Wanderers up for the cup

Wanderers manager, Andy McClintock, has said his team will go into the last eight tie with “confidence.”

Speaking to the Sentinel about this weekends tie the Wanderers gaffer said: “It is not going to be easy going up to Portadown for the quarter final tie. St Mary’s are the much fancied team. We will travel with confidence and give it a real good go.

“We were the underdogs in most of the games we have played and we still managed to get this far.”

The Bready based club were knocked out of the first round of the Matt Morrison Junior Cup last weekend against Eglinton losing heavily by 7-3. Although not the ideal preparation for an Irish Junior Cup quarter final game Andy believes in the strength of his squad to meet the difficult challenge ahead.

“We have only one injury worry ahead of the St Mary’s clash. Losing to Eglinton last week will spur us on. We were missing five key players and lost Michael Allen with a hamstring injury.

“We have many young players in the team and a great mixture of experience as well. To get to this stage of the Irish Junior is a great bonus. Nobody expected us to get this far and we are not looking beyond this tie.”

The loss of centre forward Michael Allen has come as major blow. Having already scored 16 goals for Foyle the club will now look for Wright to score the much needed goals. Keith Hamilton’s role will prove vital aswell.

The former Newbuidings United intermediate player brings a wealth of experience to this tie. He is also the playmaker and the younger more inexperienced players will rely on his giudance throughout the game.

A full bus of supporters will travel too, which was much like the last two away games in Carrickfergus and Craigavon. Andy believes they are inspirational: “The supporters have their role to play aswell. They have been brilliant in our away games. It will be a fantastic day out and I just hope we get the result for them too.”

Wanderers have had a patchy league campaign to date. Andy hopes that the confidence arising from their fantastic cup run will help their league performances.

Andy McClintock is in his first full season in charge. He believes this young team will get even better. “This is my first year in charge. I have brough in nine new players with five of them under 20. I want to build this young team and although our season has been indifferent I hope that reaching the quarter finals of the Irish Junior Cup will breed confidence.

“We have have picked up league points in recent weeks and I want that to continue beyond cup competitions. I will continue to build this team and it will get better.”

Foyle Wanderers are the last team representing the North West in the prestigous Northern Ireland cup competition. Hopes of bringing the the much sought after prize in junior football rest with them.