ST EUNAN’S snatched the Under-21 title from under Kilcar’s noses in December 2014 when Seam Hume’s late goal secured a 3-12 to 1-15 win in Convoy.
This evening in Ballybofey, the teams renew acquaintances when they clash in the delayed 2015 Under-21 final.
Manager Noel Keaveny has plenty of survivors from last year’s panel, including Hume, Conor Parke, Connall O’Boyle, Darragh Mulgrew, Daire McMonagle, Michael Miller and Jordan O’Dowd.
Rory Carr would’ve been another, but a shoulder injury sustained while on duty for the club’s minors rules him out of action.
St Eunan’s dressing room oozes experience with many of Keaveny’s men having played for the senior side over the last couple of years.
“A lot of them, the likes of Darragh Mulgrew, Conor Parke and Conor Morrison are regulars in the senior team,” Keaveny says.
“The Under-21 is a very important grade in Gaelic football. When you do well at this level, it’s a great starting block for the senior side – if you can get one or two players to move up every year, that’s some starter for you.
“That’s the ultimate aim at Under-21 level, to build a strong senior side from these players.”
O’Dowd was sent off in the semi-final against Aodh Ruadh, but a Barry McGeehin goal and five points by Miller secured a 1-11 to 1-6 win.
It took four attempts to get that semi-final played while this is the third go at the final.
Keaveny says: “We’re delighted that the game is on this evening. Players, management, everyone is glad to see it’s going ahead because it really dragged on.”
There was little between them last year and Keaveny believes that a similarly tight battle is in store this evening.
He says: “We’re playing against a very, very strong Kilcar team that has a lot of household names, with the McHughs and Stephen McBrearty.
“Kilcar have great pedigree and are in a very rich vein of form. They’re putting in good work at underage level and are seeing the rewards of that work now.
“Both teams have good forwards so it should make for a good game. I’d expect a good, open game of football.”
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