O’Neill eager to make his mark at Pomeroy

By Niall Gartland

POMEROY’S new manager Gary O’Neill is confident about the road ahead after holding a pre-season meeting in the club before Christmas.

The Plunkett’s won the Ulster Intermediate title in 2016, and embarked on a giant-killing championship run the following year, reaching the semi-finals of the Tyrone Senior Championship, but a forgettable first-round defeat to Errigal Ciaran last year suggested that their progress has stalled.

Clann na nGael man Gary O’Neill, who managed Donegal team St Michael’s for the last two years, sees no reason why they can’t turn things around and make considerable improvements in the coming years.

“I’ve relatives from Pomeroy and my sister’s married there as well, so I’ve been to some of their matches with my brother-in-law down the years.

“I always wanted to get back involved with my own county, and I got approached by the club and had a good chat with the committee. I was very pleased to be asked and it should be a good challenge.

“I’d an interest in them already, and I think they can show that they’re more than just an Intermediate Championship-winning team. I think they can progress further, and as well as some top county players, they have a lot of good young players coming through as well.

“There’s a good blend there, and they can’t wait to get going. Before the lockdown, I had a meeting with them, there was good numbers there and they all seem eager to improve.

“I think Dungannon coming through as dark horses and deservedly winning the championship has spurred other clubs on – if they can do it then the rest of us are capable as well.”

See today’s Strabane Chronicle for the full interview with Gary O’Neill