Pontypridd United manager Claire O’Sullivan certainly had a tricky job on her hands last summer, but it was a challenge she relished.
After being relegated from the Genero Adran Premier in the summer, plenty of players departed the club, and in particular, players with significant experience.
Yet, O’Sullivan didn’t panic, and instead chose to recruit plenty of young players to try and help her team get back to the top tier.
Genero Adran Leagues play-off
“I’ve always worked with young players, whether that be with Wales age groups or in my coaching role at Coleg Y Cymoedd,” she said. “I enjoy working with young players because they are receptive to anything, they take on information well, and generally it’s a really good group to work with.
“It wasn’t something I specifically set out to get, but we lost about nine or ten players in the summer, and a lot of experience went too. However, we recruited from within our U16 team, brought players in from other U19 teams like Quianna Wheeler, but working with such a young group has been great.”
Throughout the season, this young team has matured and have put in professional performance after professional performance.
Even on the last day of the season, this Ponty side held their nerve to win the three-horse race for the Genero Adran South title; a sign of how much this team have grown.
“The young players have really enjoyed it this season,” O’Sullivan says. “Our training sessions are always high tempo, and they love that. They want to learn, they want to work hard, and ultimately, they want to be successful and win games. They are at an age where they don’t really fear anybody.
“No matter who we’re playing against, whether it’s an Adran South game or against Wrexham in the cup, they want to have a go and play against the best players, which is great to see from a coach’s point of view.”
The only remaining challenge standing between Pontypridd and a top-flight return is Connah’s Quay Nomads.
The Genero Adran North champions cantered to the title by winning all 14 of their league games, but O’Sullivan isn’t paying much attention to that, and instead, is focusing on what her team can do.
Galleries: 2024/25 Genero Adran South
“We don’t really know too much about them, but I do know some of the players there through the Welsh Colleges programme. We know they’ve gone unbeaten this season; they score lots of goals. We’ve had a very competitive and tough season, so probably Connah’s Quay Nomads are the favourites for the game on paper, but we’re looking forward to it.
“I don’t really focus massively on the opposition. If we can have a little look at them and see how they play we will obviously take notice of it, but ultimately with the group of players I have, it’s all about us and how we can affect the game. It’s a final at the end of the day. If we play our game and do it to the best of our ability, we will have a very good chance of winning and returning to the Adran Premier.”
And Pontypridd certainly haven’t taken the easy route to get to Newtown.
The Genero Adran South has been incredibly competitive, while in the Bute Energy Welsh Cup, the Dragons have faced both Aberystwyth Town and Wrexham, something O’Sullivan believes will help her players no end.
“Our games this season will help us out massively on Sunday. The girls want to be tested every week, and I tell them most weeks they have to be competing and have to be tested against the best players. They are desperate to get back into the Adran Premier, and they cannot wait to get the game underway on Sunday.”
Sometimes before such a pivotal game it’s easy to let the mind wonder to what could potentially happen, but not for O’Sullivan.
The manager is fully focused on how to best prepare her side for Sunday, and if they are victorious, only then she will celebrate.
“For me personally, this is just another game of football. I always want to win every game of football; however, it’s been about how the team has developed all season. It was a must for us to win the Adran South. Winning games is enjoyable, but I’ll be able to enjoy it afterwards. Right now, I’m just focused on making sure the girls are prepared as possible. If we get promoted, then I’ll be able to enjoy it.”
