DIARMUID O’BRIEN’S INISHOWEN LEAGUE side have been semi-finalists in each of the last four years in the Oscar Traynor Cup so the element of surprise is long gone.
Winners of the competition in the 2014/15 campaign, after losing in the final two years previously, they’ve lost out in semi-finals in the other two terms, including defeat at home to the Leinster Senior League in last season’s semi-final.
Picture caption: Last season’s Inishowen League squad has some changes this time around.
Inishowen host the Donegal League tomorrow evening at Maginn Park looking to cement their place in the knockout phase of this season’s competition.
[adrotate group=”88″]“It’s a must-win game for Donegal and in some respects that might make it easier for them,” O’Brien told Donegal Sport Hub.
“We just have to concentrate our own performance to get the three points and give us a chance of topping the group.
“A lot of them are still very young. They do have the experience. We introduced a lot of them to the competition when they were 20, 21 and they’ve shown that they can compete.
[adrotate group=”80″]“We have been there or thereabouts and the players have to be complimented for their commitment to the competition.
“We aren’t going to be surprise packets any more so we have to adapt to that and put in the performances.”
Matthew Henry is unavailable for this weekend, while Michael Byrne picked up an injury last weekend playing for Glengad United. Raymond Buchanan and Kieran McDaid are also on the absent list.
[adrotate group=”46″]Inishowen began with a 3-1 win away to Sligo-Leitrim, Henry, Terence Doherty and Aiden Friel netting the goals.
Friel (Buncrana Hearts), Dillon Ruddy (Culdaff), Michael Barr (Greencastle) and Fearghal Harkin (Clonmany) have been recruited to the squad this season, although O’Brien has lost the likes of Michael Devlin, Paddy Harkin, Stephen Fildara, Paddy McDermott, Jason Devlin and Stephen McHugh from his ranks.
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsporthub-club-notes/diarmuid-obrien-ahead-of-oscar-traynor-game-against-donegal
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