McGillivary believes Ireland can defy odds

By Stephen Leonard

IRELAND soccer Para-lympian Brian McGillivary is all too aware of the huge task facing the national team at this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio.

The hugely experienced goalkeeper from Firhouse will be hoping to play his part for the team in a tough pool phase that starts with a match against former World and Paralympic champions Ukraine on September 8.

This will be followed by an equally difficult tie against the tournament hosts Brazil two days later after which they face neighbouring rivals Great Britain on September 12.

“We really need to beat one of those teams and get at least a point from one of the other two if we want to progress,” insisted McGillivary.

“Realistically we’ll be looking at Great Britain as a team we could beat, but it’s going to be tough.

“The coaches and players feel we can beat them, but we’ll have to be at 100 percent.

“The other two games, we’ll be looking to win alright, but we’ll have to be at our very best and hope that they have an off day,” he stressed.

Making his first appearance for the senior international team back in 2006, McGillivary will be carrying a wealth of experience into September’s competition.

He is one of four players on the panel who have already competed on the Paralympic stage, having lined out with the team in Beijing.

Squad captain Luke Evans will also be attending his second Paralympic Games in Rio which will mark a third for defender Joe Markey and midfielder Gary Messett.

“The more experienced lads in the squad, those, like myself, who have been to the Paralympics, feel that this is the best squad we have played on in terms of talent,” said McGillivary

“We’ve just got to pull together now and give it our best and who knows what can happen.

“We’re going there to win a medal, so let’s give it our best. Why not?” he added.

The squad, which is training two to three times a week in the Rio lead-up, will be coming into this competition off the back of their encouraging perform-ance in the Pre-Paralympic Games tournament in Salou back in April when they finished fifth.

The team will fly out to Brazil on August 25 and will head into a holding camp in Uberlandia before travelling to Rio for the Games, the opening ceremony for which takes place on September 6.