Family ties suit Irvine Meadow

Jan 2 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

IRVINE Meadow had a family connection to thank as new signing John-Paul Boyle kept their slim title hopes alive with a debut winner against Arthurlie on Saturday.

Former Cumnock hitman Boyle came back from a three and a half year scholarship in New York at the start of December and when he mentioned he was looking to get back into the game, his cousin Mark Crilly, who plays for the Irvine side, put him in touch with manager Chris Strain and the deal was done.

Now Boyle, who gained a business degree while also playing college football in the States, hopes to get himself fixed up with a job off the park as he fires Meadow towards glory on it.

“It was great to score on my debut and hopefully I can help them climb the table,” said Boyle.

“I wasn’t expecting to start on Saturday but I was delighted to get the nod and it was nice to repay the manager’s faith with the winner.”

The return of long-term injury victim Frankie Haggarty, who loked very lively when he came off the bench, is another bonus for Strain as he chases title favourites Pollok and the Meadow manager will be looking to build on Saturday’s win when his side visits Neilston on Saturday.

However Meadow have terrible selection worries with the news that Gavin Friels, just back after a lengthy lay-off with a broken foot, has picked up a knee injury and could be out for some time.

Mark Crilly is also a doubt, Davie Hamilton is off to Australia for three weeks, Kevin McBride is best man at a wedding, Zander Ryan is on holiday and Barry McLaughlin is at a function to mark the last game at Love Street.

There was good news for Kilwinning Rangers fans on Saturday when Paul Gordon, out for the past month with a nasty knee injury, put in a good training session and so far has shown no adverse reaction.

It may be a bit soon but he would be a more than useful addition to the squad for the visit of Clydebank on Saturday.

Off the field it looks as if North Ayrshire Council will start work on repairing the perimeter fence and removing the terracing sleepers – which are in a dangerous condition – just after the turn of the year.

In-form Irvine Vics aim to start the year with a win when they visit Saltcoats.

Manager Rab Madden and his squad in for training on Monday and could be strengthened by the return of injury victims Craig Rodgers and Jim McNally.

Dalry Thistle’s league campaign has been put on ice for a number of reasons and so far they have only played three games so manager John Garroch will be desperate to start picking up points again when they entertain Troon.

However John Rae and Tony McCormack are definite non-starters while Craig Stewart and Brian Strain are major doubts.

Basement battlers Ardeer Thistle face a very difficult trip to a Whitletts side who are still in with a chance of securing a promotion spot