If you went a whole season unbeaten you would imagine you’d be lifting the Premier division trophy but this wasn’t the case for an unlucky Bridge United last season. Known for their glowing organisation, Bridge won’t want to finish up this season just short again.
By Jamesy McConigley
Management: Eoghan McNulty (manager) Barry Downes (selector) Albert Finnin (selector)
Captain: Darren Murphy
One to Watch: Kevin Kelly
Transfers In: Alan Mulready (Unattached)
Gavin Whyte (Unattached)
Eoghan Pewter (Kilkishen Celtic)
Conleth Agnew (Kilkishen Celtic)
Paul Tuohy (Kilkishen Celtic)
Transfers Out: Chris Lake (Shannon Town)
John Mulready (Janesboro)
Steve Carroll (Newmarket Celtic)
Robbie Wall (Shannon Town)
Out of luck in the past two seasons, Bridge Utd must be wondering how they let the League title slip out of their hands last year. This will be hurting them as they approach their fiftieth birthday next year.
Eoghan McNulty who’s planning ahead for his third season in charge of Bridge United is joined in his backroom staff by former Limerick FC player Albert Finnian and Barry Downes. Bridge won 78% of their league games last season, scoring fifty seven goals and only conceding eleven. McNulty spoke about their objectives this year. “(Our) main aim for the season is the same as every other year take it game by game and try accumulate as many points as possible. See where we are after that.”
But will it be sufficiently enough this season to go unbeaten in order to lift the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division trophy. Bridge United haven’t won the Premier Division title since 2006. After the pain of last season, they don’t want to rest on their laurels and wait around to see near neighbours Newmarket Celtic lift another league title. Bridge’s manager said “Regarding going unbeaten and not winning the league isn’t something we’ll dwell on. The spine of the team is incredibly young and it’s all a learning curve.”
Bridge have been back in training for just over five weeks and are happy with their preparation for the upcoming season. Mc Nulty said “Preseason is condensed due to the timing of the early kick off, not sure why it’s kicking off so early, no explanation from the league so we’ll just get on with it. Every team is in the same scenario”
Can Bridge United do enough this season to finally get their hands on that unattainable league title? The signings of Alan Mulready and former Limerick FC player Gavin Whyte will certainly help their chances as they come to terms with the departures of John Mulready, Chris Lake, Steve Carroll and possibly Brian O’Connor. They kick-off their season on Sunday at home to Avenue United in LIT. Bridge United will play their home games out of LIT as their pitch is under redevelopment.