Bald Student
04/11/2004, 7:26 PM
I just saw this again, it's still on the RTE internet site.
UCD
Founded: 1908
Ground: Belfield Park
Capacity: 1,900
Consolidation is the operative word for relegated UCD as they get used to life back in the First Division. Promotion is not a target for the Class of 2004, even if there are three automatic places up for grabs.
Such is the see-saw nature of the eircom League, the team (s) that come down are invariably the hot tip to bounce straight back up. But College boss Pete Mahon doesn't expect his reshaped side will be promotion material in what looks an increasingly competitive First Division.
Relegation at the end of last season saw the exodus from Belfield of key players John Martin, Alan Cawley, Darragh Ryan, Robbie Griffin and goalkeeper Patrick Jennings. That has left Mahon to rebuild with youngsters like 'keeper Darren Quigley and full-backs Brian Gannon and Conor Kenna, while a host of scholarship players will be available from July.
"There is no big deal this year about getting promotion," said Mahon. "We're not under any pressure to achieve that. We want to regroup after last season and get some stability back into the club. We just want to finish in the top half of the table. When we do go back up we want to stay up. You don't want to come straight back down again."
Former Bohemians manager Mahon added: "We have young players coming into the side and it's going to take us a bit of time to get them into the eircom League way of playing. We know it's going to be a hard season for us, but it's not all doom and gloom. I believe we have the players here to deal with it and then take it on a step further the following year."
UCD
Founded: 1908
Ground: Belfield Park
Capacity: 1,900
Consolidation is the operative word for relegated UCD as they get used to life back in the First Division. Promotion is not a target for the Class of 2004, even if there are three automatic places up for grabs.
Such is the see-saw nature of the eircom League, the team (s) that come down are invariably the hot tip to bounce straight back up. But College boss Pete Mahon doesn't expect his reshaped side will be promotion material in what looks an increasingly competitive First Division.
Relegation at the end of last season saw the exodus from Belfield of key players John Martin, Alan Cawley, Darragh Ryan, Robbie Griffin and goalkeeper Patrick Jennings. That has left Mahon to rebuild with youngsters like 'keeper Darren Quigley and full-backs Brian Gannon and Conor Kenna, while a host of scholarship players will be available from July.
"There is no big deal this year about getting promotion," said Mahon. "We're not under any pressure to achieve that. We want to regroup after last season and get some stability back into the club. We just want to finish in the top half of the table. When we do go back up we want to stay up. You don't want to come straight back down again."
Former Bohemians manager Mahon added: "We have young players coming into the side and it's going to take us a bit of time to get them into the eircom League way of playing. We know it's going to be a hard season for us, but it's not all doom and gloom. I believe we have the players here to deal with it and then take it on a step further the following year."