Stephen Cassidy hoping to have a full team as Gweedore United push for promotion

Gweedore United manager Stephen Cassidy knows in the area where he lives, it’s always going to be a balancing act with players who go between football and GAA, but it’s a task he is really enjoying. 

Cassidy’s team sits fourth in Division 1, three points off Bonagee United in third and six points from the top of the table where Donegal Town sit on 27 points. 

And while there is satisfaction from the local supporters regarding Gweedore’s season, Cassidy believes his side is good enough to push for promotion to the Premier Division.  

“At the start of the year, a lot of people were asking questions about where we would end up this year. I think people were saying we would be happy by just holding our place in this league, but we want to try and be near the top competing and looking for promotion,” Cassidy told Donegal Live. 

Gweedore welcome Convoy Arsenal this weekend with a full squad, however, that has not always been the case this season, with the United manager having to balance his players playing football and committing to GAA, where the club has been hugely successful in last year, reaching the senior, reserve and U-21 football finals. 

“The players we have around these parts are brilliant. The problem is it can be hard to hold onto them, especially if the GAA season is on.  

“Like we had the senior, reserve and U-21 GAA teams in our area all playing in the county final a few months back, so that was really hard getting a full squad together to commit to this team. 

“We would’ve played five or six games this year, where we were probably missing seven starting players. 

“The day we played Cappry earlier this season, on the day of the match, 14 of our players were sitting over in Ballybofey preparing for the reserve and senior final. So, we had to play a lot of young players that day, but it is what it is. 

“We have a lot of dual players down here which is great, but it probably impacts our squad a bit. Like if I had our strongest starting XI every week there is no doubt that we’d be higher in the league. We played Donegal Town a number of weeks ago and on the day of the game, three of our starters were playing against Naomh Conaill in a GAA match and we only had one lad on the bench.” 

Yet despite these setbacks, Cassidy is relishing his first season in charge as manager and feels the team could achieve back-to-back promotions, following the club’s elevation from Division 2.  

“The fact we were just promoted, people are probably happy where we are at the minute in the league, but I know this side is good enough to drive on for promotion. 

But we have a great side here, we have Fionnan Coyle who was an underage Ireland international and Ethan Harkin who played for Derry City, they both love the GAA but every time I need them, they’re there for me and the team. That’s the type of lads we have.