ALTHOUGH it was a bruising defeat for Kyles Athletic in their first outing of the MOWI Premiership season, there’s plenty to look forward to, according to first team manager, Grant Profit.
It’s a been all change at the Tighnabruaich side, as stalwart Roddy MacDonald retired from shinty after an illustrious career in the game, and James Pringle and Liam Arnot also moved on, but a youthful squad of hungry players has been assembled for the season ahead.
Profit said: “It’s been good preseason, whilst the weather has dampened a little bit of the prep, we have had positive results and ramped up the level of intensity in training – pushing the boys outwith training time to make sure we are ready.
“Whilst we have lost Roddy, James Pringle and Liam Arnott, we have managed to recruit a couple bodies – Ali Thomson and Daniel MacMillan – to fill the gaps left in the team and we are still making enquires. Opportunities arose as well for Ethan who has shown he is more than capable at this level in the final third of last year and for Luke MacVicar who has impressed in preseason. We have a young team which won’t have a player in the squad over 30 and an average age of less than 24, which bodes well for the future. Back of house I’ve recruited a lot of people to help with training and matchdays as well to help with lifting that training intensity and matchday expertise.”
But the Athletic fell 4-0 to Lochaber in their first match of the season of the weekend, as they also lost Will Cowie to what looks to be a serious injury.
On the result, Grant said: “Frustrating day, it took half an hour to get going and we let in three soft goals in that time.
“the fourth killed it just after half-time.
“The game was overshadowed, though, by a bad injury to our forward, Will, who now faces a lengthy spell out.”
Despite the loss, the focus remains the same for Kyles, with consistency at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Profit added: “Last year was tough for a number of reasons, but our core stuck together.
“We are looking to capture that start of season form we had, and we pulled through when it really mattered last year, so we are looking to keep that consistency throughout the season. We had a team meeting at the end of last season and had an honest conversation which gave me stuff to work with, change and implement.
“I’ve set target points both home and away in the first and second half of the season and will be tracking and monitoring as we go – but ultimately the goal for a club like Kyles should be to win a cup.”
Kyles return to action this weekend with a highly anticipated match-up against Premiership debutants and Cowal rivals, ColGlen, with throw up at 2.30pm at the Playing Fields.
