Improvement Needed

The 2010 – 2011 season was a massive success for Lisahally Football Club and indeed the people of the Enagh area. The Strathfoyle men experienced a season of unprecedented glory, clinching a league and cup double, in turn securing promotion to the top division. It has since been a relatively quiet summer in Strathfoyle, but there have been several recent developments which may be a cause for concern to the management.

Veteran player Sean Hargan, whose experience was absolutely vital in Lisahally's success last season, has made the decision to hang up his boots in order to invest his abilities in management, having taken on the responsibility of steering the fortunes of Eglinton F.C. However it could potentially prove to be a problematic move for Lisahally, as Hargan has encouraged a large portion of the Lisahally first team to join him as he embarks on his managerial debut. The Lisahally management has yet to comment on the situation, but playing football on Saturday as well as Sunday undoubtedly heightens the risk of injury and exhaustion, and if Lisahally are to compete at a higher level they will require all of their players to act professionally and be at the top of their game. Obviously this is not professional football; players are effectively volunteers and are not bound to one club, but the impact is potentially detrimental. It must be noted that this is not a tirade against Hargan, who has served Lisahally admirably over the years, or indeed Eglinton F.C., the responsibility ultimately rests with the players.

Rory Kirk was said to have been absolutely furious at the turnout at the club's initial pre-season training session, where remarkably only two senior players were present. He questioned the loyalty and desire of the players in the aftermath, remarking that he was worried for the coming season. In addition to the low turnout, there was further disappointment as young player Peter Mahon suffered a horrendous ankle break, one which will possibly rule him out for the majority of the season. The injury is seen as an enormous blow to Lisahally, as Mahon is widely considered to be a player with great potential and Lisahally's squad is already quite small. Utility player Conor Mullan will also miss the beginning of the season due to commitments in the U.S.A. Former captain and talisman, Noel O'Donnell has retired and it remains to be seen who will fill his boots

If Lisahally are to continue their progress, it is crucial that the foundation they possess be strengthened and, with the retirement of experienced players such as Sean Hargan and Noel O'Donnell, two young players already ruled out, with only one player added to the squad, not to mention the worries over players' priorities, the future does not look particularly bright. The opening game of the season was a disaster for Lisahally and while Tristar possess Derry football luminary “Ug” and a number of semi-professionals in their squad, such as Aaron Nash and Mark Nicell, the defeat of 8-2 is, nevertheless, unacceptable. The Strathfoyle men cruised to promotion last season and they were more than competitive in their outings against Premier Division clubs in the cups, so to suggest that they will be nothing more than “whipping boys” in this league is surely a ludicrous thought. Rory Kirk decided to take the positives from the game and stated that the result will serve as a wake-up call to some of his players, reminding them that they simply cannot rest on their laurels when playing for their local team.

As a closing thought, if Lisahally players are in need motivation, they need not look further than Derry City player Ryan McBride and Sunderland new-boy, James McClean. McBride was playing Saturday morning football in the Derry and District League last season before signing for Derry and this season, aged 21, he has played at the highest level in Ireland, where he impressed so much that Damien Richardson selected him to represent the League of Ireland in the Dublin Super Cup. McClean too has shown how hard work and a burning desire to succeed can catapult a player into a professional career. Having previously played for Trojans in the D&D, McClean played for Derry before earning international recognition and at the age of 22, a contract with Niall Quinn's Sunderland. Therefore to conclude, do yourself a favour and take playing for Lisahally seriously; you never know who is watching.