BY RYAN FERRY
COMMITMENT and consistency have been the key components in Whitestrand United’s impressive season to date, according to team manager, Brian Dunleavy.
The ‘Strand are unbeaten in nine games (six wins and three draws) and are currently third in the Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two.
They are eight points behind league leaders Convoy Arsenal, and four adrift from neighbours Kerrykeel ’71.
However, Whitestrand’s confidence is high at the moment, and even if they don’t make the top two and automatic promotion, they look well placed to secure third and the play-off spot.
Dunleavy admits he was frustrated last year as he felt his team didn’t apply themselves properly and finished sixth in the final standings. However, it’s been a different story this year.
“We are going good. I knew I had that team last year.
“The difference is commitment, consistency and a bit of belief which comes with good performances.
“I knew the team was there to go up and challenge, and I’m not just saying that now.
“Last year some of the boys wouldn’t turn up and some were working but this year we had a talk with the boys before we started, especially with the ones working on Sundays, about what we could do if we got more commitment.
“And it has proven to be the way. They’re buying in fully now and it’s very enjoyable. It’s brilliant for everyone.
“We have no fear of playing anybody and I don’t mean that in a big-headed way. We feel we have the players and the fitness and a good squad that can give anyone a game.”
Young goalkeeper Declan Brougham has looked the part for Whitestrand this year, while Cormac Dunleavy is a lively attacker.
There’s plenty of experience to compliment the youthful endeavour, with the wily Michael Sweeney second in the goalscoring charts with 15 goals, just one behind Drumoghill’s Liam O’Donnell.
“We have a good mix there,” said Dunleavy.
“Kevin McCarry is a good man that has been there for years.
“You have big Michael and Paddy Sheridan, and then we have a few boys who are in and around thirty like Paddy Walshe.
“We have younger boys too. We have Ciaran Sweeney who was with Fanad when they won the First Division. He’s playing well for us.
“There are younger boys again who have stepped up to the mark.
“They are all friendly with each other and get on very well and I think that’s a major thing for us.
“You need the mix. That experience is very important to show the leadership on tough days.”
Dunleavy says the team knew that they had to hit the ground running when the action resumed if they were going to stay in the promotion mix.
That meant heading to McGarvey Park during the festive period, but that graft certainly looks to have paid off.
“We trained hard three times over the Christmas break.
“Between Christmas and the New Year, we had a good couple of hours up at the pitch.
“The boys are generally at a good age and most of them look after themselves. That was never the problem.
“But it’s getting the commitment and we got that over the Christmas break.
“Last year, we played 18 games and two friendlies and we were only able to name the same team twice all year.
“When you’re not playing with each other every week, it’s hard to get that improvement.
“This year the team pretty much picks itself. We have a few boys on the bench that are very good and can come in.
“Some of them are young and they are sticking with it and we really appreciate all the effort they are making. Some of them aren’t getting a lot of game time but they will from next year on.”
Whitestrand defeated Drumoghill 4-2 and then claimed the derby spoils with a 2-1 triumph against Kerrykeel at Rab’s Park.
They followed that up with a 2-2 draw against Convoy, so they have shown they can compete with the best sides in the league.
“The first three games were against the top three.
“We were home to Drumoghill and we beat them and then we beat Kerrykeel and we drew with Convoy.
“That game could have gone any way and we hit the bar a few times late on. A draw was probably a fair result but we could have won it as well.
“I was disappointed we didn’t win it and that shows where we are coming from compared with last year.
“This is my fourth season now and there were some tough years but we have a good team and the boys are enjoying it at the minute.
“We are in contention for promotion, maybe we could win the league.
“I’m not ruling anything out because we have six games to go and we’re just focused on each one of those and we aren’t thinking past the next one.
“We will see where that takes us. There’s a lot of football to be played and there will be points dropped.
“We will just do our job.”
Dunleavy’s men visit Marty Duffy Park this Sunday to face Deele Harps.
Deele have conceded six goals in both of their last two matches but the ‘Strand boss is expecting a tough ninety minutes.
“It won’t be easy up there.
“Any day you go out in that division thinking you’re going to have a handy day, then you will come up short.
“Deele are at home first of all, and they have some very good players up the pitch second of all.
“They are a decent side and if we’re not at it on Sunday we will be turned over and the players will be told that.”
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