Shane McGinty relishing Kildrum Tigers' testing schedule

A look at Kildrum Tigers’ schedule might be enough to make most managers baulk - but Shane McGinty is relishing the task.

Kildrum, now with a depleted workforce, in the main due to a raft of injuries, are playing catch-up in the race for the Donegal League Premier Division.

With four games in hand, Kildrum have already booked a place in the Brian McCormick Sports Cup final. The St Johnston men are also still in the Ulster Junior Cup and the Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup.

“I see the schedule as a positive,” McGinty says.

“We’re in Cups, we’re trying to win things. We try to win them all and we might come away with something.

“When you lose five or six regular first-team players for the rest of the season the it gets stretched. That’s the tough part. We’re trying to manage it. That’s not a complaint, it’s just how football goes.”

All square - and still all to play for - as Bonagee, Kildrum draw a blank

It finished scoreless between Bonagee United and Kildrum Tigers

Last Sunday, in a 2-1 home defeat to Cappry Rovers - their first League loss of the season - McGinty saw Matthew Crossan, Gavin McGee and Damien Crossan all sustain injuries that will rule them out for a period.

Shane Porter hobbled off last weekend and also missed the midweek draw with Bonagee United while Shane Coyle will be sidelined for some weeks yet.

And yet, there isn’t a hint of McGinty readying the excuses.

“Against Cappry, I felt that we didn’t have a chance to play or try to score because we were really down on bodies. It’s all part of the fun. We’ll not shy away from it.”

On Wednesday night, he bore the look of frustration after a 0-0 draw at Bonagee, who currently occupy the division’s top spot. Kildrum’s veteran former Finn Harps attacker Kevin McHugh rolled one chance inches wide of the far post late on and had another headed effort land in the arms of John Carr.

“We had big moments in the game, big chances.

“When you’re up against the team at the top of the table, the team having a really good season themselves, at their place, you hope to start the game well.

“You want to create big moments for yourselves - and we did. We had three or four really big chances. Unfortunately, they didn’t fall our way.

“We’d have loved to win the game, but the draw brings a lot of people back into it. I’m sure a lot of managers will have checked the score and maybe felt they’re back in the title race again. It’s heating up and it’s brilliant for the League.”

Shane McGinty also plays for Dungannon Swifts

Ahead of a home game against Donegal Town on Sunday, Bonagee have a 12-point advantage on Kildrum, who go to east Donegal rivals Castlefin Celtic.

McGinty has little time outside of football these days. A midfielder by trade, he has the small matter of a home game for Dungannon Swifts against Crusaders at Stangmore Park on Saturday afternoon to come.

The 27-year-old succeeded Shane Brown as Kildrum’s manager having helped mastermind a 2017 Under-19 Foyle Cup final win over Norwich City.

Although armed with the feel of a reluctant interviewee, McGinty, very much aware of levels, exudes characteristics that are evident in his side.

“It’s not professional football, but they’re big games with a lot of people watching - and it’s something to enjoy.”