Ballinamallard boss Harry McConkey chats to Gareth Cauldwell on his hopes for the season

GC: Are you happy with how pre-season has gone?

HMcC: You have to go through the uncertainty each pre-season of who you have staying with you and new trialists coming in.We have to allow for that early part of pre-season were there is a lot of focus on fitness and there is very little time spent on the cohesion of the team and how you want to play because you are constantly changing personnel on the pitch.

However, once that settled down over these last two weeks, we feel we are starting to see a little bit of shape on things. You won’t be perfect in the first game of the season but you need to be in a position where you feel there is some clarity within the squad of what is expected of them and we feel we have that. Overall, we would be happy with pre-season and how it has gone.

There has been a lot of changes to the squad over the summer with players going out and others coming in. Are you pleased with the make up of the squad ahead of the new season?

I’m very pleased with the personnel and the targets that we went for as we have probably achieved most of them. I also think that there is that balance in the squad where we still have a good representation of local players, that is very important for us.

We have lost some quality players but we have also brought in quality players. We have trimmed the squad a little bit and gone for that little bit of extra quality which we felt was needed as opposed to having numbers.

Do you feel that you have a squad that can go on and challenge for promotion this season?

I think we have to believe that. This game is always ready to kick you in the back side and I felt that we were in a good place last season too at the start and then we got hit with a lot of injuries and there was that horrible ripple effect of Covid and all that it entailed.

At present, I’m very happy with the balance in all areas of the pitch from goalkeeper to striker. There is a good camaraderie already building within the squad and there is that element of competition for places which I think all squads need.

Ultimately all I strive for with my coaching team is that we keep on improving. After relegation 2018-19 we had to rebuild and were fifth in my first season and reached the Irish Cup Final. The second season, 2019-20, we were in second place after 33 games and we were robbed of a play- off place, if not a title, due to Covid . Finally last season, we finished fourth but in a great position in early January when we were only three points behind Newry City - then sadly and disappointingly fell away due to a lack of consistency.

My players know that we are in there not to just make up numbers but that we need to be striving every week to get the three points through performing to a good level week in and week out.

Would it be fair to say that consistency is the key in the Championship, both in terms of performance and in team selection?

The word I have stressed most to the boys since we had a dip in January when we were in a real good position to challenge is exactly that - ‘consistency’. We lacked it from individuals in their decision making and in their taking care of the ball.We also lacked the consistency of finding the net when the opportunities presented themselves at key moments in big games.

Yes there is no doubt Covid and injuries did play a part in a lack of consistency in our starting line ups last season.When players are free from injury or illness and are performing to a high level in training and playing games week in and week out you obviously see a greater confidence and higher level of performance. I have no doubt consistency follows from this.

Who do you see as being the main contenders for the Championship title?

Warrenpoint without a doubt will be challengers, they are in a good place and will want to go straight back up again. I know teams that were in contention last year will be there again, your Loughgalls, your Annaghs, they have all signed very well and you have Dundela with Niall Currie having had a good run at things and is renowned for building good teams and they seem to have had a really strong pre-season.

Dergview too, Tommy Canning has built on what he has started, Ards with Matthew Tipton will be in contention.

HW Welders now have the brilliant Danny Blanchflower Stadium and can attract players through their facilities from Glentoran, Crusaders etc.

Last year I said that any of nine teams could be in the top four and it is similar again this season. It is going to be another difficult but exciting season in the Championship.

A good start is always something that teams are looking for to build confidence and momentum. You have a tough start though away to Ballyclare.

At this minute our only focus is on Ballyclare, you can’t look beyond that. Our last game up there was 2-2 and that was a good improvement on a tough baptism in the first game of last season but we want to look forward and not back.

Ballyclare are not the same Ballyclare team from last season as manager Stephen Small has transformed the team over the summer but that in itself though can bring issues in regards to developing an understanding among those new faces. But they have brought quality players in and they will be ready for us but the most important thing is that we are ready for them and we want to go there with no fear knowing that we are organised and ready to give it a real go.

After that we have Newington and then Dergview. It is a tough start but we can’t wait now to get started and meet that challenge of trying to get the three points on a Saturday or make it through to the next round of a cup competition.

Our supporters love all that excitement and expectation of a Saturday where they meet up, criticise, analyse and most importantly socialise! It’s their day and it’s their club and they love all the drama that the match day brings for them.The Mallards faithful will be there on Saturday cheering us on.

How are you in terms of injuries for the league opener?

Caolan McAleer strained a knee ligament on Saturday against Dungannon but we are hoping that it is not too serious and took him off as as precaution. Peter Maguire will train this week after picking up a groin injury v Portadown and hopefully he will be good to go after two good sessions this week. I am very hopeful that we will have a full hand to pick from for the big kick off.