SHANE BYRNE and Glengad United already have their targets pinned for the new season – which gets underway in the first round proper of the FAI Senior Cup this weekend.
Glengad are in Tipperary on Saturday to take on St Michael’s – who overcame the Inishowen men in last season’s FAI Junior Cup semi-final at Cooke Park – in one of the all-non League pairings of the first round.
“We’re up against it, but on our day we could put it up to most junior sides,” Glengad boss Byrne told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“They’re a very good side. They had eight Irish internationals the last day they played us.
“That squad of ours has been together a right while. They’ve won more than they’ve lost so we’re not going there with any fear. There’s a mutual respect.”
Glengad have been licking some wounds over the last couple of months after seeing Greencastle take hold of their Jackie Crossan Premier Division title as the Chapel Lane side swept the boards.
Adam Byrne will be missing this weekend, but new recruits like Fionn McClure and Declan Doherty, not to mention the return to the squad on a permanent basis of Paddy McDermott are pointers that Glengad want their crown back again.
Byrne said: “Last year, we had a very successful season getting into the Senior Cup – we’re the first Inishowen League team in it – and getting to the Junior Cup semi-finals. This year, we’ll be concentrating on getting some silverware back on the shelves in the Crua again.
“We haven’t been out of the top two in the last seven years. We’ve been runners-up three times and we won it four times…We have players who have been there and done that – and they’re very anxious to do it again.”
Listen to the full interview below …