Irish League players coping with the new challenges

While it has meant a slight change in routine for the majority of us, for many of our sports stars it has meant a massive change in their daily schedule.

Larne are one of the few Irish League clubs who train on a daily basis.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic players have been doing individual sessions on their own in a bid to maintain their fitness if and when the season resumes.

Defender Tomas Cosgrove admits it has been hard not seeing his team-mates and coaching staff on a daily basis, especially as they were hitting form in the run-in to the end of the season.

“It’s hard because you are used to going in every day and seeing all the boys and chatting about how we’re all doing,” he told the club website.

“Also training every day helps you get that sharpness.

“I felt we were just coming into our own for this season.

“Everything was just starting to click into place and then it gets pulled away from you.

“I think the boys who had never played in the league before were just starting to get used to it.

“I’m sure some people watch it and think they could play in the league, but it’s so fast when you’re on the pitch, it’s blood and thunder.

“So I think it took the boys a bit of time to get used to it and then we got those wins over the big teams, confidence grows and then you go into games thinking you’re going to win everything.”

Cosgrove is hoping a solution can be found for this current campaign to be completed.

“I would like to see the season finished but I honestly don’t know how you can do it in the time that’s left,” he said.

“They will maybe have to do a play-off for the Europa League place like they did a few seasons ago.

“When you look at football around the world some leagues are giving the title to the top teams and others are saying they are going to finish the league.

“It just depends what the IFA decides on and everyone will just have to go with it.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.ukand enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Irish and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you,

Alistair Bushe

Editor