Champions: Monaghan Town
Nicole McDermott
With a commanding 5-0 win over Parkvilla last Saturday, Monaghan Town have accumulated 54 points in Division 2 – uncatchable for the competition with two games left in the North Eastern Football League (NEFL).
Nicole McDermott caught up with Manager Kevin Smith after the game.
AC: The team won 5-0, you obviously weren’t going to let this opportunity slip away. What did you tell them before the game?
Kevin Smith: There has been a determination in this group to win something after finishing runners up last season. Over the last few weeks the players have risen to the challenge noticeably. Extra commitment to more training and bringing intensity into every drill so on reflection it is no surprise we delivered. The manner how we won on Saturday and basically all season has been very pleasing.
AC: The team scored after four minutes. Tell me what happened then. You didn’t seal the deal right away.
Smith: It was a perfect start. An excellent header and settled nerves. But at one nil it was in the balance and Parkvilla threatened several times looking for parity. Denied once brilliantly by an Alan Ballantine save.
AC: Was the team nervous going into it – were you?
Smith: Yes. Some nervous energy in the camp but completely normal and we managed that brilliantly by changing very little and keeping things as normal as any other game despite knowing the magnitude of what the result would mean.
AC: How important was it to score the second one just before half-time?
Smith: The second goal was massive. It gave us breathing space. The message at half tine was very simple: Keep doing what we have being doing all season and we’re going to get our rewards for it. And we started the second half very strong and ultimately killed off the game and delivered our first league title in ten years in our 20th anniversary year.
AC: Dillon Kelly with three assists in this match plays an import role for your team. Were you impressed?
Smith: Kelly has been immense this last number of weeks especially. He has a wand of a left foot and combines well with others. But we have goals from everywhere. Terence Mcdonadl. Josh Kelly, Shay Kelly and Dillon Kelly: all contributing big numbers. 10+ goals most of them. I have to mention Paul Smyth as well. Scored a hat-trick today. Always delivering on the big occasions. Ex League of Ireland player. He’s a great role model for the younger players in the camp when he can still deliver exactly when his team needs him. At 45 he still can be relied on.
AC: Tell me about the mix of experienced and young players.
Smith: We have the perfect mix of young players extremely gifted and elder statesmen who have a wealth of experience and are motivated as much as ever with the new beginnings in the NEFL. The club is thriving on and off the pitch.
AC: You’re away on a short break now. What will you focus on in the last matches?
Smith: We are motivated to go unbeaten in the league. We have a Fitzsimons Cup semifinal on Saturday against Athboy Celtic so there's also a chance of progressing to a cup final.
AC: A word on next season?
Smith: There’s a special togetherness in the group and the celebrations were special. But we want more progress and we feel we are in a strong position to be competitive in Division 1 next season. All a learning curve, but we feel we are thriving in the NEFL and there's great structure in the league that has got the buy in from the players who want to develop as players. Special mention to Justin Burke and Yvonne Brady who have been a pleasure and very supportive from day one.