Whitestrand United better prepared this season as they set sights on promotion

Whitestrand United manager Brian Dunleavy is hopeful that their improved start to the season will help their chances of promotion from Division 2.

Dunleavy’s side finished on 40 points last season, four behind league winners Kerrykeel ‘71 and two behind the automatically promoted Convoy Arsenal.

Dropping eight points from their opening three games ultimately cost them, as they went unbeaten in their final 15 matches, but a defeat to Cappry Rovers in the promotion/relegation play-off denied them a spot in the second tier.

“We had a good season overall, but obviously, the final step we were disappointed to fall short,” Dunleavy said.

“We had a few boys injured that day of the play-off who were strapped up and we were missing our right back, so we weren’t at full pelt.

“The start of the season, big Michael (Sweeney) missed two games, Ciaran Sweeney, one of our best midfielders, missed two games, and them two games were what cost us, small margins like that can make the difference.

“But looking at it another way, we were a very young team and even though we’re disappointed, sometimes you can jump too quickly when you have a lot of young boys, so another season in the division might help us with the experience.

“And we’re confident enough this year that we’ll be competitive enough in the league.”

The side that finished third has kept together for the most part, and Dunleavy is content with his squad.

Rhys Thompson went to Rathmullan Celtic, and Conor Heraghty left due to college commitments in Dublin, but Caolan Ward, Jack Dunleavy, and Kai Corcoran have come in.

“There are always a few players in and out, but I’m happy with how we’re looking this year.

“Kai was playing in the Under-15s Premier Division, he got 50 goals last year, and that’s no fluke when you’re getting that many goals. He’s such a threat, and he’s fit and fast.

“We have a good balance of a team but the boys up front know how to score, even days when we aren’t playing well there’s always a chance to score between my own lad Cormac, who has four goals already, then Michael scores for fun so I’d be very happy with the firepower we have, a lot of teams would be envious of that.

“Michael got 32 goals last season and missed two games out of the 18, and he’s at the same again already this season.

“The back line would be around the early 20s, but we’ve kept the spine of the team the same. Caolan has come in for Conor in midfield, then James Tourish has got himself really fit this year and has been like a new signing, which is a big plus.”

They have had a much better start to this season and have won their first three league games, while they were narrowly beaten by Premier Division side Fanad United in the Brian McCormick Cup.

Away wins over Drumkeen United and Dunkineely Celtic, along with a narrow home win over Curragh Athletic, have them as one of only two teams with a 100% record, along with Raphoe Town.

But they face a Lifford Celtic side who will have their own aspirations of making a return to the second tier after relegation last year.

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“From the start of the season, our aim would have been to try and win it, loads of teams will be thinking the same thing, but we’re only focusing on ourselves.

“It’s a long season, but with a good start and a bit of luck, you never know, you need to hope you don’t get too many injuries and things need to go your way.

“Lifford will be a good test this weekend, and even the next five or six weeks, we’ll know where we’re at up until Christmas.

“Lifford, Raphoe and Drumoghill have brought in players and started well, Letterbarrow are never easy to beat, so all those teams are looking strong, but on our day we can beat anyone in the league and when we have the goalscorers we have, there’s always a chance.”