Newry City midfielder Philip Donnelly is full of belief that he and his team-mates can overcome the pressure of trying to get promoted as they aim to return back to the Danske Bank Premiership.

The border club sit top of the Lough 41 Championship standings and know a strong end to the campaign will see them promoted back to the top flight.

Donnelly, who has played a pivotal role for Darren Mullen’s side so far this season, acknowledged that competing against the best sides in the country should give City an added incentive to get the job done.

“We are sitting top of the table and I see pressure as a privilege because it shows you are doing well,” he said.

“We want to get promoted and back to the top flight and that’s what our first talk was back in pre-season. It wasn’t simply about finishing top four or anything like that, we had our sights on winning the league.

“We realise that there is plenty of football still to be played but I’m fully confident that we are only going to one place.

“There is a real aura about the club at the minute and we have the mantra that we aren’t letting this slip.

“You always want to play at the big grounds like Windsor Park and The Oval and try and compete against those sides, so that’s what we have to aim towards.”

Donnelly grew up playing both GAA and soccer and was scouted by a representative from Monaghan United playing the other code.

The attacking midfielder would spend his entire youth career at Gortakeegan before netting on his senior debut in the Eircom League.

“I was playing an under-12’s Gaelic match and Brian Finnegan from Monaghan United approached me and said I could also play soccer,” he said.

“I was like ‘how do you know that’?

“His reply was that he had seen enough and I was to call down to his house and I signed for the club thereafter and played all my youth football at Monaghan United.

“I scored on my debut in the Eircom League as it was known back then at the age of 16 and I was having trials at the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United, but people who were in the know advised from signing due to contractual issues.”

A move north of the border would come calling for Donnelly as he joined Dungannon Swifts but he would rack up senior appearances as he joined Newry City and Armagh City on loan.

His time at City was that enjoyable that he made the switch permanent under Marty Rice – a manager Donnelly feels got the best out of him.

“In July 2015, I signed for Dungannon Swifts and that was an eye opener for me as I was used to my dad taking me to training and everything else,” he continued.

“I was still a young man then, and whilst I did enjoy it, I felt I should have got more game time.

“I went on loan to Newry for six months just before they went into financial difficulties and then I had a successful six month loan spell at Armagh City under Marty Rice.

“Marty built his team around me and I felt repaid him with plenty of goals and assists and I made the move permanent as I enjoyed it that much.

“I remember we were going for the Championship 1 title and we were six points clear with six games left and we were told that the club hadn’t applied for a licence.

“They didn’t think we were going to go and do it and many of that squad went their separate ways.”

Those strong performances in the Championship earned Donnelly a move to the top flight at Warrenpoint Town.

Unfortunately, he would suffer relegation in his first season but helped guide the Milltown side back to the Premiership a year later under the watchful eye of Matthew Tipton.

After Tipton was appointed as Portadown boss, Donnelly would play under a familiar face in the form of Stephen McDonnell.

“I received a phone call from Barry Gray about joining Warrenpoint Town and I made the move but unfortunately we were relegated and then Matthew Tipton came in,” he reflected.

“We won the league and Mid-Ulster Cup but Tippy went onto Portadown and Stephen McDonnell was given the reins.

“I was the first player to re-sign under Stephen and he knew me as a person and to be honest, he made you feel loved and I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I think I was top goalscorer the first season Stephen was at the club and it was my best season there.

“A few other clubs were interested but I knew I wasn’t in football to make money but simply enjoy it.”

Ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, Donnelly would be left with a big decision to make as the Monaghan County manager wanted him to switch codes and give GAA a try.

That would prove to be too hard to turn down as Donnelly loved every minute of it.

“I am from a mad GAA town in Monaghan and the County manager asked me if I wanted to join in with them,” he shared.

“I felt I couldn’t turn down that opportunity and I wanted to see where I was at.

“I quickly realised that I couldn’t play both sports but I had Stephen’s blessing to give the GAA a go.

“Thankfully, it went well as I really enjoyed it for a year, I’m glad I done it and it was great to have an insight into different mentalities and play with people you normally look up to.

“My local club in Monaghan won an Ulster title that year which was huge and a day I’ll never forget.”

After the pandemic meant no football in 2020/21 for teams outside of the top flight, the 29-year-old had a voice in his head to make a return to soccer.

He looked like doing so by re-joining Warrenpoint but a phone call from Darren Mullen at neighbours Newry changed everything.

The move has proved to be a fruitful one for Donnelly as he was named Player of the Month for March.

“In the back of my head I knew I missed soccer, so I was caught in two places,” he concluded.

“Barry wanted to take me back to Warrenpoint and I had completed a medical and everything was ready to go but there was something in my head telling me to hold back.

“Darren Mullen phoned me two minutes after I left Milltown and told me that he wanted me at Newry and I felt wanted and I got a good feel for it.

“To be fair, Darren must have tried to sign me about six times and I remembered him from my brief loan spell at the club.

“After meeting him for the first time I knew it was the move for me and it was signed and sealed there and then. He said that I was the only player he was looking at that time and that I’d enjoy my football at Newry and he was right.

“To be honest, I thought I had better months this season but I’m delighted with the award and to be recognised.

“However, I would swap that honour for the Championship trophy as that’s the big one.”