YM skipper hoping for better times

The last few years have been tough for the Drumahoe men and Donaghey would love to get off to a winning start.

"We have spent the last couple of seasons getting kicked about a bit," he explained.

"I was captain last year and it was quite a hard year. Come January and February it was very difficult to get the boys going, I think there was an element of a hangover from the Junior One season; it was great to play there, but captaining a side last year that managed to win three games wasn't a pleasant experience for me.

"I'm looking forward to possibly having a better year this season and we have set our sights fairly early on to get a good run in the Gordon West Cup and also try to get a bit of fun back into our game.

"We had young boys out at the club last year, who were playing their first season of adult rugby and it was a tough introduction for them not getting the result week in, week out. At the end of the day guys don't give up their Saturdays for nothing, so enjoying your rugby comes if you are winning your games and that's for any sport.

"It's no craic whenever you aren't winning, but it's a fresh start for everybody and I think we are all looking forward to the season starting."

Donaghey also feels with duo Kris Dunn and Ian Simpson installed as coaches the Waterside club is in good hands.

"Both Kris and Ian are stalwarts of the club and they are guys who have the club's best interests at their heart and I think that will reflect what we get up to both on and off the pitch.

"In my opinion Kevin Gallagher did a good job last year and credit to him he was a great technical coach, he knew a lot about the game and that reflects the position he has gone onto at Dungannon, but we are now back to grass roots, with two guys who know the club inside out and I hope and think that will reflect in our results this year as I feel we are in for a strong year.

"I feel the club deserve credit for having the foresight to put both Kris and Ian through their coaching badges and in place shadowing Kevin last year, rather than now looking outside of the club for a new coach," concluded the YM captain.