Kerley delighted with Athlone youngsters
Credit:
After the Dominos Pizza was delivered and eaten by the players,
ExtraTime.ie found a moment to catch up with Mike Kerley after his
charges withstood a second half onslaught by Finn Harps to record
their second win of the campaign.
Kerley was quick to commend his players both young and old, "Delighted, especially with all the young players we have, a great effort by everybody."
With a few teens in his starting line up Kerley was aware of the psychological effect a few wins could do for his budding team, "Another three points puts us mid table and it gives the lads confidence. Especially we're at that age, we have a lot of seventeen and eighteen year olds, a few losses can make them go into themselves. It's good for the confidence, and to get the second win in a row is great."
After Tuesday's victory Athlone sit comfortably in mid table, but Kerley understands that his team are going to be in a dogfight in this year's Division One League, "We're going to be under a lot of pressure with the squad that we have, it's about how we react and how we defend."
Athlone, Kerley testifies are attempting to build on the youth at the club and was quick to praise the future of the club, "I think tonight Joe Wood is only eighteen and it looks like he's been playing League of Ireland for years so the future is bright when you have kids like that on the team sheet. Hopefully we can get a few more kids to come in in June to compliment what we're trying to do here at the club."
It was a pretty tempestuous affair at Athlone Stadium despite only two yellow cards brandished and physio Noel Kelly was called into action on numerous occasions. Niall Scullion in fact didn't return from the dressing rooms at halftime and had to be sent to hospital with concussion. Kerley was yet unsure at the severity of his injury, "Our only concern is Niall Scullion, he's come off concussed and is at hospital at the moment, we're just waiting on the response from the ambulance to see how he is."
Kerley's charges next take the field on Friday the 22nd (KO 7:30) against Johnny McGlynn's Mervue United.
Kerley was quick to commend his players both young and old, "Delighted, especially with all the young players we have, a great effort by everybody."
With a few teens in his starting line up Kerley was aware of the psychological effect a few wins could do for his budding team, "Another three points puts us mid table and it gives the lads confidence. Especially we're at that age, we have a lot of seventeen and eighteen year olds, a few losses can make them go into themselves. It's good for the confidence, and to get the second win in a row is great."
After Tuesday's victory Athlone sit comfortably in mid table, but Kerley understands that his team are going to be in a dogfight in this year's Division One League, "We're going to be under a lot of pressure with the squad that we have, it's about how we react and how we defend."
Athlone, Kerley testifies are attempting to build on the youth at the club and was quick to praise the future of the club, "I think tonight Joe Wood is only eighteen and it looks like he's been playing League of Ireland for years so the future is bright when you have kids like that on the team sheet. Hopefully we can get a few more kids to come in in June to compliment what we're trying to do here at the club."
It was a pretty tempestuous affair at Athlone Stadium despite only two yellow cards brandished and physio Noel Kelly was called into action on numerous occasions. Niall Scullion in fact didn't return from the dressing rooms at halftime and had to be sent to hospital with concussion. Kerley was yet unsure at the severity of his injury, "Our only concern is Niall Scullion, he's come off concussed and is at hospital at the moment, we're just waiting on the response from the ambulance to see how he is."
Kerley's charges next take the field on Friday the 22nd (KO 7:30) against Johnny McGlynn's Mervue United.
