Shaun Kelly and St Catherine’s aiming to maintain fine start to season 

St Catherine’s joint manager Shaun Kelly is delighted with the start his team has made to their Premier Division campaign, however he is expecting a tough contest when his outfit travel north to face Swilly Rovers on Sunday. 

The Killybegs outfit are flying high in the league and currently sit joint top alongside champions Fanad United with the sides both locked on 18 points. 

However, former League of Ireland star Kelly, who mans the Saints reins with Christoper Murrin, says it’s much too early to be thinking a title challenge. 

“We’ve obviously got off to a great start this year in comparison to last year. We were probably slow out of the blocks last season. I think we might’ve only had one point after the first three games whereas this year we have seven. So that obviously gave the lads a bit of confidence right away.

“We’re sitting joint top of the table at the minute, along with Fanad, but I wouldn’t read too much into that because there’s plenty of teams right behind us and it’s a very tight league this year.”

Up next for Kelly and the Emerald Park outfit is a trip to Swilly Park on Sunday afternoon. It’s an important clash becasue a victory for the hosts would leave them just a point behind St Catherine’s. 

But a win for the visitors would extend their gap from the chasing pack and help continue their current momentum.

When asked about Sunday’s opponents, Kelly was full of praise for Rovers. And he’s wary of the talent which they possess. He says they keep the ball well and believes they have some of the best players in the league.

“We spoke about that after training - I think they have probably been the best side that we have played this year. 

“We beat them 1-0 at home but they played the ball about the best that we have seen and they have some brilliant individual talent. Between themselves and Fanad, you know that you are going to be up against it.

“The likes of Kyle Black and Shane McNamee will have to be closely watched. Unfortunately, for them, they have lost one or two players this year between emigration and whatnot. 

“But they are going to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season because they are a really good side.”

Sunday’s match makes for an intriguing encounter with Swilly yet to be beaten at home this season. But St Catherine’s have already secured three points over Sunday’s opposition earlier in the campaign with that 1-0 home victory. 

Kelly discussed that the two sides’ previous meeting was a close contest where a draw may have been a fair outcome. 

“The last time we played them it was a very tight game at home. I’d say the weather and the pitch didn’t suit them and Ryan Cunnigham got the winning goal just by chance that day. 

“But, look, I can’t take anything away from them, a draw probably would've been a fair result on the day. But in our division, on the day, anyone can beat anyone so you just take the three points and move on anytime you’re lucky enough to get over the line.”