Flanagan's coach Ward's relegation relief

Flanagan’s Onions’ Premier Division coach Mick Ward was a relieved man after his team finally secured survival on the last day of the season.

After the drama of the Corona League decider, which saw Robin Hood get the better of Onions and win the title, it was left to the club’s top-flight teams to stoke the rivalry and decide who would be relegated to Division One next season

Knowing a defeat to Trojans coupled with a Hood win over North Vllage would see them face the drop, it was a nervy afternoon for Ward and his troops — especially when Trojans scored with just two minutes left to win 2-1.

Fortunately for Flanagan’s, Hood couldn’t come up with the win, going down 4-1 to the Rams.

Ward said: “Obviously we are very relieved. I thought we’d done enough in our own game to come away with a point.

“If we were to get relegated in the last two minutes of the season, it would have been hard to take. But we had the calls and the updates coming in, as they had kicked off slightly later than us, so we were all waiting for the final whistle.”

Flanagan’s were top of the table earlier in the season after a flying start and Ward admitted relegation would have been tough to take.

He said: “We started so well, and we put a lot of work into it during pre-season.  

“Unfortunately after a few games in, our training regime had to change.  

“We also had a few season-ending injuries  — two broken legs, and an MCL injury — to key players, which had a huge effect on the second half of the season.  So I was happy the squad we had were able to keep working  hard to stay up.”

He added: “It’s a big learning curve and we are happy to be in the division next year as I think we can push on now, having that bit of extra experience and knowledge.”

As well as injuries, Ward feels they didn’t get the rub of the green with decisions after Christmas.

He said: “The second half was more of a struggle due to the injuries to key players, and I think some bad decisions by the officials at times cost us a few extra points, which could have made the last game of the season easier on us.  

“To have two broken legs and not a single free kick seems strange, as well as poor offside decisions and a red card that was later rescinded after we have lost a game we were in control of beforehand, obviously doesn’t help the cause.

“We may need a few extra players to boost the squad, but any extra players would have to be good for the team. We have got such a good bunch of lads at the club, and it would be important that whoever comes in, can enjoy it.”

He added: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Flanagans for all their support, as well as the supporters that come out every week, even though we had that poor run during the second half of the season.  It wasn’t pretty, but we got there. Mission accomplished.”