Kelly confident there is more to come from Davis
By Stephen Leonard
THOMAS Davis Senior Football team manager Paul Kelly is certain his players have the potential to build on their success from last season.
The Kiltipper side stunned the Dublin GAA circuit by reaching the county championship decider where they eventually came undone against near neighbours Ballyboden St Enda’s.
Thomas Davis’ Brian Kirby in action against Pat Burke and Tom Fox of Kilmacud last season
Yet huge victories over the likes of Castleknock and Kilmacud Crokes along the way suggests they may very well be a team coming of age- a notion not disputed by Kelly.
“This is my seventh year in charge” he told The Echo. “It’s my own club and it’s an honour to be allowed to stay on for so long.
“The reason I stayed on for the extra year is that they’re an ever improving group, in terms of numbers and the quality of players as well as their age profile. There’s great potential there.
“Our team has benefitted over the last three to four years from the develop-ment of very good Minor sides. This together, with us retaining some of our more senior guys meant we were looking good coming into the season” he said.
Still Kelly was quick to put the feats of last season behind them and focus on the new campaign whenever that might resume.
“Last season is a memory. This year was about building on those memories” he said.
“We played Cuala [in the season opener] and put in a disappointing performance. We had a lot of injuries and I think that game came about two weeks too early for us in terms of getting those players back” he added.
The Davis boss has admitted how difficult it is to prepare the team in the challenging times brought about by COVID-19.
“Right now we’re all awaiting this stage return to activity and an awful lot depends on the advice from the health executive” he said’
“Since we dispersed in early March, we’ve been doing our best to stay in touch with the players, whether it’s through a mix of interactive time or giving the lads work to do to keep them in good nick for when we return” he added.
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
TAGS Sport
