Burns’ boys aiming for history

Newtowne are 90 minutes away from creating a wee piece of Irish Cup history, this Saturday.
Winger Ryan McIlmoyle is leaving Coleraine to join Intermediate side Newtowne.Winger Ryan McIlmoyle is leaving Coleraine to join Intermediate side Newtowne.
Winger Ryan McIlmoyle is leaving Coleraine to join Intermediate side Newtowne.

The Roesiders face Crumlin United (KO 1.30pm) in the Irish Cup fourth round and a victory would put them into the round with all the ‘big boys’ for the first time in their history.

The fifth round is where the likes of Linfield, Portadown, Cliftonville, Crusaders and Glentoran along with North West neighbours Institute but boss Michael Burns is only focusing on this weekend’s encounter against United.

“It’s probably the biggest game in the club’s history to reach the Irish Cup fifth round for the first time would be brilliant,” stated Burns.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game, as we have had Crumlin watched and they have a very good side, but we are on a good run ourselves recently, we are unbeaten in our ten games.

“At the minute we are sitting second in the Intermediate League with three games in hand, but this Saturday all we are focusing on is the Irish Cup.”

In fact its cup action for the next two weeks as they travel to Bangor in the Intermediate Cup and Burns is really looking forward to the next fortnight.

“It’s a big, big fortnight for the club, but as I said we are on a good run of form so hopefully that run can continue over the next few weeks,” he added.

“We have a young side I think the average age is around 19-20 years old, Rory O’Reilly, who has been with the club for eight or nine years is our oldest player and he’s 30, so we are a young side who have a great never say die attitude.

“In fact that determination was evidenced on Saturday, we were trailing 2-1 at Desertmartin and came back to win 4-2.”

Just to show the club’s ambition Burns also confirmed that former Institute and Limavady United winger Ryan McIlmoyle has signed from Coleraine and makes his move to Newtowne next month.

“We know the club is going in the right direction when someone like Ryan McIlmoyle has turned down Irish League clubs to sign for us, he can’t play for us until January, but it’s a great signing for us,” he added.

“Ryan has played at the top level in the Irish League for a number of years now, so to get a man of his experience is great for everyone at the club.”