BY RYAN FERRY
KILMACRENNAN Celtic manager Martin McGinley says his team will just have to ‘move on’ after losing in-form midfielder Matthew McLaughlin to Bonagee United over the Christmas break.
Kilmac are fifth in the league but are unlikely to be in the mix for league honours this year.
Ramelton man McLaughlin is joint-top goalscorer in the league with Cathal McGeever (Glenea United) but has opted to join Bonagee who look set to battle with Letterkenny Rovers for the title.
Kilmacrennan still have plenty to play for and McGinley is looking at bringing in reinforcements.
“Matthew was a big player for us in the first half of the season,” McGinley told the Donegal News.
“In the last five games before Christmas, he scored five goals from midfield.
“Matthew knew how highly I rated him at the club and I thought he was one of the outstanding centre midfielders in the league.
“Bonagee have come in and taken him off us. There’s no bad feelings or anything like that but we have lost one of our best players and we’re disappointed with that.
“We have to move on. So far I have added nobody yet but I have put the feelers out with a number of players and hopefully we will get a couple in before the January transfer window closes.
“Most clubs are in the same position – it’s just identifying the type of player that you need, the kind of character they are and where they fit into the side.
“Aiden Sweeney has come back (from Canada) and has played the last few games for us and he’s a really good player.
“We lost Enda McCormick to a knee injury which was a bad blow but Aiden has come in and fitted in seamlessly.
“He thought he was a bit rusty when he came but I never thought that at all.
“He’s good on the ball and he’s a good athlete. He has picked up a wee injury and hasn’t trained but I’m hoping he will be fit for the Donegal Town game on Sunday.”
McGinley was a popular choice when he took over as Kilmacrennan boss in the summer.
He feels they could have more points on the board but haven’t always come out on the right side of fine margins.
“My over-riding thought is that it is an extremely competitive league.
“Everybody can take points off each other from top to bottom and vice versa.
“In every game, you have to earn your points. It’s a tough division and if you’re not on your game you will be found out.
“Having said that, we have been very competitive in every match. The most we have ever been beat by is a goal.
“Letterkennny Rovers and Bonagee United both beat us 2-1 but we have been in every game right until the end.
“Rovers only beat us in the fifth minute of injury-time at Leckview Park. I thought we played very well that day and deserved a point out of it.
“But we got a sucker punch at the very end when a shot from outside the box hit the post and then our ‘keeper on the back and went into the net.
“The luck has probably gone against us in a few games as well.
“Against St Catherine’s, we were 1-1 up with ten men for 35 minutes and conceded late on.
“We’re mid-table at the moment, and I think we should probably be a bit higher up.
“Hopefully the luck will share itself out over the season.”
While McLaughlin will be missed, Kilmacrennan do look to be developing a settled side now under McGinley.
Christopher O’Donnell has filled a void in goal, while James Doherty, Ryan Shields, and Declan McGarvey provide plenty of experience.
Twins Conor and Stephen Black have been in the team while Paul Bradley and Chris Dillon provide guile and young Mark Patterson has provided fresh impetus in attack.
“I’m new into the job and it took me a few games into the season to figure out what my best formation and team is.
“We have been fairly settled over the last few weeks which is a good thing.
“The boys seem happy and we know what we are doing and we are well organised.
“We’re a tough team to overcome and that’s pleasing.
“We’re in the semi-final of the Brian McCormick Cup at the end of the season so that’s something in the back of our minds as well. That’s a nice carrot for us.”
One factor that has been frustrating for Kilmacrennan is that they have only been able to play one game at their new pitch.
A drainage issue has meant they have had to go back to the Letterkenny Community Centre for home games.
They will face Donegal Town at that venue on Sunday but hope to have their new pitch back in operation in February.
Donegal Town are one spot and two points ahead of Kilmacrennan but were hammered 5-0 by Fanad United before Christmas.
McGinley said: “They beat us on the first day of the season.
“It was probably the poorest we have played and we were still trying to figure out our best system.
“Even with that we still could have got a draw.
“But fair play to Donegal Town they have hit the ground running in our league this year and you have to give them credit.
“They are well organised and fit and they will take a lot of points off teams.
“They got a bit of a hiding in their last game down in Traigh-a-Loch but I’m sure they will want to put that behind them and like us they will want the three points.”
