Hoops set to make impact
Taken from Down
Democrat
DOWNPATRICK’S
search for the promised land
will be led by a new leadership.
As the quest
goes on for a place in Division
One two new men have stepped in
to lead the Hoops.
Gerard Deegan
and Richard Starkey replace the
managerial part-nership of Paul
Evans and Barry Breen who have
stepped down after fulfilling
their responsibilities during
the past two seasons.
Despite an
exciting run that stretched the
imagination and lifted the side
to the fringe of promotion it
didn’t happen. A disastrous
start to the season came back to
haunt the Hoops over the closing
weeks and the play-offs remained
frustratingly out of reach.
It was a
galloping burst of victories
though that was appreciated by
the RGU faithful and sparked
memories of those glowing,
golden days when the town club
ruled.
True, there
was a touch of disappointment,
but Tomas Ruséil Pairc
reverberated to some great
cheers and action during the
season. The team skipped of the
field with more wins than
defeats on their own patch and
home supporters are always happy
with that statistic.
But that was
last year. A new season beckons.
Evans and Breen will now join
the sideline crowd as their
replacements Deegan and Starkey
step in to try to bridge the
chasm between Division One and
Two.
The new
managers inherit a side that
will almost be a carbon copy of
the squad from last year - with
two notable exceptions.
The new
bosses have called time on their
own playing careers having
served Downpatrick with
distinction over the past couple
of decades.
Deegan, a
former county Down player; brave
and daring; a dynamic forward
whose searing rocket strikes
from deep struck fear into many
opposing defenders and a
prolific scorer, leaves a gap
that Downpatrick have found hard
fill.
They have
been attempting to do that over
the past few seasons as Gerard,
victim of countless hefty
tackles over the years, was
reduced to limited appearances.
A bad shoulder injury sustained
when playing against Warrenpoint
a few years back, was the one
that finally sapped his energy
and he spent many painful hours
in lonely recuperation.
Each time he
was absent the zip and zap was
missing. However, Downpatrick
have learnt to live without
their best player of the recent
past and a new generation is
tussling to wear the green and
white shirts.
Richard
Starkey spent most of his time
as a solid, dependable utility
competitor. An inspiring durable
competitor who sparked many an
RGU revival during a
distinguished career.
The future
looks promising for Downpatrick.
The mixture looks good, but
there may be a shortage of
experience.
The midfield
pairing of the two Peters,
Telford and Turley, have been
playing a huge part in
Downpatrick’s bid to reach the
comfort zones of the division
two over the past couple of
seasons.
Strong, tall
and combative, the Hoops are
lucky to possess two of the best
in the most competitive arena in
the field.
Telford, who
has been granted a few outings
for Down in the National League,
is a soaring leader.
Not one to
flinch or shirk his duty, along
with his partner, they are the
solid spine of the team, their
pivotal roles so crucial.
Downpatrick
now have a mischievous predator
in Kevin Gracey. He has
blossomed into a tremendous,
dependable marksman whose hit
and run raids brought about many
victories last year and he was
rewarded for his performances by
being chosen as the club’s
Player of the Year, picking up
the Brian Quinn Memorial Cup,
which has become a coveted piece
of silverware among the players.
Tony McShane
is the perfect foil for Gracey,
a visionary, inventive scorer
whose is also a creator of
scores as well as a taker.
The Oakes
boys, Karl and Philip, are
another superb duo whilst in
players such as the McGarritys,
Michael and Matthew, Sean Bell,
Neil Cunningham, Damian Turley,
to name but a few, Downpatrick
stake their future.
The
infrastructure of the side still
remains fractured, quite
naturally, as the rebuilding of
a team is a long, painstaking
road.
Young players
may be willing, but physically
and mentally they have to be
gently eased in to meet the
demands of the modern day game.
Deegan and
Starkey will need all their
experience to guide Downpatrick
through the new campaign.
Last season
the RGU missed out on the
play-offs by the slender-est of
margins.
Hopefully
this time they will make it.
