Outside of league leaders Newry City, it is Niall Currie’s Dundela who are the Championship’s form team and they have set their sights on a remarkable top half finish.
The Duns had collected just one point from their first seven league fixtures prior to Currie’s arrival at Wilgar Park in September and with just one win in their opening 15 Championship games – a relegation battle appeared to be a certainty.
However, the East Belfast side have lost just two of their next 12 in the division – winning seven times in that run – and midfielder Eoin Kane has revealed that Currie is now encouraging his players to aim for a top-half finish.
There are just six rounds of matches remaining before the league splits between a top six and bottom six with the Duns 12 points from sixth-placed Ards.
“We are now looking at getting into the top six,” Kane explained to Match on Tuesday.
“That is a big ask but that is where we see ourselves and we are firmly looking up the table now instead of at the sides below us.
“We are 12 points off the top six with six rounds of games remaining, so it is a huge challenge but if we can win our games then it gives us an outside chance.
“In fact, we would see ourselves as one of the best teams in the league but obviously because of the start of the season we had – that is beyond us this year.
“We have played Newry a couple of times and all the games have been tight – there has not been a game against one of the top sides who have been clearly superior to us.
“Right now, we are looking at catching Knockbreda and Ballyclare, and then to build from there.”
There has been a mass upheaval of playing staff at Wilgar Park in recent years with the management team of Currie, Clifford Adams and John
McAllister were appointed.
Yet Kane is one of the longer-serving players at the club, having joined from Ballyclare in the summer of 2019 and now thriving as a first-team star.
“I love the club and have really enjoyed my time here, there is a real spirit right down from the board to the coaching staff and players, to the fans,” he added.
“The new coaching team have been great too, obviously I already knew Cliffy very well because I was at
Ballymena with him and then he signed me at Ballyclare.
“Niall and John Mac have been great too, their man management is second to none and they know how to talk to players and create that winning dressing room.
“But they are also very technically good too – as you can see from the results, that comes from their training sessions and how they set up the shape for games.
“You are always comfortable enough to speak to them and they can motivate you but it is much more than that.”
Not only have there been a series of first-team arrivals at Dundela, the promotion of 17-year-old duo Ryan McKay and Rhys Annett has also helped revitalize the team.
“Rhys and Ryan have come in and they have done brilliantly,” Kane continued.
“They have had a lot of help from us in the squad to settle in and make the step up, with Niall and Cliffy always on with them too.
“The team has really gelled together and clicked since Niall has come in.”
Next up for Dundela is a home clash against high-flying Ballinamallard on Saturday.
