Diarmuid O’Brien has seen a big turnover of players in his Inishowen League squad as a new Oscar Traynor Cup campaign dawns – but he still expects them to be every bit as competitive.
Beaten finalists last season, Inishowen League begin their Oscar Traynor Cup on Saturday evening against Cavan-Monaghan in Cootehill (6pm).
Inishowen have been in three finals in the last five years, winning one in 2015.
“Over the last five years, it has been a real rollercoaster,” O’Brien said.
“We came from having no success to being the form team, reaching three finals in five years.
“I feel that we didn’t get the rub of the green in the final. We had a few excellent chances, we hit the post, had one cleared off the line…it just wasn’t to be.”
Eoin Hayes netted the winner in last season’s decider as the Clare District League won 1-0 at Maginn Park.
From last season’s squad, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Canning, William McLaughlin and Michael Barr are no longer part of the squad.
O’Brien, however, has been able to add Dylan Doherty, Gerry Gill, Adam Byrne, Conor Barr and Seamus Doherty, not to mention Kieran McDaid, an Irish junior international, is now injury free.
O’Brien said: “We’ve had a bigger turnover this time. We’ve lost some experienced campaigners, but there are others in now who will get a chance. We still have a hardcore of experience and Kieran McDaid is like a new player for us now after his injury. We have a good nucleus of a squad there.”
Listen to the full interview below …
https://soundcloud.com/donegalsportstalk/diarmuid-obrien-before-inishowen-start-oscar-traynor-campaign
