RAPHOE TOWN have made what is sure to be one of the most high-profile managerial appointments of the summer.
The Temple Domestic Appliances Division 1 side have confirmed local Independent County Councillor Frank McBrearty Junior as their manager for the 2016/17 season.
He’s in his third week as manager now having started early at pre-season and, although beaten 7-2 by derby rivals Convoy Arsenal on Friday night in the Lifford Cup, McBrearty wasn’t too down beat.
“I learned a lot from that game, but we went into it with a lot of injuries,” said McBrearty, who has succeeded Stephen Conaghan as manager.
[adrotate group=”77″]“We were 2-2 at half-time and had chances to win the game, but Convoy ran away with it in the second half.”
Councillor Frank McBrearty Junior
Attacker Jamie Gallagher is among those yet to return from injury and McBrearty is hoping to build on last season’s fourth-placed finish, when the promotion play-off spots eluded Raphoe.
“We have a very experienced team here, yet the average age is still only around 25,” he said.
“We’ve got the ikes of Emmet Kelly, Jamie Gallagher, Frankie McBrearty, David Craig and Christy Bogle, some of those have played intermediate football and David has won the Ulster Senior League with Kildrum.
“We have young players like Oliver Quinn, Dillon Quinn and Keelan Kelly, too, who are all playing well.
[adrotate group=”46″]“Raphoe were unlucky last season and maybe just clicked a wee bit too late. All around, I’m happy with what I have here. We’ve retained all the players from last year and have a couple of young players stepping up, too.
“We’re in a very hard division and nothing will come easy with teams like Deele Harps, Cappry Rovers and the two Gweedore sides.”
McBrearty has previously managed Raphoe at under-14 and under-16 level, alongside Geoffrey Devenney, while he also took charge of the Lifford and District Schoolboys League representative side.
[adrotate group=”43″]His own career saw him line out for Raphoe, Lagan Harps, Kildrum Tigers, Strabane FC and Finn Harps Reserves, while he played in the Middlesex Amateur League while based in London.
“I’ve seen a lot of coaching and watched a lot of football in my time so I’d like to think I’ve a good bit of knowledge of the game,” he said.
“I’ve got a good group of players here. They’re going well in training. We’re in three times a week. The boys are hungry. That game on Friday might have been a wake-up call for some of the players and that’s no bad thing.”
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