By Jonathan Brown
DUNNAMAN manager Christopher Mulligan says his team are ready to embrace the challenge of MUFL Division 1 football as the club settles into its first-ever season in the division.
Mulligan’s men came into the campaign off the back of a memorable Mid-Ulster Division 2 and Foster Cup double, recording a 2-1 win over West End Hibs before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Hill Street in their opening league games.
Saturday brought a 3-2 win away to Armagh City Olympic in the Junior Cup before a return to league action against Caledon Rovers on Saturday.
Promotion to Division 1 came slightly earlier than Mulligan and his fellow coaches had expected, but the Dunnaman boss believes his young side can compete at the top end of the table.
“We always knew we had a great pool of players there that could beat anybody on our day.
“Winning the double last season was more than pleasing, but Division 1 has come quicker than we imagined it.
“We know going into this season that we have a good age of a squad who are aways willing to learn, and it will be good experience for them.
“I have no fear, I know going into this season that we’re a match for any of the teams in Division 1.
“We’re in a good position to go and compete, and to do well in this league.”
Mulligan is proud of his team’s performances in their opening league games, where they took all three points against West End, who finished third last season, and put it up to current Division 1 champions Hill Street.
“The first games were two tough ones. “We took points off West End first day out and against Hill Street, to be honest, we probably just weren’t on it, we had a few players missing, we actually had to make seven changes that day.
“Although were beaten 2-0, we were competitive and we missed a few chances, but we always knew we’d be up against it, they’re a good side, and an experienced side,” Mulligan explained.
Dunnaman have always suffered from a lack of first-team players at the start of a new season due to the Down GAA Championship, and this year is no different.
Shane McDowell and Conor Shields are representing Longstone, while Ryan Mackey, Jack Rodgers, Darragh McAlinden and Cameron Gribben are all turning out for An Riocht.
But it’s a well-trodden path for Mulligan at this point, and he now sees the positive side of the situation.
“It’s not new to us and it’s not an excuse for losing games, it just puts us on a wee backwards step at the start of the season.
“It allows other boys to step up. If other boys that are available come in and do a good job, they earn their spots.
“It’s a great luxury to have, to have that calibre of player coming back, and boys stepping up.”
