Stephen Cullen believes the future is bright at Newmills with the club hitting all its targets this season.
The Annaginny Road outfit are on course to record their best ever finish in Division One and eclipse their previous best points total.
Saturday’s win over fellow title hopefuls Sandy Hill was the latest sign of progress for Cullen, who says Newmills are now becoming an attractive prospect for new players.
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“This is only our 10th year as a club, and our aim was to keep on improving season on season,” Cullen told Match on Tuesday.
“We had a great first half to the season, but then injuries hit us around Christmas and we faltered a bit.
“But the lads have responded really well and Saturday’s win helps give us some momentum going into the final three games of the season and also heading into next season.”
Cullen added: “We are still a young club. And you’re still trying to get your name out there as a viable club.
“This is the first time ever we have had guys coming to us, and players approaching us looking to join Newmills. Instead of us having to go chasing.
“And we are noticing the quality of player wanting to join us. We have the youngest team in the division as well.
“So if we can keep our players, and add two or three more, then we will be in a strong position come next season.
“If we keep performing well at the top end of the table then we will become a more attractive proposition.
“This season has been very encouraging. We are set to have our highest finish we have ever had and highest points tally.
“We have met all our aims and we will try and go higher next season.”
Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sandy Hill saw Newmills leapfrog Coalisland – who didn’t have a game – into fourth spot in the table and four points off new leaders Hill Street.
Goals from Kerr and Burns saw them exact some revenge over Sandy Hill, who beat Cullen’s side 2-0 in the reverse fixture last month.
“We were delighted with Saturday’s win. Sandy Hill are a good team who were sitting top before Saturday’s games,” Cullen said.
“We lost out to them a few weeks before. Once you go behind to them they are very difficult to get a goal against as they sit in.
“So for us to take the lead on Saturday was a big positive and it gave us the platform to go on and win the game.
“We were two up on Saturday and they got a goal with about 15 minutes to go and put us under pressure.
“But we could have won by more. We hit the woodwork a couple of times and you start thinking it isn’t going to be your day.
“Credit to the lads they kept working hard and for their reward.
“We just want to keep building and progressing. And then we want to try and go higher next season.”
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