'It's about stepping up' - Westport United target Mayo Super League

DAVE Hoban believes Westport United have no reason to hold back as they prepare for the new season, with the interim manager insisting the groundwork has already been done.

“I think we’ll go well, hopefully,” he said. “We have been working very hard for the last few weeks,
months nearly. Everyone’s ready. We have our squad set and ready to go. No excuses.”

Hoban will oversee the team for the opening weeks before their new manager comes in, but he does not expect the change to cause disruption.

“Very little,” he said. “Alan (Mulchrone) was there before. Everyone knows me. A lot of the team, I’ve been around them.

"Some of them came in when I was there before and I would have had a lot of them underage.”

Many of the current squad first emerged during Hoban’s previous spell in charge. Now in their early
twenties, they carry several seasons of Super League experience.

“They were very young then,” he said. “Now they’ve had two or three years at it. They’re old enough and wise enough. They have to start filling the trophy cabinet or doing something.

"That’s the aim when you put on a Westport jersey.”

There has been little movement in the squad. Aaron Cannon has stepped away for now due to work
commitments in Dublin, while Mikie O’Brien is back involved after featuring for much of last year.

A number of under-18 players will train with the senior side and move between teams as required.

“Relatively the same,” Hoban said. “Just a bit more experience in there.”

Unlike some clubs, Westport are not juggling players across multiple sports. “No crossover,” Hoban said. “At the minute, we’re all good.”

The new split-season format is something he feels was needed. “If I’m being honest, something needed to be done,” he said, describing last year as poor outside of the leading sides.

He believes playing teams more frequently within the split will add edge and importance to fixtures.

“Everyone wants a competitive Super League and big games to look forward to.”

On the title race, Hoban is clear about his own expectations. “I don’t see why not,” he said when asked if Westport can win it.

“There’s absolutely no reason why not. That’s no disrespect to Celtic or anyone else. It’s about stepping up now and winning the big games.”

Castlebar Celtic remain the standard, he accepts, but Hoban also expects challenges from Ballina Town, Ballyheane and others.

As for signing from elsewhere, he declined to name names. “There’s a lot of good players out there,” he said. “But I’m happy where we are."