Coach Stevie O’Donnell hails quality in ranks as ex-Crewe boss takes charge ahead of Belfast Celtic derby this weekend
Former Crewe United boss Eamonn McCarthy
Phil McDonagh was at Lisburn Rangers before taking over at St James's Swifts
Stevie O’Donnell has told Eamonn McCarthy he won’t want for quality after the former Crewe United and Newington boss was appointed manager of St James’s Swifts.
McCarthy met the players for the first time on Thursday evening ahead of his maiden derby with his new club at the weekend as the Swifts head to Glen Road Heights to lock horns with Belfast Celtic.
Former St Luke’s boss O’Donnell followed in the footsteps of Phil McDonagh when he swapped the Amateur League for the Ballymena Intermediate earlier in the season, coming in as the ex-Comber Rec and Lisburn Rangers manager’s number two.
But less than a year into his appointment with the Donegal Celtic Park club, McDonagh stepped down, with O’Donnell replacing him in the hot seat on an interim basis for a few weeks before McCarthy was confirmed as the new man in charge earlier on Thursday afternoon.
And O’Donnell reckons McCarthy will love working with a squad of players big on talent.
“To be honest, the club was flying there, they’d two games in hand and win those, they’d be top of the league,” explained O’Donnell.
“But we’d four sent off last week against Rosemount in the Intermediate Cup, which left us with a depleted squad for Saturday there and we got beat 4-1 (against Rathcoole).
“But the squad here is outstanding to be honest with you,
“The potential is there, and obviously (Eamonn) might want to come and sign his own players, but you’ve got the likes of Sean-Pat Donnelly, Eugene Gallagher… some smashing players, Jamie Sharvin
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