Exclusive Interview: One on One with Rory Kirk

Ahead of the 'revenge tie' against Bentleys, the Lisahally Listener was fortunate enough to get an exclusive interview with one half of the Lisahally management, Rory Kirk. A tenacious character, Kirk offers an insider view of life on the touchline of one of Derry's finest Sunday League teams.

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Lisahally Listener: The season thus far has been fairly successful and despite a few minor blips, Lisah' are currently on course for promotion. Are you and Danny confident that your team can maintain its prodigious form?
Rory Kirk: We are confident we can maintain this form and we are aiming for the league title. Promotion will be a bonus but we want to finish first. As long as the team can stay focused we will achieve this.

LL: Many Lisah' fans have been surprised by the run. What would you say has been the secret (if any) to success?
RK: A few things. Pride, passion, fitness, respect and belief. Simple things like maintaining the ball and when lost go and get it back. Hound the opponents down and disrupt their play.

LL: Rumour has it that you have borrowed inspiration from Al Pacino's speech in Any Given Sunday. Can you confirm this and if so, why did you use this particular speech?
RK: This speech is a favourite of mine as it is very relevant to any team. I used it as a player when we won the cup two seasons ago and it has stuck with me. It has everything to get you hyped up, in my opinion.

LL: Several Lisah players have recently moved on to newer pastures; semi-pro Paul Lowry has moved to Manchester, Ronan Whoriskey is supposedly "on loan" in Australia and who could forget the transfer saga of Kieran McGlinchey. How have Lisah' been coping and will there be new signings in January?
RK: We are always on the outlook for new players that can add to the team and are willing to bust their balls for the team. We won't sign show ponies. Players moving on is part of the game, but we have a squad this year to cope unlike previous years. No one is irreplacable!

LL: How did the Kieran McGlinchey saga affect the team?
RK: Not in the slightest bit. If a player wants to join another team for free pints and grub, good luck to him. No one player is bigger than the team. This issue is closed for the team now.

LL: Has it been difficult dealing with Lisah's so-called 'big' personalities?
RK: It is hard at times as certain players think they are bigger than the team. This is not the case and whenever any of them step out of line we have a word with them and that sorts it. Discipline is key to the team at the minute. If any player has a problem with it I have a simple solution: Get your boots and find another team. There is no 'i' in team and never will be as long as I am in charge.

LL: You were renowned for your passionate playing style and it seems like you've carried that on into management. Do you think you'll ever make a return to play?
RK: I am in a position now that I have a good squad and team to ensure that I am not required as they are playing my game out on the pitch for me. Before I took up this position I said that more youth had to get the chance, as the team had become stale and happy with 3rd place every season. The youth have grasped this chance and hopefully 'The Monk' will not be required...but I haven't gone away you know!

LL: How well prepared is the team for the revenge tie against Bentley's?
RK: The team will be very focused and the desire will be there to beat Bentleys. I feel when we last played them we all let ourselves down with lack of belief and experience in the second half. This will not be the case this time and we will be barking for 90 mins. We want our 3 points back.

LL: Any final thoughts?
RK: The management would like to thank yourself for the hard work you do promoting, the fantastic local support, the players for sticking with us and giving us a chance and training hard at training, but remember one thing: no one player is bigger than the team and a few at the minute think they are. If we maintain the desire, pride and passion we will win this league with, don't forget, a squad. Keep up the support and we will keep winning. WOOF! WOOF!

Have your say on Kirk's interview. Comment below.

Lucky Lisahally Edge Victory

Strand United 1-2 Lisahally (22.08.10)

Lisahally continued their campaign for promotion on Sunday morning with a hard-fought victory over Strand United at Lisnagelvin. Splendid goals from striker Barry Murray and diminutive midfield dynamo, Peter Doherty overturned the early 1-0 deficit to complete the comeback and seal victory for the Strathfoyle men.

Fresh off their momentous 6-0 opening day victory over Beechtree, Lisahally were keen to maintain their push for promotion with a win over Strand. There were several changes made to the team which triumphed so easily over Beechtree, with versatile defender, Kieran McGlinchey moved to centre-back and speed-demon Paul Lowry starting on the right-wing. Decky Brown partnered Noel O'Donnell in midfield, while Emmett Kirk joined Barry Murray in attack. However, the real talking-point was undoubtedly the controversial decision to start with talisman and self-styled superstar, Mark Duffy, on the bench.

Strand started the game the livelier of the two sides, playing some attractive football and exploiting the gaps in Lisahally's untried midfield. Lisahally's midfield were evidently frustrated by Strand, as Noel O'Donnell uncharacteristically lost possession and Decky Brown committed a number of reckless fouls in dangerous positions. Indeed, this would prove to be their undoing, as a poorly timed tackle from Decky Brown gifted the opposition a freekick outside the box. A quick pass into the box landed perfectly at a Strand player's feet, who wasted no time in smashing the ball past the Lisahally goalkeeper.

Lisahally's sense of urgency was quickly heightened and Paul Lowry moved into the more familiar forward position, with Kirk assuming the right wing role. Strand instantly felt the impact of Lowry's lightning pace, as he raced clear of the last man, only to prematurely blast his shot straight at the Strand goalkeeper. As the Strand management breathed a sigh of relief, Lisahally fans and coaches alike were furious and berated their team. However, the equaliser came minutes before half-time, when Barry Murray charged after a loose ball and catching the Strand goalkeeper off his line, found the net with a fantastic placed shot.

In what seemed to be a stark indication of intent, Lisahally made two changes at half-time, with Mark Duffy introduced at right-back and Lisahally's exotic new signing, Jé Roberto, replacing Decky Brown. Lisahally appeared to be much more assured in possession and disciplined in defence in the second half, but they struggled to make any clear-cut chances, such was the determination of Strand's defence. Aidy O'Kane created a number of chances when he surged down the left wing, but the majority of Barry Murrary's shots were blocked by the heroic defending of Strand. In a scramble in the box following a Peter Doherty cross, Paul Lowry found himself in acres of space, but the striker blazed the ball over the bar. Lowry was then substituted for Cathal O'Kane, who slotted in at left-wing, while Peter Doherty assumed the forward position.

Cathal O'Kane proved to be an inspired substitution yet again, as he linked up with Aidy O'Kane and threaded a marvelous through-ball to Peter Doherty, who skilfully rounded the goalkeeper before drilling the ball into the net to make it 2-1 to Lisahally. However, following the goal, the Strathfoyle men adopted a defensive mentality and played quite deep, encouraging the Strand attack to commit men forward, which caused considerable distress for the Lisahally defence, who, by sheer luck avoided conceding. Defensive lynchpin, Kieran McGlinchey, was taken off towards the end of the game as a precaution and Noel O'Donnell filled in admirably at centre-back for the final five minutes of the game as Lisahally fought to hold on to their lead.