Riley Lonergan believes that maintaining the right mentality and attitude will be crucial for Newport County Under-18s as they look to continue their impressive run in this season’s FAW Youth Cup.
The young Exiles are set to face Caernarfon Town at Aberystwyth Town’s Park Avenue on Sunday afternoon, with the opportunity to reach the final of the prestigious cup competition.
County have been in stellar form this season, progressing through the rounds with victories over AFC Llwydcoed, Flint Town United, Cambrian United, and, most recently, defending champions Briton Ferry Llansawel AFC.
And Lonergan is eager about the prospect of reaching the final but emphasises that his teammates must not underestimate the challenge ahead.
“We’re all really excited for Sunday, especially after such a strong performance in the last round,” said the midfielder.
“But we know it’s important not to underestimate our opponents. If everyone hits 7’s or 8’s out of 10 on the day, I believe we’ll do well.
“We’ve got to approach Sunday with the same mentality as any other game. Yes, it’s a semi-final and there’s a bit of an extra edge, but we’ll prepare just the same way as we do for every match.
“We expect a tough test from Caernarfon, especially physically, but we know we’ve got to match that intensity. We need to battle hard, showcase our technical strengths, and put in a solid performance.
“The morale in the team this week has been really positive. Everyone’s excited, there’s a great energy among the group, but above all, there’s a real focus on the task at hand.
“Hopefully, come Sunday, we can deliver a strong performance and secure the win.”
