Institute begin New Year with Irish Cup test at the Brandywell

Irish Cup

Institute vs. Annagh United

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Saturday, 3pm

The New Year starts with an Irish Cup tie and January transfer frustration for Institute who have already lost two key players ahead of the game against Annagh United at the Brandywell.

Striker Cathair Friel has joined Premier Division side Portadown this week, while midfielder Mark McFadden has returned to the United States. Combined, both players chipped in with nine goals between them in the first half of the season, leaving a gaping hole which manager Brian Donaghey now has to fill.

Filling it has become more difficult than he expected however, due to players staying in what he has described as a ‘comfort zone’, rather than challenge themselves personally and professionally.

“It's getting harder and harder,” he said. “January is normally a poor transfer window. It worked well for us last year, but we are ringing around players and we are going to watch matches, but a lot of players are just to used to being in the comfort zone.

“There are some good Championship 2 players who don’t want to make the step up and just want to play football with their mates. The hunger and desire for me, for young players to step down and get the opportunity to play or to step up and get that opportunity, just doesn’t seem to be there like it was in previous years. Players need to get out of their comfort zone, but it’s just getting them to make that step.”

Young striker Jack McFeeley, who will go to America on a scholarship this summer, has come in to help plug the gap left by Friel, but more is still needed.

“I think we’re an easy sell,” Donaghey explained. “We’re playing in the Brandywell, we’re a good, young, youthful team who are doing okay this year, but anyone we speak to is happy enough staying where they are. I just don’t like players getting comfortable sitting on benches at other clubs when they could get a chance to put themselves in the shop window and go on to better things. That’s what Institute have been doing for many a year, but you can’t change players’ mindsets. It has been a hard transfer window because we have been very active trying to recruit. We’re two down so we need to recruit. But it’s a long window and it’s crazy what can happen.”

Irish Cup test

‘Stute have been left massively frustrated in both games against Annagh this season already losing 2-1 at the Brandywell in August and 2-1 away in December. Donaghey believes his team should not have lost either of those games and is hoping for better luck in the Irish Cup.

“I think I’ve played against them three or four times, and I don’t think we deserved to lose any of them,” he continued. “

“This is a welcome break from the league. There’s not as much pressure. Why can’t we go far in the tournament? We’ve seen Ballinamallard do it two or three years ago. The Irish Cup has been very good to me; I’ve been to a few finals and I’ve played in three or four semi-finals. It’s a great experience and it’s the biggest competition in the country and I would like the players to have the experience of going on a journey in it.

“You need the draw to be kind to you, but it’s a home game, it’s a winnable game for us and we’re looking forward to it. We go into every game trying to win and our record at the Brandywell lately has been quite good so hopefully we can get a few players back and we have a much stronger squad available for Saturday.”