Civil Service North lay just off the pace, but reviewing the season in terms of success depends a lot on what objectives were set in place at the start of the season. Yes, everyone sets out to win the league and the cup, and perhaps the All-Ireland as well, but realistically these goals were dreams for most of the NCU Premier clubs. And at the end of the season, that’s the way it panned out.
So how did your team perform? Let’s look at them in alphabetical order….
BALLYMENA
Despite the restrictions of not playing on Sunday, Ballymena got though their season with distinction and will be well satisfied with their 3rd position in the league. For the first half of the season they were a serious threat, but they faded in the run-in and did well to top the chasing pack behind the two top guns. A club with great team spirit and sporting ethic, they deserved more.
BANGOR
The Seasiders had a nightmare season and their solitary league win against Lisburn was a rare highlight. Bangor has some talented young players, but they need to strengthen their squad and go back to the drawing board if they are to compete at the highest level.
CARRICKFERGUS
The County Antrim team were never too far from the relegation zone and will probably be satisfied they survived! Their squad will need strengthened if they are to compete in the tougher 8-team structure next year.
CIVIL SERVICE NORTH
Inconsistency and the absence of Regan West cost Civil Service North dearly in 2011. They beat the league champions in the cup semi-final and at one stage looked destined to win the final, but just as quickly as the opportunity appeared, it disappeared. The team looked good with Gary Wilson in it and Nigel Jones led from the front so there’s plenty of talent to work with at Stormont going forward
CIYMS
A disappointing season for the Belmont club, who invested heavily in the past few years to strengthen their squad. Rivals may gloat at their lowly league finish, but the club has ambition and drive, and having survived relegation, they’ll be determined to put up a better showing in 2012. Beware the wounded tiger!
INSTONIANS
A good season for the Old Boys, but they must feel it could have been better. Reaching the Irish Senior Cup final was a great achievement, but like the Twenty20 cup final it finished in defeat. In between there was a fine victory in the Club Turf Ulster Cup so there’s not a lot needed to put this team on par with North Down and Waringstown. It’s certainly not self-belief as there’s plenty of confidence!
LISBURN
A mid-table league position is probably a fair reflection on the current Lisburn team. The season started with a bang with a league win at Comber, but the team lacked strength in depth and that became more and more evident as the season progressed. The club hosted the Senior Cup Final with aplomb, and their 175th Anniversary celebrations deserved some silverware!
MUCKMORE
The Moylena club put a lot of work into their return to the big time and many people hoped they could survive. However, they were always short of a few quality players at this level and that was probably the difference looking back over their season. The club is well structured and motivated so they’ll bounce back stronger for the experience.
NORTH DOWN
Most clubs would be well satisfied with the Senior League title and the Twenty20 Cup in one season, but after a decade of unparalleled success this was the least expected at The Green. The team is packed with talent and coach Gavin Rogers did a great job throughout the season, but they paid dearly for a few off days and did well to keep their momentum going to the end of August and fend off Waringstown for the league title. Not much needed to stay at the top with this squad.
WARINGSTOWN
Winning the Irish Senior Cup and the NCU Challenge Cup in the same season was an awesome achievement for the Villagers, and the league title was agonizingly within one victory from their grasp at the end of a busy season. The Mirror on the Wall may not tell skipper Kyle McCallan he is the “fairest of them all”, but it may tell him his team was, after a memorable season at The Lawn.
Like their great rivals North Down, Waringstown have it all together on and off the field and they set the standards that other clubs have to reach to compete.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
