Aherne excited by future at Aisling Annacotty

Aisling Annacotty manager Mike Aherne spoke to Sporting Limerick about the club’s performance so far and his hopes for the future.

The Annacotty club are currently in the top half of the table and comfortable avoiding a relegation battle while also reaching the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup. Aherne questions whether a marked improvement has been made but is extremely impressed with the squad considering the age profile.

“A lot of people have seen Aisling Annacotty as improving this year. I’m not so sure when you look at the exact league standings and at the amount of games we have won compared to the amount of games we have lost. Certain teams haven’t performed in the Premier League this year so there is a context.

“We have an average age of 19 and that would even be pushing it at times so to give them the experience of an FAI Cup run is setting the foundations going forward. Its about allowing a platform for those kids to go forward and during the Touhy Cup semi final the other night we had two 15 year olds that started the game. Some people say that’s too young but for me if you’re good enough you’re old enough.”

Annacotty secured impressive wins along the way in the FAI Junior Cup including a 4-0 victory over Blarney in Cork. The club have been drawn away to Ballymun United at the Ballymun Sports Complex in the next round of the competition which will be played on Saturday February 9th.

Ballymun are a club who had many great battles with the rampant Fairview Rangers side in the 1990’s but have slipped under the radar since the early 2000’s However, Aherne is under no illusions and is expecting an extremely tough game.

“It’s an ideal draw in a way because it’s not a Sheriff we will be going to where you would be big underdogs. We have a chance but Ballymun are steeped in tradition but maybe haven’t shown it in recent years.

“I remember when I was working in Live95fm with Leonard Burke covering the halcyon days of Fairview Rangers and there was some mighty battles between the ‘Mun’ and Fairview.

“Every team goes through a transition but it looks like Ballymun are coming out the other side of it now. We will go there with a chance. When you look at the Limerick league and the AUL, they are the two strongest leagues and anyone who looks at the game and doesn’t see Ballymun as favourites doesn’t know the two sides very well.

“To get these players to within one step of next year’s senior cup would be a great achievement for them and something that will stand to them for the future.”

Aherne is delighted with the performance of his young players this year and Annacotty boast the fifth best defensive record in the Premier Division. He also praised the recent contribution of strikers Jason Lipper and Aaron Murphy especially considering Lipper has operated at centre-back a lot this season.

“They are two fantastic players. If Jason Lipper hadn’t spent half the season at centre-back, he would be hitting 20 goals this season. His work rate and finishing ability are fantastic. He doesn’t miss training.

“People said Aaron Murphy had lots of ability and he is beginning to show that now. He’s become a consistent goal scorer. He still has a lot of work to do on his finishing game but he’s at double figures already and Id be surprised if he didn’t get 20 for the season.

“Unfortunately for us we lost possibly our best striker at the start of the campaign against Janesboro in Evan O’Connor who had been firing on all cylinders after being at Limerick in the past.

“Since then we have struggled for a regular set of goal scorers. We might have the fifth best defensive record but recently we have conceded a lot of goals that were avoidable and that is something we will have to look at going to Ballymun in particular.”

Despite relative success in reaching the Touhy Cup semi-final and last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup, Aherne would like to finish strongly in the league and maintain a top half finish. They are the immediate aims in his first season with the club but is hopeful that the future will be even brighter for the club.

“The bread and butter is the league and that’s where you ultimately get assessed on how successful you were throughout the season. For us, staying in the top six is vital incase there is a breakaway in the future where there is a top and bottom six, you would hope to be in the top six of course.

“Sixth probably isn’t good enough. We will probably be looking at third or fourth and to the likes of Regional, Fairview and Ballynanty who on their day can be very good but obviously not consistent enough to fight it out with Pike and Janesboro.”

“To be in the top six bracket is an achievement in itself and to stay there is exactly what needs to happen. For me the only success will be when we start to bring these players through on a regular basis and performing week in and week out. There is a lot of work to do and a lot of players still to come though the system.

“I know how competitive the managers are at the top of the Premier Division and you need to have a cut throat attitude about your side. 

“We are a little bit off Pike, Janesboro and Ballynanty at the moment and anywhere within 12 points of them at the end of the season would be an achievement but at least we aren’t in a relegation battle which is huge for younger players also.”