A new start, a new manager, and more importantly, three points for Ringmahon in their first game of the new MSL season.

Kieran O’Reilly has taken over the managerial reigns from Aidan Foley, and with his experienced backroom staff in place, he is confident that his side should be competing for honours this season.

“This season, the backroom team I have around me deserve a lot of credit,” said O’Reilly. “They make my life all that easier, especially when having a full-time job. I am grateful to my employer in OML Ventilation, who are always accommodating to my time off.

“The backroom staff will be quite similar to last season with myself, John Naughton, Richie St Ledger, and Gavin Crean. I’m delighted that they’ve decided to stay on, as all bring their own personal touch of knowledge and organisational skills to the team environment, and adding another fantastic personality in Jonathan Deasy, who will bring a wealth of football knowledge to the management side of things.”

After a fruitful playing career, O’Reilly decided to get involved with coaching and has had a lot of success.

Having started just over a decade ago with Ringmahon schoolboy teams, and then as assistant to Dave Hill at Cobh Ramblers, he has helped to produce some top-class players.

“I’ve had the pleasure of managing a few Ringmahon teams over the last number of years, from schoolboys up to senior level, and been lucky to have enjoyed a lot of success,” he said.

“A lot of people in the football environment would know a lot of the players I coached back then. Alan Browne of Preston, Eric Grimes who played with Leeds United in the UK, John Kavanagh former Cork City and now Cobh Ramblers, and I am very lucky to have the likes of Roy ‘Badger’ Kenny, Anto O’Donnell, Jason Forde, from that schoolboys team with me who all played League of Ireland and could still play at that level now.

“Another schoolboy team I had some great times with was with Patrick Murphy and Graham ‘Charlie’ Keohane — another exceptional bunch of players with whom I had my own son Adam playing with us at the time, but now in the UK playing with Preston. 

"Again, a lot of the players I had on that team went to play at national level and now feature with me at senior level. Again, to name a few, would be Christopher and Timmy O’Reilly, Charlie Cremin, Micheal Hammett, Alan Happi — all Cobh Ramblers and now with Cork City U19s — Callum Finnegan.

“Another player I had on that team was Cian Whooley, who I believe if he was still playing soccer had a great chance to play in the UK but went on to play international rugby with Ireland and Cork Con alongside another fantastic goalkeeper in Alex Kindellen, who also plays rugby internationally for Ireland.”

Producing great players is common with this Mahon club, and for O’Reilly, having that mixture of youth and experience in his side will hopefully be their key to success this season.

“The senior team I have now are a very extremely talented bunch, also featuring my other son Dean, who is certainly one of the best strikers in the league, even at League of Ireland level, I believe,” he said.

“I only have to mention a few names for people to realise the standard of players we are lucky to have with us, but there’s too many to mention that bring their own personality to the team, but a phenomenal pool of talented players.

“We had a great result against St Mary’s, who I’ll give credit to for setting out to play in the right manner.

“Under the guidance of Anto Keneally and John Murphy, they’ll come good, and you can see they are a young squad with a good blend of experience also so this will stand to the young players for the season ahead.

“For ourselves, we set out our own gameplan which the players stuck to and we were delighted to get the three points and get a good start in the league campaign.

“I’m very happy with the squad of players we have. We have some very talented young players coming through who I think deserve their opportunities and the great thing for these young lads is to be able to learn to train and play alongside some of the best players in the league.

“Our aims for this season is to stay involved and in contention in the league competition and hopefully try to have some good cup runs along the way. Obviously, to win a trophy would always be a good season, but to be in around the league come the end of the season will be the main aim.

“Our next game is against Mayfield, who are a decent footballing side. We play them in the Keane Cup and it’s another tough game as I know they will be contesting the First Division title.

“I’ve no doubt the league is going to be very competitive this season and the styles of play teams are now starting to introduce is great to see.

“In previous years, I personally think leagues were mostly won through the focus of the big, physical-type player, but as of now I think it’s changing and being geared more towards the tactical side of the game. 

"Teams are implementing different systems/styles of play, and knocking the ball around more, keeping more possession, which is the right way to play. 

"It’s very difficult to say who are or who aren’t the biggest competitors, but one thing is for sure — we will be working hard to be up there amongst the best.”