IT’S BEEN two years now since Jonny Carlin played football regularly – but he’s back with a bite again at Kildrum Tigers.
The St Johnston side are making the long journey to Abbeyfeale in County Limerick tomorrow for an FAI Junior Cup fifth round clash with Abbeyfeale United.
The 20-year-old moonlight at times with Lifford Celtic last season, but athletics had been his priority during a sabbatical from football.
“I’m glad I made the choice to take time out,” Carlin says.
[adrotate group=”88″]“It’s been about two years since I played regularly, bar a few games with Lifford Celtic last year.
“I took to athletics for a year and a half it got me back the swing of things as I wasn’t playing any football at the time.
“The athletics give me a desire and a hunger to come to play football again. I’m glad I made the choice to take time out.”
[adrotate group=”46″]Carlin donned the Kildrum colours in his youth and had good success at Station Road.
Sport was always in the bloodlines, of course.
His mother, Shauna, holds the Donegal and Ulster record for the indoor long jump following her 5.84 metre leap in Nenagh in 2007.
Jonny concentrated in the long jump, but dabbled a bit in the 400metre runs, too, during his spell at Finn Valley AC, under his mother’s coaching. He ran in the 4×400 National League teams that had success, but football, and Kildrum, came calling again this autumn.
[adrotate group=”76″]Shane Brown’s team are unbeaten so far this season and are joint top of the Premier Division alongside champions Drumoghill.
The signs are promising at Station Road again and last week’s 4-2 win over Erne Wanderers shot them through to this weekend’s meeting with Abbeyfeale.
At one stage, when Erne led 2-0, it didn’t look good for Kildrum, but second-half goals from James Melly, Declan Curtis, William Lynch and Ethan Coll secured the win.
[adrotate group=”80″]“The boys are buying into what ‘Wizzy’ (Brown) and Shane McGinty are drilling into us and it’s showing on the pitch – even though we do make hard work of it at times,” Carlin says.
“It’s been super from the word go. The boys and backroom team welcomed me with open arms.
“The FAI Junior Cup is massive for Kildrum and we hope to get a result this weekend and go deeper into the competition. It’s been a super season so far. Hopefully we can continue that this weekend.”
Tags: