Preview: Blend of youth and experience key to Glyde success says Duffy
“It'll be the same procedure, same routine for Milltown and hopefully we can produce a good performance”.
When Glyde Rangers’ Peter Duffy was asked to swap the player’s jersey for the manager’s bib half way through this season, few could have foreseen the subsequent transformation in the Tallanstown side’s fortunes.
Having been initially asked to oversee training for a week midway through the season, six months later, and Duffy is the man to lead this Glyde Rangers side into arguably one of the biggest games in their history, when they take on Kildare champions Milltown in the Leinster Junior Club decider on Sunday.
“I went to the players meeting following the end of the previous management team’s term as a player and Niall Sharkey suggested that I'd help train the team for a week until the club found a replacement” Duffy explained.
“I agreed on the basis of that, and we're still here training them nearly six months later with the Christmas lights going up. In fairness, the addition of Anthony, Paul and Mark and a few others had made the job a lot easier”.
After seeing off Robertstown in their county clash, Milltown have beaten the champions from Wexford, Meath, and Westmeath on route to this final, amassing impressive scoring tallies in the process, including 2-16 in their semi final victory over Kilbeggan Shamrocks of Westmeath.
“From just looking at the score lines it's clear that Milltown are a quality team”, Peter Duffy said when asked about Sunday’s opponents.
“They've won games with relative ease, so we're under no illusions that we face a big test.
“Sometimes it's easy to get bogged down too much on opposition analysis. We've been doing the same level of opposition analysis from the knockout stages of the championship and following the same routine.
“It'll be the same procedure, same routine for Milltown and hopefully we can produce a good performance”.
Unlike their opponents, Glyde’s route to this decider has seen them involved in a number of closely fought contests.
Having fended off Daingean of Offaly by two points in the opening round, Glyde saw off Laois victors Annanough after Extra Time, before two late Ciaran Sheridan strikes secured another two-point victory over Man O’War of Dublin in their semi-final.
Many Glyde supporters will feel these tight victories have been overdue, having watched their side lose out in several county finals over the years in agonising fashion.
When asked to point his finger on the reasons for this upturn in fortunes this year, Peter Duffy said:
“I suppose it's a lot of things, it's learning from the mistakes we made in the past. The experience of players on successful county teams, school teams, etc is a help there also.
“Our lads trust each other and we trust them to take the initiative when the game is tight to find a solution”.
“When winning so many games by narrow margins every score is important or indeed every positive tackle, block or pass is important”, the manager added.
Peter Duffy was also quick to compliment the marvellous blend of youth and experience that this squad possesses in its arsenal, which has been key to this championship run.
“The young players bring the legs and energy, while the older lads bring experience and leadership to the team. We've got a good blend and togetherness too between them”.
Along with hoping that his side are once again in the winner’s enclosure on Sunday, Duffy is also hopeful that this journey will inspire the next generation of young players in both men’s and ladies’ football to take pride in pulling on the blue of Glyde Rangers.
The Ardee Community School teacher also explained how this year has created that feel-good-factor around the area of Tallanstown.
“It's huge for the Tallanstown area”, said Duffy. “The young and old have really gained something valuable from this. It's the first time we've seen a great connection between the players, fans and all involved in the club”.
He added: “We're all behind each other now, the support has been immense and obviously helped drive the lads on over the line. Long may that continue and hopefully this run will encourage more boys and girls in the area to play football”.
Peter Duffy will undoubtedly be hoping that this stellar season can continue for his Glyde Rangers side, and who’s to say that they will not have an All Ireland semi final to look forward to on their journey back from Kildare on Sunday.