Kilcar can seal top spot in Group 4 as Termon have plenty to play for in Towney

KILCAR will be looking to clinch top spot in Group 4 of the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta when Termon come to Towney on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).

However, Paddy McDaid’s visitors know a win away from home can seal their spot was group winners, while a draw will be enough for second place.

If Termon are to lose, they can be joined on three points by Naomh Muire, who are currently 13 points behind the Burn Road outfits on score difference in the table. Killybegs, already eliminated but looking to avoid the relegation play-off, visit the Banks.

It’s 22 years now since Kilcar won the Dr Maguire and having been involved in the Russian Roulette in the last couple of seasons in the group stage alongside Glenswilly and St Michael’s, this season has been relatively smooth in comparison.

Already qualified no matter what, Kilcar know that topping the group will see them avoid Glenswilly and Naomh Conaill in the last eight as well as, more than likely, St Michael’s.

Michael Molloy, the Kilcar manager, saw his team come good in the second half last Saturday to overcome Killybegs on a 1-15 to 2-4 scoreline with Mark McHugh’s goal before half-time pivotal. Eight successive points in the opening stages of the second half were foundation stones in the victory.

“We started the second half well and that meant Killybegs couldn’t sit back,” Molloy said. “The first half was quite defensive but it was a tough game and we’re glad to have got through it.”

Kilcar, who overcame Naomh Muire 2-13 to 0-8 in their opening fixture in the group in May, were without Eoin McHugh, Patrick McBrearty and Conor McShane in Fintra.

“They’re getting there and almost back fit,” Molloy added. “We will decide on them on the morning of the game. For us, Sunday is about trying to finish the group off and then we can take it from there. We’ll be looking for the win.”

Termon were the happier of the two camps last Saturday following their 1-12 to 0-15 draw with Naomh Muire, especially considering they trailed 0-7 to 0-1 after 20 minutes and then by two points in the closing stages.

However, Christy Connaghan and Daire McDaid scored late on to ensure a share in the spoils.

With Caolan McDaid still unavailable and goalkeepers Michael Boyle and Conor Tinney still in American, Noel O’Donnell, who plays for the Irish Deaf soccer team, was between the sticks and had an excellent game making two fins first half saves from Sean ‘Yank’ Boyle.

“He really stepped up to the plate,” McDaid said. “We couldn’t have asked for any more from him. It was a game that went this way and then that but in the end, we were probably the happier with the draw.”

Following their win over Killbegs in May, 1-11 to 0-12, it means that McDaid’s team are currently in second place in the group but anything can happen on Sunday.

“Kilcar are one of the favourites for the championship never mind this match,” he said. “We certainly know what’s in front of us and there’s an awful lot to play for in this group. Naomh Muire will be pushing hard and rightly so and Killybegs are trying to avoid the play-off at the bottom and stay in the senior bracket.

“But all we can do is concentrate on our own game and we’re not going to go to Kilcar to try and keep the score down.