning of December.
During this period, Coll has had to deal with issues such as injuries and missing players, with the loss of Tiernan McGinty to Strabane Athletic being a big blow to the squad.
This has left them finding it difficult to discover a rhythm and create a synergy amongst the players on the field according to the Glenea United boss.
“It’s been quite patchy and trying to find that fluidity with players. Trying to have the same squad a couple of weeks in-a-row at times is a challenge because boys are leading such busy lives.
“Everything else is prioritised and that’s fair enough, you can’t expect boys to put everything on hold for you. We’ve picked up injuries too which has been frustrating.
“It’s been hard to put the same eleven out week-on-week which you need if you’re going to start putting in performances and getting that synergy particularly with boys at the top end of the pitch.”
Up next for Glenea United is a meeting with Fanad United this Sunday at PCC Falcarragh. It was due to be an away fixture but the earlier encounter between the pair had to be reversed to Traigh a Loch so Coll’s charges will gain home advantage this time around.
Arthur Lynch’s outfit are sitting middle of the pack in the Premier Division and are entering this weekend’s contest off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Bonagee last Sunday.
The Glenea men will be seeking a positive result to try and carry forward the momentum that they’re aiming to build but Coll is aware of the test that lies ahead of his side this Sunday.
“Fanad are such a seasoned outfit and they have so much experience. If you’re not on your game on Sunday then they’ll punish you.
“It’s very hard to get one over on an Arthur Lynch managed side in fairness, I know they didn’t have the result that they wanted at the weekend but they’re a good side.
“There’s no bad teams in this league. If you’re not tuned in from the start on any given Sunday then you’re going to get a trimming from good teams.”
