By Kieran Lynch

NEWRY SHAMROCKS have their sights set firmly on promotion from Division Three this year, after experiencing a near-miss in last year’s campaign.

Having fallen just short in 2021, the Shamrocks have responded by flying out of the traps in 2022 with six wins in the first six league games, and manager Martin Rafferty, who taken the team for six of the last seven years, says the time is now for his team to step up a division.

“Ability-wise they’re probably up there with the best (teams he has coached), and their attitude and application is fantastic,” he said.

“They have the bit between their teeth. I suppose, over the last few years we’ve been unlucky – we just missed out on promotion last year, having won eight out of 10 games we didn’t get promotion, because Saval and Liatroim beat us and went up, and they deserved to go up.

“But I think there has been a real hunger after that. The boys now are at the right age, the right profile and they’re hungry to go up. And for the long-term future of the club, we want to go up – so that when these boys are hitting their prime, they’re established in Division Two.”

Whilst the championship of course remains the cornerstone of every club’s season, the Shamrocks have clearly prioritised league success for their season’s goals. However, despite their strong start, Rafferty isn’t taking anything for granted.

“Listen, we’re only a third of the way through the season, so we know we have a long way to go, but we’re happy with where we are at the minute,” said the manager, before discussing the keys to their good start. Six wins out of six, the boys are playing well, but you have to keep the boys’ feet on the ground too. The boys are able to keep focused themselves, in fairness. We took a new coach in this year, Neil McSherry, to freshen things up, and he’s been a brilliant addition. I was doing the coaching as well as managing over the last couple of years, so it’s allowed me to step back and do a bit more man-management.”

Shamrocks are also benefiting from the right blend of youth mixed with experience, and Rafferty feels there is much reason to be excited about the future.

“We had a couple of minor teams play in championship finals, five or six years ago, and them boys are starting to come through,” said Rafferty.

“Then we have the experienced boys – the two Goughs (Conor and Conall), Kevin Hegarty, John McAteer, James Dixon. Those boys have experienced the disappointment of not getting promoted and they’ll be hungry.”