AMBITIOUS Irvine Meadow boss Brian McGinty is targeting improvement from last season as the new McBookie Premier Division campaign gets underway tomorrow with a home game against Largs Thistle.


Meadow were pipped by Troon for a place in the last 16 of the Sectional League Cup earlier this week but now the focus shifts to the league.


Scottish Junior Cup finalists Thistle will provide a difficult opening test to a Meadow side, who finished sixth last season.
McGinty said: "We're we should in terms of fitness and sharpness ahead of Saturday. I didn't doubt I would get a reaction after the Troon cup defeat the other night. A couple of bits of slackness cost us. Credit to Troon though for going through."


Looking ahead he added: "Arnie (Stuart  Davidson) always has his teams well organised as they will be on Saturday and we have had them watched. They've always had a lot of energy and had a really fit team. 


"We know it's our first league game but we want to improve on our start to last season and must look to win the game. 


"Last year we came off a great high of promotion but it took a lot out of the boys. For the best part of four months we were playing must win games and that took a lot out of them. We only had a three-week break.


"I'm happy with where we're at but the proof of the pudding comes on Saturday. The guys give me everything but the guys who get the nod on Saturday will have to play well to stay in the team.

 

We're a million miles ahead of where we were last year. We had Ben Carson, Darren Miller, Ryan Carnwath, Darren Jones and Callum Gow not even starting. That shows the strength and depth we have."
He added: "We want to win more games, score more goals, lose less and see where that takes us. Internally we have our own targets."