McLaughlin: 'At the moment in Aodh Ruadh, we're just taking it game-by-game'

Preparing Aodh Ruadh for a senior championship opener against Downings this Sunday was not on Maurice McLaughlin’s agenda for the summer.  

But the former Fermanagh minor and U-21 manager has found himself once again calling the shots for the Ballyshannon as their manager, as they look ahead to this season’s championship campaign.  

Following the shock resignation of Kilcar native Conor Cunningham at the end the league club officials turned to the McLaughlin to once again step into the breach.   

“I had envisaged I’d be playing a bit of golf for the rest of the year. But that is not the way it has panned out,” McLaughlin told Donegal Live at Wednesday night’s press launch of this year’s club championship.  

And once the call came, the Fermanagh native did not hesitate.  

“It was a privilege to be asked and step in, and I’m lucky to have men of the calibre of Philip O’Reilly and Greg Sweeeney in the management team too,” he admitted.   

“Greg was involved with the county minor team as a member of Barry Ward’s management setup and Philip was involved with me when I last managed the team in 2012, and both men have been involved with the club down through the years. They have plenty of experience.” 

Defeated quarter-finalists last year, Aodh Ruadh have had a troubled season so far which ended with Cunningham stepping down which was followed by relegation to Division 2 of the All-County League.  

“They made the drop after going down to Termon in the play-off,” McLaughlin pointed out.  

“It has been a difficult year and there is no point in painting it any other way. The management was appointed late, and there were a number of players from last year’s team that are now gone. 

“Colm Kelly and Shane McGrath have been away for most of the year, and Peter Boyle has also been missing through injury. Kyle Murray missed a good bit of the start of the season too. So, right away, there you have four starters and four key players missing.  

“A few results did not go the right way at the start and they were playing catchup for the rest of the season.”  

But the pragmatic McLaughlin, who is three weeks in the job does not believe in crying over spilt milk. 

“It is what it is. We have drawn a line under the sand on the league and the total focus now is on the championship and we are under no illusion of the challenge Downings will bring this weekend,” he said.  

“One of the few Aodh Ruadh games I did see this year was the opening game of the league against Downings.  

“Maxi Curran is involved and he needs no introduction. They have quality players in the likes of the McGroddys and Paddy McElwee. We are left under no illusion of the task we face on Sunday.” 

McLaughlin expects to have former county minor Kyle Murray back on board for Sunday’s showdown in Fr Tierney Park, but will be without Colm Kelly and Shane McGrath and the injured Peter Boyle who is out for the rest of the season.   

“All I can say from our point of view is, we are delighted with the response we have got from the players.  

“They have really applied themselves in training in the last few weeks and we cannot ask for anymore at this stage.”