Irish Cup quarterfinal opportunity for Institute this weekend

Irish Cup Sixth Round

Institute vs. Ballyclare Comrades

Brandywell

Saturday, 3pm

Institute have the chance to make it to the last eight of the Irish Cup for the first time in over a decade when they face Ballyclare Comrades at the Brandywell tomorrow.

Brian Donaghey’s team have plenty of issues to address in the Lough 41 Championship in the next few months, but the prospect of an Irish Cup quarterfinal has brought an added excitement not only for the players, but the manager also. The arrival of strikers Calvin McCallion and Sean McCarron and midfielder Shaun McDermott has also meant that the squad has been given a huge lift heading into the second half of the season. ‘Stute last made the quarterfinals of the Irish Cup back in 2009 on their way to the last four of the competition. 

“I can’t wait, honestly,” Donaghey said. “Part of the season I signed the three lads as well is that none of them are cup-tied. We don’t like bringing people in and then taking them out for cup games. We’ll have a good week in training and they will get to know the group and integrate into the group. We’ll be fitter and sharper and I’m expecting us to push on in the second half of the season, I really am.”

All three signings featured in last week’s 1-1 draw with Ards, but with a full week of training at their new club now behind them, Donaghey expects them to be much sharper, and to have a big say on the remainder of ‘Stute’s season.  

“It's about having experienced players on board,” he explained. “The likes of Calvin and Sean are both coning up to their thirties and they bring that experience and guile and that’s crucial. Shaun McDermott came in as well so there’s going to be massive competition for places. I’d rather be looking at them than looking for them. We’ve had situations in the past where the squad hasn’t been strong, but now we have a strong squad.”

‘Stute really raised their game in their last Irish Cup outing, decimating Annagh United, who now lead the Championship, 4-0 at the Brandywell. ‘Stute have, in fact, lost just one of their last 11 game sat home, and having already beaten Ballyclare 2-0 at the Brandywell back in September, know they have a good chance of going through.

“We’re definitely not far off and we’ll be a match for anybody, especially at home,” Donaghey continued. “We’ll work hard this week, were looking forward to the cup match and it’s good to get away from the league at times. We also have the carrot of the quarterfinals of the Irish Cup; I know what the Irish Cup means to me. It’s been very good to me in my career as a player and a coach so it’s about getting these boys to believing and we’ll give it a good go.”

Doherty progress

Meanwhile, Donaghey has urged goalkeeper Dylan Doherty to continue to improve, insisting the 25-year-old has everything a top goalkeeper needs.

Doherty has played started 21 games for ‘Stute this season, and has established himself as the club’s number one following the departure of Connolly last year.  

“He's improving week on week” he said. “I said to him before the game last week that he’s still a wee bit tentative coming off his line, but people forget how young we are. Look at our back four, our two full backs are 21/ 22, and Dylan is only 25, so he’s still a young keeper. He has got everything, and let’s hope he can push on because having a good goalkeeper behind you gives everyone confidence.

“He’s playing behind, for me, one of the best back fours in the Championship. They are all contributing and we are not a million miles away. This time last year everything was doom and gloom, but now we’re looking ahead and we’re not looking backwards anymore.”

The annual Billy Kee Memorial Cup game against Derry City, which was postponed due to the recent bad weather, will now take place next Monday night, February 6, at the Brandywell at 7:45pm.