by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
THEY SAY you should go out at the top and after
guiding Moville reserves to the treble, 22 year old
Eunan McDaid has done just that. The Moville man
stepped down after Sunday’s 1-0 Top Four Cup final
win over Glengad United at Maginn Park.
McDaid, who will concentrate on playing for Moville
Celtic next season, bows out after three years in
charge, and does so with the lasting gratitude of
all associated with the Glencrow club for steering
Moville to the Reserve League Premier Division
title, the Reserve League Shield and now the Top
Four Cup.
Speaking on Monday, McDaid said that winning three
trophies was more than he could have hoped for.
“At the start of the year we sat down and targeted
the league, but you don’t expect you can win three
trophies in a season. I had a core squad of 16 or 17
players this year and they all played an equal part
in this great season. I felt it helped that I didn’t
play this year, because if you picked yourself ahead
of someone else, it could be bad [for morale]. But
none of the players complained when they didn’t
start. Conor McLaughlin, who was man of the match on
Sunday, I have left him out in the past and he
hasn’t complained.”
Moville won the match with Kevin McDermott’s 74th
minute strike and McDaid was full of praise for the
contribution of the forward.
“That’s 21 goals in 16 starts for Kevin. He’s a
confident player. Just before the goal, there was a
water break and Kevin said to me, ‘I am going to get
a chance and I am going to put it away.”
The Moville manager singled out his central midfield
duo of Michael Brendan Doherty and Gearroid
McQuillan for special praise for neutralising the
threat from the talented Glengad midfield.
“We played Gearroid and Michael Brendan in the
middle for their ball winning ability and it worked
well. They won every header that came their way as
well and that allowed our wide players, like Christy
McGeoghan to see a lot of the ball.”
The outgoing Moville boss had a message for the
Inishowen League’s power brokers. Let the best
reserve teams play in a restructured First Division.
“I believe there is a proposal on the table to
restructure the leagues. Glengad are the First
Division champions and we wanted to send out a
message to the league and have done that by winning.
This team is good enough to play at a higher level
and I am 100% in favour of Moville Reserves getting
promoted.”
McDaid insists he is not turning his back on
management for good.
“Without a doubt I hope to manage the first team
some day,” said McDaid.
After his achievements this season, his C.V. is sure
to go to the top of the pile. |
