Magee anticipating tight clash in FAI Junior Cup

Ballynanty Rovers travel to Dundalk on Sunday to take on Muirhevna Mor in the fifth round of the New Balance FAI Junior Cup (2pm). The northside club will be aiming to join fellow District league sides Pike, Regional, Aisling Annacotty and Newport as well as Desmond league side Glin Rovers in the last 32 of the competition. 

Mnanager Donal Magee is expecting a very tough game on Sunday.

“Preparations have been going okay. We have a few injuries we are concerned with as some players didn’t play against Janesboro. We know it’s going to be a tough task as they are a decent side. They are switching to summer football next year so it’s a short season for them. We know they are a very good side and the way we set up, we won’t be taking anybody lightly.”

Ballynanty reached the FAI Junior Cup final in 2014 only to lose to St. Michaels at the Aviva. Magee himself reached the quarter final of the competition with Clare League side Shannon Town last season only to be defeated by eventual finalists Pike. The Shannon man feels this level of the competition is where Balla should be competing.

“It’s something I’ve always believed in that if you want to progress, you have to be playing at the latter stages of these competitions. You need to be competing in the Munster and the FAI in January.

“It’s important that we already in the latter stages of the Munster Junior and will have a tough test against Killarney. This will be a tough game and if we get through that the draw for the next round is on this week and it will also be tough for us. We are certainly capable of progressing.”

Ballynanty are currently fourth in the league table and nine points behind Janesboro despite dropping points in just three games all season. After winning nine in a row, Balla are just aiming to stay in touch and Magee re-iterated his belief that the Limerick teams will punish you severely for any mistakes. 

” The Limerick league is an unforgiving league. You can’t assume you’re going to win every game. If you’re playing a team lower than you, you can’t assume that you can just turn up and win, it doesn’t happen like that.

“You might get away with that in other leagues but you certainly don’t get away with that in Limerick premier as you will be caught. Just look at us on Sunday against Janesboro. I feel very aggrieved that we didn’t get something from the game.”

Magee returned to Ballynanty at the start of the season and is excited by the young talent in his squad. Also, the development plans for the spiritual home of Ballynanty soccer in Bateman Park are taking shape. With all this in mind, Magee has committed to the club for the long term.

“I’m committed to the club for the next few years. I plan to stay here and this will be my last job in junior football. I currently coach some underage teams in Shannon. This will definitely be the last junior job as I’ve done it long enough. I’ve enjoyed it but I will be with Ballynanty for the foreseeable future.”