Kieran Shannon: 22 years and counting - Neptune still searching for their old spark

Such homegrown and stay-home leaders are harder to mould and find than before. But it’s Neptune’s job and challenge to identify and mould them and keep them as it is to find a coach who won’t be as quick to bite the dust.

CHASING GLORY DAYS: It has been 22 years since Neptun claimed the title and are still searching for the right person to lead them to glory. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Back when Neptune were on their way to claiming league banner no.9 in what would prove to be Terry Strickland’s final season in their colours, their stadium’s resident DJ Cliff Peyton would regularly reach for a Queen track to accompany a home game’s final seconds.

As a Ger Heaphy, Mark Scannell or Stephen McCarthy would dribble the ball out, the familiar thudding groove of John Deacon’s bass would ring around the arena.