BY MATTHEW WILSON
DRUMKEEN United manager Phillip Doherty is hoping that his side can put it up to Deele Harps when they meet in the Donegal Physiotherapy Division Two this Sunday.
Drumkeen United contested their first game of the new year last weekend when they made the trip to Callum Friel Park to face Dunfanaghy Youths, with the two sides sharing the spoils.
The Drumkeen outfit led in the encounter courtesy of a strike from Niall Sweeney however, a last minute spot-kick from Andrew Kelly earned the hosts a point.
Drumkeen United boss Doherty was unable to make last Sunday’s clash but insisted that having been told about the game, a draw was probably the fairest outcome.
“I was away for the weekend. I know that Dunfanaghy has strengthened up which is good to see, going by the reports that I heard I think a draw was a fair enough result to be honest. They got a penalty late on.”
“It’s brilliant for the group (a positive outcome). With the bad weather and all, we weren’t out training and we’d two of our main central defenders missing from the game yesterday as well. To be fair, the 1-1 result looks better than losing all three points on Sunday.”
The Drumkeen United manager has been dealing with an injury plagued squad to date this term, with up to eight first-team regulars being unavailable for selection at one point.
However, the majority of these individuals are now returning to grass and will be putting their hand up for a place in Doherty’s starting side in the coming weeks.
“I just got word there, at the start of the season we got three really bad injuries. One of the injuries will have a player out for two years. We had eight men out from the starting team but from next week on we’ll have at least five of them back so we’re back in shape again.
“We’re nearly back to full strength apart from young Dabhan (Doherty), he broke his leg and broke his fibula in seven places but he’s doing well. He’s coming back to training tomorrow night, he’s not allowed to touch the ball but he’s moving well so they want him to do running drills and see how he gets on.”
The St Patrick’s Park residents are currently situated in fifth place in the Division Two table, six points adrift of Whitestrand United ahead of them who they’ll be looking to hunt down as we enter the second half of the season.
Doherty expressed that they are pleased with how things are going and with a stronger squad of players to select from going forward, he hopes that the side can push on in search of the coveted play-off positions.
“We’re pleased with the way that it’s going. With the injuries that we have, we’re sitting pretty. With the results on Sunday, there’s a few sides that did other teams favours as well so it’s all to play for I still think.”
“With most of the players coming back, we’re now looking to push on and play for at least a play-off spot if we can finish in the top four anyway. It’s a tight division, everyone is taking points off every team which is great because you never have an easy match on a Sunday.”
Drumkeen United are back in action this Sunday when they welcome Deele Harps to St Patrick’s Park.
Not much separated the two sides when they met earlier in the campaign, with Billy Sweeney’s outfit coming away with the three points on that occasion courtesy of a 2-1 win.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Doherty discussed that there hasn’t been much between the pair in recent meetings and stated that the Deele men won’t be getting an easy game when they travel to Drumkeen’s own backyard.
“We weren’t too far away from Deele at the start of the season and when they come up on Sunday we know that they’re not going to get an easy game. We’re going out to get three points on Sunday.
“I suppose they’re going to be feeling the same. The last couple of encounters that we’ve had with Deele have been very close and we’re going out near enough full strength on Sunday so fingers crossed we’re going to get three points.”
The St Patrick’s Park residents will be looking for a positive result in Sunday’s encounter to try and apply pressure on the teams ahead of them in the promotion positions.
The Drumkeen United boss stated that the squad is in a positive place ahead of the contest, with a great buzz being held amongst the group since their win over Lifford back in November.
“There’s a good feeling with the group now. Ever since we went down to Lifford and beat them 3-2, there’s been a buzz. With all of the injuries there was a bit of doom and gloom with the squad but that win lifted them and now with the players coming back, they know now that we’re going out with a good squad.”
