McMaster delighted to have winger Logue back

Winger Simon Logue is back for City of Derry this year after fully recovering from his leg break injury.

McMaster, who has taken the coaching position on a full time basis this season after their attempts to bring in South African Phil Pretorius failed, admits he wants to win every game no matter how big or small.

The Judges Road men start their 2015/16 campaign when they face Armagh in the First Trust Senior Cup, at Judges Road, this Saturday (KO 2.30pm).

“Anyone who knows me will say that I just want to win everything, that doesn’t matter whether it’s a game of draughts,” he admitted.

“I want to win in everything and the players knew that I was gutted when we lost to Ballymena in a pre-season friendly on the last play of the game, because we knew that we were the better side and the better side lost, but the result told you that they won.

“Even if there are two divisions above us that doesn’t matter to me, I just wanted to win the game and it wasn’t just because my son was playing against us, I’m a winner and this squad are winners so that makes for a good recipe.”

McMaster was talking as he watched his squad go through their paces during a pre-season training session and he’s happy with how his squad is coming together.

Derry have signed former Omagh duo Ali Beckett and Neil Brown, out-half Neil Burns and his brother John have joined from Malone, former Foyle College student Graham Murphy has joined the club having returned from Abu Dhabi, Steven Dickie has returned from Coleraine, Angus Warwicker and Ger Collins have also come on board.

The current Ulster 21 prop from Limavady Rory Squires has joined, but McMaster is really excited to have winger Simon Logue back from injury.

“For me probably the biggest plus has been the return of Simon Logue for this season,” he said.

“To me Simon is an outstanding player and with him missing all last season with the leg break, so to get him back it’s like getting a new signing.

“We are delighted he’s back, we were delighted the way he has trained all summer and it was good for him to get on the score-sheet against Ballymena a few weeks ago and we are really pleased with how the squad is shaping up.”