Downpatrick's Ciaran McCurry interview - 14/12/2004
By Terry McLaughlin
DOWNPATRICK manager Ciaran McCurry
is convinced that the future is still green and white
despite having to suffer as the RGU miss out a promotion
slot to the first division.
It means that the famous green and white hoops will
be performing their football in the second tier of
Down club football for at least another season.
But with the benefit of hindsight the popular McCurry
feels that the transition phase that the club is going
through will be strengthened by having a longer learning
curve to complete before the RGU is back with the
big boys.
And the Downpatrick manager has been given a major
boost by the confirmation that three of the club’s
most experienced players will be prepared to turnout
again in pursuit of the promotion prize once the new
season starts.
“Its my understanding that Kyran Smyth, Danny Carville
and Richard Starkey don’t want to hang their boots
up just yet.
“It was a difficult campaign last time for all concerned
but to know that we have three such magnificent servants
still available to help the club cause on the playing
pitch means an awful lot to all at the RGU.
“They can help with the playing development of quality
younger players coming through the club ranks.
“Despite some negative comments in some quarters outside
the club we know that we have a number of excellent
players coming through that can act as the platform
for success in the future.
“The likes of Marty Robinson, David McLeod, Andrew
Telford and Andy Bowd have the potential to make a
significant contribution to the development and revitalisation
of the RGU.
“But we all know and accept that there is no such
thing as instant success. We have marvellous structures
in place off the pitch as far as the club is concerned.
There
is a depth of support for the club that we can tap
into.
“But we know that we have to get the structures right
as far as bringing forward a consistent flow of underage
talent as well as more mature players that can adapt
and slot into the demands of the senior squad.
“Modern football is a pressure cooker atmosphere that
requires a very big pool of players. It no longer
is simply a case of having a bare starting line-up
of 15 players.
“The club and team management, as well as the players
understand these realities and I am confident that
we can work towards achieving our objectives in the
new season.”
A fiercely proud man, Ciaran McCurry feels that it
took his players a long time to get over the backlash,
mentally and physically, of the disappointment that
followed in the wake of their first round championship
exit at the hands of eventual champions, Bryansford.
“I suppose the only positive I that we can take for
the drubbing we received is that we went out to the
eventual centenary champions.
“Given the respective form books it would be fair
to say that the Ford would have beaten us nine times
out of ten.
“However the margin of defeat was one that really
hurt. Nevertheless we were well in the game for the
opening 10 to 15 minutes and it was only a bad mistake
that gave the Ford the opportunity to grab a rather
fortunate opening goal.
“Our season took a long time to get back on the rails
after that loss.
“But it has to be said that we did well to eventually
bounce back and make it through to the play-offs for
promotion.
“And I am convinced that if we had been able to call
upon the services of a full panel we would have gone
through.”
The fact that the RGU had to play those vital promotion
matches without the support of the talisman influence
of Gerard Deegan is something that still rankles with
the normally placid McCurry.
“We were forced to play a nothing game, a meaningless
match against Carryduff, we were already in the top
four and they were doomed to the bottom four.
“Nothing was going to be changed by insisting that
we played that match. It led to Gerard ripping his
hamstring very badly on a miserable day.
“The fallout for us was that we had to play crucial
matches without our leading score taker. When you
add in the fact that we were also without Barry Gracey,
Richard Starkey, Danny Carville, Greg Deegan, and
Donal McCartan as well as having other players only
half fit, it shows just what we were up against.
“That is not making excuses. It is a reflection of
the reality of the difficulties we faced at a critical
time in the season.
“In the end it was Saval and Warrenpoint that went
up. But its worth remembering that over the season
Saval were beaten once by us in the league with the
other league game drawn.
“Even with an injury hit squad we still clawed out
a draw in the play-offs. Other results however didn’t
go our way, especially against a strong Warrenpoint
team.”
Now however all that Ciaran McCurry is looking forward
to is starting a fresh season with a clean slate,
particularly on the injury front.
“Greg Deegan is over a hernia operation and we can
look forward to him being there to make a contribution.
“Sometimes supporters don’t realise just how tight
and competitive the second division is. We went through
a tough learning exercise last season. We have to
accept however that when it came to the promotion
battle we blotted our exercise book.
“We have learned a lot from the past 12 months, about
ourselves as individuals and as a team unit. The priority
now has to build on those lessons.
“A run in the championship would be nice, but it is
not a priority. We want to get back in the top flight
and we know that we have the players to do just that.
“Downpatrick needs to have a strong team competing
at the highest level. That is the priority and the
prize that we want.”
