Tough times for Manulla but the quality remains
Aidan Dunleavy Snr has returned as Manulla manager after stepping down in 2022. Picture: Michael Donnelly
In 2019, they finished fourth. In each full season since, Manulla have proceeded to finish one place lower in the table than the season before. Last season, a run of four wins in five games in the second half of the season gave them the necessary points to stay up but there had been question marks about Manulla’s ability to stay up.
The question marks remain. On their day, Manulla could realistically beat anyone but with so many top players having commitment elsewhere, consistency in the starting lineup has been a problem for the Blues. Even in goal, where four different players featured last season and a fifth different name popped up during a recent pre-season friendly. Losing Lorcan Conroy to K/K is also a big blow so close to the start of the season.
Aidan Dunleavy Sr has returned to the club after last managing them in 2022 and so too has Aidan Jr, who will be looked to for goals. The Benson brothers, Cian and Shea, have been two of the better performers for the club in recent years and the addition of Josh Webb is a shrewd one in attack.
Manulla manager Aidan Dunleavy is back for another crack at guiding the Blues to the upper reaches of the Super League table, .
Dunleavy returned to the club over the winter, replacing Walter Barrett who incidentally, was the man who replaced Dunleavy when he stepped down in 2022.
He admitted he was surprised he got the call from the club but after talking things through with them, was happy to come back to Manulla.
“We said we would have another go at it to see how things go. This is a lovely club to work with. Lovely people, lovely players.”
“I was surprised I got a call. I did not think it would come but they called me up. We talked and we thrashed a few things out and agreed we would have another go at it.”
He said he would have mid-table ambitions for the club this year as they look to continue to rebuild.
“We have a lot of young lads coming through and we would be looking at mid-table.
“Manulla done okay last season. Wally worked very hard there and he left it in a good place so hopefully I can build on from what he did.”
Aidan said he is happy with the additions he has made to the squad. Aidan Dunleavy Jr is the pick of the signings.
“We also got in Josh Webb, Hugh McDonnell, Tadhg McGinty and Enda Joyce. They have all played a few friendlies for us. They are good lads, good soccer lads. Good commitment and good for training.”
He said he expects his side to keep it tight this season and take on whoever is in front of them. Aidan said he will have the likes of Gary McHale and Conor Walsh available for a number of weeks and they will be a boost for his team.
“It makes a big difference having them lads playing,” he said.
“We had a good outing in the Connacht Cup against Cam Celtic winning 3-0 a few weeks ago. We were happy enough, a good away day. Windy but it was good.”
Manulla takes on Claremorris in their opening game of the season, he said he does not know what to expect from this fixture but he faces an interesting challenge coming up against Simon Collins, who had been set to start the season on the Manulla sideline but joined Kevin Lally in the weeks before the start of the season.
