Irish Cup: McAlinden goes in search of first big scalp of season

If there is one thing missing from the CV of the Larne team thus far, it’s a big scalp. They have yet to prove themselves against the top teams, so a derby clash in the Irish Cup would seem to present the perfect opportunity to take a major leap forward.
Larne FC manager Davy McAlindenLarne FC manager Davy McAlinden
Larne FC manager Davy McAlinden

“We have had a great season to date, but we have yet to win a really big game. We have played Ards, Bangor and Carrick Rangers and lost to them all, so we now really need to be winning against the top teams,” said manager Davy McAlinden.

“This is, therefore, a huge occasion for us. It won’t make or break our season, it’s not a defining moment or anything like that. But it’s a special match, a game in the glamour competition and it’s against our big, local rivals.

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“Every club wants to get a run in the Irish Cup - that’s a given. But half the clubs left in the competition will have their dreams dashed at a stroke and we don’t want to be amongst them, so the team talk will reflect that it’s a game we must win if we have the ambition to continue the dream,” he stressed.

Given that their neighbours successfully sought a postponement of the big December 27 clash in the league, because of the Steel Cup final, is there any danger of a hangover element with this fixture?

“I suppose that will be in the back of our minds, alright, but it really has no relevance to what might happen on Saturday. We will be concentrating on going in with the right approach and determined to keep our good run of results going.

“We are still gelling but we had a good break over Christmas and the boys looked refreshed, full of energy and full of running on Saturday when we went to Dundela and won 3-0 in a place where getting results is far from easy.

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“The one problem with that outing is that Ciaran Murray was suspended for the game and we brought in James McCabe, who played so well that he has now left us with a selection poser. But that’s the kind of difficulty I can live with any day of the week.

“Our focus is on the cup match against Carrick and the buzz will really start to grip the club and the town as we get closer to Saturday,” promised the manager, who knows plenty about Rangers since he was their captain when they last gained promotion to the Premiership.

“I had some good times down there, but that’s in the past and I am totally concentrating on where my heart lies right now and that is with Larne a Football Club,” stressed straight-talking McAlinden.