Prolific Glantraeth striker McGonigle enjoys the pressure

Glantraeth’s top scorer this season Corrig McGonigle says he feeds off pressure when he is expected to score.

With over 50 goals scored this season, former Caernarfon striker Corrig McGonigle says he enjoys the pressure of being expected to score each game.

“I never feel pressured to score, I know I’ll be provided with 4/5 chances a game with glantraeth and on average I have proven to score between 1-2 goals a game. I enjoy the pressure, I feel it’s a responsibility I can handle and ultimately help the team out.”

As the season nears its end, McGonigle will be relatively pleased with his individual performance over the course of the season, where he has become Glantraeth’s top goal scorer in a season despite arriving later on.

The 20 year-old has always been one for goals, whether it be at junior level and at senior level, but originally Corrig was deployed as a winger but this season, the Bangor City development player had a point to prove.

Wherever I’ve played both men and junior leagues, I’ve always scored goals. However, this season I had a point to prove and not only scoring over 50 goals but becoming Glantraeth’s all time record goal scorer for a single season is a great accomplishment personally.

Through junior leagues up to 16s I was always playing two years above myself and learnt from the left wing about getting forward and getting goals. Through men’s football I have always been prolific and got at least 30 goals a season. Alongside this, playing a 19s development league last season with Bangor City also gave me an insight on how to get goals at an academy level.”

With 35 goals in the league this season, McGonigle is averaging 1.82 goals per game and with that, it has helped Glantraeth to the league title but he has admitted that it was a team effort that saw Glantraeth win the title.

“The team are obviously overjoyed with the accomplishment and it wasn’t only my goals that won us the league, we also have the best defensive record which is vital to have success in any league. It’s means a lot to be a part of a winning side, especially since this is my first medal in senior football, the first always means the most.”

Glantraeth secertary Stan Strickland signed Welsh League striker Lee Trundle, who had a similar route into Welsh football like Corrig and when asked who he could choose between, he said he’d be stuck on choosing between Corrig and Trundle.

“Obviously it’s a very humbling comment to have received regarding the career Lee Trundle went on to have. This only motivates me to one day emulate a career similar to his.”

Although not decided as of yet, Glantraeth’s title win could see them playing in the Huws Gray Alliance next season, which could give the former Wales U16 striker the chance to haunt his former side Caernarfon Town.

He also spoke of his ambitions of playing in the top flight of Welsh football, but knows that he will have to work hard to have the chance to play in the league.

“I don’t feel as if I would need to show them anything extra than what i have proven for Glantraeth this season. They were aware of the qualities I could have provided, however wasn’t to be given that opportunity fully at the start of the season.

The chance to play in the Welsh Premier League would be one of many aims, hopefully that could be realistic within the next 3-4 years. I know I’ve got to put the work in and keep climbing through the leagues and showing my qualities at each standard. If I continue to do this then I can’t see why I can’t progress to playing in the Welsh premier division in the near future.”

(Featured Image: Tomos Wyn Jones)