New Armagh junior section head coach Darragh Peden is raring to go as his side aim to reach their top level come tournament week.
“One of the main things now is just excitement for the tournament to kick-off.
“A lot of the preparation has been done because we have played our inter-county tournaments, which were great for our preparation because they are going to the same tournament.
“Probably having a good maybe weeks rest for the boys to just make sure their bodies are physically, mentally prepared for going and then go on and try to embrace the challenge.
“The schedule is a challenge but from our understanding the boys coming into the junior section are actually excited about that.
“It’s something we need to consider in terms of the schedule, making sure that the workload’s not too high.
“We gave them a wee break off their season, and we didn’t shoot them too hard, so it’s just trying to make sure that you’re getting them peaking at the right time.”
The 44-year-old former Irish League defender is pleased with the draw his side have been given, which sees them in a group with last year’s Minor champions Celtic, English outfit Charlton Athletic and fellow county side Down.
“It’s a tough group, there’s no hiding that fact, but in the same respect, I played in SuperCupNI a couple of times myself and you want to be going to up there and getting the chance, getting the opportunity to play against any of the English clubs coming across, ultimately that’s what you want,” he said.
“Win, lose or draw, you want to go and compete against the top teams, it’s something that stays with you as you get older.
“When you get to 20, 30, 40, these are games and memories that ultimately, you’ll remember forever.
“For me that’s a big factor in the group.
“Certainly, from a manager perspective, I would rather go and play against those teams in the group and have a really tough group.”
Peden has been involved in SuperCupNI in a playing and coaching capacity before for county Armagh and explained why he felt now was the perfect time to lead the junior side.
“Dean McCullough approached me about being a manager and just with my scheduling and work commitments this time around it was the right time to step in and have a crack at managing a team,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed it so again and it is a great opportunity for myself to go up and manage a team which is, which is always good from my own development point of view.”
The attitude of his players has already delighted Peden, who is excited to see what they can produce in front of the crowds at SuperCupNI 2024.
He said: “They’re honest, humble, hardworking wee boys.
“They’re all really good coachable kids, which is all I can ask for really.
“You can come in with different levels of quality, as long as they’re coming in and they’re willing to listen and learn and be able to go on and apply what we’re trying to coach them on the pitch, that’s the important bit.”
Words from Stuart McCracken
@StuartMcC02