Cotter hoping heroes will get Ireland call from Smith

As the Avondale players danced around the cup at full-time, the pointedness of their celebration chant was clear as day. “Are you watching Gerry Smith?”

For quite a while now, Avondale boss John Cotter has questioned the selection policy of the Republic of Ireland amateur side’s manager.

With justifiable reason too, you might think, seeing as his players have largely been ignored despite their unquestionable success.

So as his team celebrated a third consecutive Intermediate Cup, Cotter wondered if his players will ever get the call from the national boss.

“There are five or six lads out there who should be playing for Ireland,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair. I understand he has a hard job and has a hundred clubs on to him but our lads deserve to be there.

“They are superb, the best in the country as far as I’m concerned, and they have the medals to prove it.”

Cotter also felt the winning margin flattered his side somewhat. “If you weren’t at the match the score probably looks like it was comfortable. It wasn’t, because Bluebell are a good side and played well. It flattered us but we’ll have taken that at the start.”

He had raised eyebrows beforehand by relegating captain Eoghan Lougheed to the bench in a move which saw Roy Long come in, but the switch paid off handsomely.

“Roy was very harshly left out of the semi-final but came in today and ends up being man of the match. It wasn’t easy leaving Eoghan out but it was nice that he got on and lifted the cup. He has a great attitude and has been a great servant of the club.”