Busy times ahead for Salthill Devon
Credit:
As the only two Newstalk A Championship sides in the draw for the last 32 of the FAI Ford Cup on Monday night, it was reasonable to expect that they would be kept apart but Frank Stapleton and David Blood contrived to extract a home tie for Tralee Dynamos against Salthill Devon from the drum. At least it guarantees a survivor in the last 16, and Devon coach Emlyn Long is under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead of the Galway side.
"The only thing we were looking for Monday night, if I'm honest, was a home draw but we were unlucky in that regard", Long told extratime.ie.
"Kerry is always a tough place to go, in any sport, so we will definitely have our work cut out and Dynamos have had some serious results so far in their section, most notably beating Bohs away from home. But it's great for both clubs to even be at this stage of the competition and I think it will be good for the A Championship that there will be a team from our league in the last 16 of the FAI Cup."
Devon are now in their second season of League of Ireland senior football and have hit the ground running this season, winning all of their opening five games in their section. They were also unfortunate to go out of the EA Sports Cup on penalties to a strong Galway United side, but Long is taking nothing for granted in the club's quest to occupy one of the treasured play-off spots come the end of the season.
"It's been a good start but the season is a marathon not a sprint, it's important that we maintain our form and when we do suffer a set back or two it will be important that we respond in the right manner." When asked whether Mervue's impact on the First Division has spurred his side on to emulate their rise to prominence, Long was quick to point out that this had "no effect" on him or his squad, but was quick to praise the other senior squads from the City of the Tribes.
"Mervue have done very well in the First Division and for that they deserve great credit, as do Galway United in the Premier Division. My only concern is how we are doing and that we are competitive in our own league.
However, I do think that we feel, as a group, that we didn't quite get what our effort deserved last season. In terms of our final league position not being equal to the work we had put in - our aim is to put that right this season."
* - Apart from their League of Ireland exploits, Salthill Devon are in the midst of a busy spell for the club, with a number of their juvenile sides having taken part in National finals in recent weeks and the Annual Salthill Fives due to get underway this Bank Holiday weekend. For full details on all these events, including the upcoming Umbro Cup in August, visit www.salthilldevon.ie
"The only thing we were looking for Monday night, if I'm honest, was a home draw but we were unlucky in that regard", Long told extratime.ie.
"Kerry is always a tough place to go, in any sport, so we will definitely have our work cut out and Dynamos have had some serious results so far in their section, most notably beating Bohs away from home. But it's great for both clubs to even be at this stage of the competition and I think it will be good for the A Championship that there will be a team from our league in the last 16 of the FAI Cup."
Devon are now in their second season of League of Ireland senior football and have hit the ground running this season, winning all of their opening five games in their section. They were also unfortunate to go out of the EA Sports Cup on penalties to a strong Galway United side, but Long is taking nothing for granted in the club's quest to occupy one of the treasured play-off spots come the end of the season.
"It's been a good start but the season is a marathon not a sprint, it's important that we maintain our form and when we do suffer a set back or two it will be important that we respond in the right manner." When asked whether Mervue's impact on the First Division has spurred his side on to emulate their rise to prominence, Long was quick to point out that this had "no effect" on him or his squad, but was quick to praise the other senior squads from the City of the Tribes.
"Mervue have done very well in the First Division and for that they deserve great credit, as do Galway United in the Premier Division. My only concern is how we are doing and that we are competitive in our own league.
However, I do think that we feel, as a group, that we didn't quite get what our effort deserved last season. In terms of our final league position not being equal to the work we had put in - our aim is to put that right this season."
* - Apart from their League of Ireland exploits, Salthill Devon are in the midst of a busy spell for the club, with a number of their juvenile sides having taken part in National finals in recent weeks and the Annual Salthill Fives due to get underway this Bank Holiday weekend. For full details on all these events, including the upcoming Umbro Cup in August, visit www.salthilldevon.ie
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile