CONAL Sheridan wasn’t long around Maghergallon until the realisation dawned on the Omagh native.
Sheridan (pictured above) was appointed as Gaoth Dobhair’s new manager in February with Kevin Cassidy having stepped down from the player-manager’s role.
Gaoth Dobhair are at the top of Donegal’s roll of honour, alongside St Eunan’s, having won Dr Maguire 14 times.
The last of their triumphs was in 2006. Since 1961, their only days of glory came in the county finals of 2002 and ’06.
“Right from the off, I learned about the traditions and the success in the Championship that this club has had,” Sheridan told Donegal Sport Hub.
“They’re number one alongside St Eunan’s in the roll of honour. That tradition is what you want in a club and we want to continue that tradition.
“It would be very disappointing if we didn’t make the quarter-finals, but we’re positive and hopeful. For now, all we’re looking to do is defeat Malin.”
It’s winner takes all on Sunday evening in Magheragallon, where Gaoth Dobhair and Liam Bradley’s Malin clash with a quarter-final up for grabs for the victor (throw-in 6pm).
All-Star full-back Neil McGee is a major doubt with a rib injury. McGee went into the weekend’s game with Sean MacCumhaills nursing the injury, but a collision with a post at the River End at MacCumhaill Park put him back and he was forced off early in the second half.
“Neil is very unlikely to feature,” Sheridan said. “Sometimes they’re made of granite, but you just don’t know how the body will respond.”
Danny Curran flew back to Dubai this week and Eamon McGee will be suspended, barring a successful appeal by the Gaoth Dobhair club.
James Boyle is out with an injury and Kevin Cassidy, who has returned from a summer in America, isn’t available because of injury.
Sheridan said: “These are must win championship games – it’s the good old-fashioned way.
“This is an opportunity to kick start the season and get some momentum.”
Bradley sat in the dressing room at Connolly Park on the day of Malin’s Championship opener, against Sean MacCumhaills, and reminded his players of the importance of getting something – anything – out of that fixture.
They were heading for defeat until that moment of late drama that has kept the Inishowen men hanging on and still dreaming – a goal from a penalty by Brendan McLaughlin to secure a draw.
“Our big game was always going to be this one against Gaoth Dobhair,” the former Antrim manager told Donegal Sport Hub.
“The day we played MacCumhaills, that’s why getting something was so important, because this section was always going to go to the fire.
“It’s do-or-die now and it’s real knockout football – that makes for a cracking game.
“We said after the MacCumhaills game that, even if we didn’t beat Glenswilly, this one was the game.
“We never took the focus off this week. If we can go to Gaoth Dobhair and turn them over, we’r in the quarter-finals.”
For a while on Sunday, in torrid conditions in Foxhall, Malin gave as good as they were getting, but a Neil Gallagher goal turned the tide in Glenswilly’s favour.
Oisin Crawford netted another goal for Michael Canning’s side, but Malin showed plenty of fight.
The stuffing was knocked out of them when, after Matthew Byrne netted a goal, they allowed Glenswilly up the other end for a goal, Darren McGinley drilling home after Darragh McLaughlin, the Malin goalkeeper, let a long ball from Gary McFadden drop from his grip.
Bradley said “We had got back into it, but less than a minute later he fumbled the ball. Sometimes that happens. I thought at half-time, there was a big game in us, but we were chasing the game after that goal.”
Bradley’s son, Paddy, the former Derry player, was involved with Gaoth Dobhair last year.
A win for Malin on Magheragallon’s famed soil would go down as one of the greatest results in the club’s history.
Bradley said: “They have a huge tradition and we’re going to the lion’s den, but I think we can do enough to get a result.”
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