Keeper Kennedy aims to lead Bangor to glory

BANGOR Celtic goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy hopes his League of Ireland experience can help the south Dublin club claim their first FAI Carlsberg Intermediate Cup title at Turner’s Cross tomorrow.

Kennedy played with Kildare County in the eircom League First Division last year after spending five seasons with the now defunct Dublin City.

“I’ve had a few rollercoasters with Dublin City,” says the 6ft 5in netminder. “I’ve seen and done it all and experienced many highs and lows with them. A friend of mine who played with Dublin City invited me down to Bangor. I did a bit of training over Christmas and signed. It’s great to be involved in an Intermediate Final,

“You’d like to think a few years in the eircom League would help you and help the team out, but a lot of players are Junior Internationals, and have won the league two years ago. “They’ve also won the Charlie Cahill for the last two years and being involved in hunting trophies for the last three or four years. There’s nobody raw or inexperienced in the side.”

Bangor draw their players from Rathfarnham, Tallaght and Crumlin and, with three games to play, currently lie six points behind leaders Cherry Orchard in Leinster Senior League.

But Kennedy feels his side need to be at their best against Cup holders, Avondale United.

“Avondale’s pedigree stands out for themselves. To get to the final two years in a row tells you they’re a good side, well organised and it’s going to be a tough game.

“Then again, we should be coming down to Cork with no fear. We’ll treat it like any other game and, if we can play well, we’ll have a very good chance of lifting the title.

“For a club like Bangor which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it’s our first time in this final. It’s major trophy. We’ve won a few domestic trophies but when you get to a final like this you know you’re playing the best in Ireland.”