Aidan Ryan delighted with Oscar Traynor progression

Janesboro FC continued to represent Limerick District League in the Oscar Traynor Trophy on Saturday evening and emerged victorious against Donegal District League after a tense penalty shoot out. The Limerick side now enter the semi-final of the competition.

On the way to the game, Janesboro were informed that the venue had changed and added another hour to the journey but the club showed real character to win the game which delighted manager Aidan Ryan.

“It was a real hard earned win. It was a long journey up there. Given the circumstances, where we had to go to another pitch other than the designated pitch which was deemed unplayable wasn’t ideal. With the game going to extra-time and penalties it was great to come out of it in the end. To be fair to the lads they left absolutely everything out on the pitch. Donegal were a very experienced side so to come out of it with a win was very pleasing.”

By Janesboro’s standards, Ryan admits that the squad are bitterly disappointed not to be involved in the latter stages of the Munster Junior or FAI Cup but feels that it could benefit the side in the league and Oscar Traynor Trophy.

“Now that we are still in it we are obviously going to focus on it. It is an FAI competition and there are only two of them that a junior player can win. We are in the semi-final of one of them now so I’m sure the players are delighted to be there for Limerick so we will give it everything we have.”

Janesboro are searching for their third league title in a row which would be the first time that the club achieved the feat. They currently lead the way in the PJ Matthews Premier league having lost just one game this season.

“Well obviously there is the disappointment of losing out in the Munster Junior and the FAI. You have six or seven trophies at the start of the season that you can win and we are still in with a shout in a few of them. We are going to give them our attention now and see what we can come out with at the end of the season.

“It’s going to be tough as there is a lot of competition out there. There are three or four teams that can win those trophies so we have to work hard if we want to get anything out of the season. To be fair the players are putting in the work and everything has been going okay.”

Ryan and Shane O’Hanlon have a lot of experienced players at their disposal. Thomas and Shane Clarke are club stalwarts and have won all bar an FAI Junior Cup with the club. Also, the likes of Keith Mawdsley has contributed heavily with a high goal tally. Ryan feels that the experience will be vital in the run in.

“We are going to need those players at their best. To be fair our league form has been good. We have lost one game so we have been happy enough with our league form. We have been grinding out results when we haven’t been playing well which is a sign of that experience coming to the fore. We need to keep that going coming up to the latter stages of the league. It is something to look forward to for the players and it gives us something to fight for.”

Ryan and O’Hanlon have been at the helm together for three years but Ryan refuses to look beyond the end of this season and said any re-building can wait until the summer.

“We are just concentrating on what’s going on now. It’s a bit early to be looking to next season. We are still in with a shout of the league and are in a cup final. We are also in the last eight of the Lawson Cup as well as representing Limerick in the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor Trophy. All our energy is going to be going on trying to get trophies for Janesboro Football Club and obviously Limerick in the Oscar Traynor.”