Clint Walsh happy with way things are going as Ardara head for Red Hughs

Like many other clubs in Division 2, it has been a mixed start for Ardara in Division 2 under new manager, Clint Walsh, but they got their first win at home to Malin last weekend.

Walsh is not, however, completely new to the Ardara set-up as he was involved in a training and coaching role last year under then manager Damian Devaney.

The role is going well. For me it's not a totally new role as I was involved here last year. I knew all the lads really well from last year and from that I know the calibre of players here is very good,” says Walsh.

The former Naomh Brid player agrees that the league has been very much stop-start because of the weather, which is not great. 

“Yeah the weather these last few months hasn't been great and the knock on effect of that is the closure of pitches but I am sure the scorching hot summer is just around the corner.”

Ardara got a bit of a shock on the opening weekend with Burt coming to Pearse Memorial Park and going home with the points.

“No we definitely didn't hope for or want a loss to Burt on the opening weekend of the league but these things happen and in a ferociously competitive Division 2 there are a lot of teams that will be plucking the two points off other teams throughout the league campaign.”

Then last weekend there was another home game and this time Ardara got the result against Malin.

“Yes, we were very happy with that win against Malin. Malin, having come down from Division 1, are a well experienced team with good ballers in their team and we were very happy with the manner that our lads finished out the game.”

It was noticeable last weekend that Walsh had a couple of experienced players in the team in Paddy McGrath and Conor Classon and he feels that mixture of old and new is a good recipe.

“Yeah we feel we have a good blend of experience and youth in our squad which is blending really well together.”

Asked what were his aims for the league, Walsh has the answer that many managers give: “The old cliche of taking the league week by week and trying to go out and put in a good performance at the weekend.”

He is not willing to give much away as to who he feels will be the team to beat in the Division. 

“We are just taking it week by week and whoever the opposition team is at any fixture, we will be going out to get a win.”

This evening, Saturday, Ardara travel to play Red Hughs and it is new territory for both sides.

“We don't know a lot about Red Hughs other than they lost Jonny Carlin from last year but Darren (O’Leary) is doing a good job in there with them, having got them promoted up to Division 2.”