By Rory McKee
HOLYWOOD’s Steel and Sons Cup semi-final hero has said they are embracing their underdog status after defying the odds once again to book a date in next month’s decider.
JJ McKinley popped up with the winning goal deep into additional time of the last-four encounter against Rosario on Friday evening – moments after Jack McCadden had grabbed an equaliser – to make it a night to remember for the Spafield club at Seaview.
The ecstatic winger, 26, told the Spectator at full-time: “To score two goals in the last couple of minutes was crazy.
“I’m not the tallest, but it’s all about being in the right spot and knowing where the net is.
“It’s testament to the fitness levels of all the lads and the hard work we put in to last for the whole 96 minutes,” he said. “We’re already looking forward to Christmas Day.”
The underdog tag isn’t something that seems to faze McKinley or his teammates, having already claimed the scalps of East Belfast and Ballyclare Comrades before last Friday night’s heroics against Rosario.
And they know they will line out for the Christmas morning final as the less fancied side too, with the winners of the Ballymacash Rangers v Crumlin Star tie on Friday (November 28) providing Holywood’s opposition.
“We probably prefer being the underdogs if I’m being honest,” McKinley added. “Because there’s less pressure on us and we can just go out and enjoy our football and play.”
Holywood enjoyed a strong Division 1A campaign last season but ultimately missed out on promotion. With their focus turning back to league matters for the time being, McKinley feels the team have what it takes to fight on multiple fronts this year.
“I think over the past three years I have been at the club, we have had two promotions with a core group of players and the new coaches who came in this year have brought in some great young players, which has helped with the depth of the squad.”
Paying tribute to the previous management team of Conor McGeown, Mark Crawford and Stuart Wells for the part they played in the club’s present success, he said: “A special mention to those guys because they set the foundations for two promotions in three years.
“A lot of the boys are now used to doing well in the league, so I think the goal for us is to push as hard as we can and see where it takes us at the end of the season.”
