ST EUNAN’S JOINT-MANAGER EDDIE BRENNAN admits his side have been working towards the County Minor Football Championship all season.
Now, Brennan, who works alongside Paul Carr and Ciaran Maguire at St Eunan’s, have their chance when they take on Naomh Conaill in the final on Saturday in Ballybofey, throw-in 4pm.
“We’re where we want to be,” Brennan said. “Everything has been built towards this and there’s a good buzz about the camp and we’re enjoying the build-up.
Like their opponents this weekend, the Letterkenny side didn’t win their regional championship. Mind you, St Eunan’s had nine fingers on the cup in the Northern final before Daire O’Baoill goaled six minutes into injury time clinched a 0-10 to 0-11 win for the Magheragallon side.
However, St Eunan’s regained a foothold and overcame Aodh Ruadh 0-14 to 0-7 in the County semi-final in Convoy. That night, they kicked 14 wides and were only three points in front when Nathan Boyle missed a 56th minute penalty, but were deserving winners.
Dylan McGrory will miss out having suffered concussion but bar that, the Letterkenny side have a full panel to choose from.
Niall O’Donnell has been in sparkling form with 0-8 against Aodh Ruadh and 0-7 when faced with Gaoth Dobhair with all but two of those scores coming from play.
He lines up alongside Rory Carr, who helped the club’s seniors to the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta SFC last year and will be involved as Maxi Curran’s team face St Michael’s on Saturday week in this year’s semi-final.
Darragh McWalters provides a physical presence at the back, behind a mobile half-back line. Kevin Grant and Oisin Toal man the midfield.
St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill have been twiddling under one another’s thumbs in various circumstances down the years and it’s no exception at this particular bracket. Their most recent altercation was when Naomh Conaill won the County Minor League Division 1 title this season.
“They beat us well that night and are a very good side,” Brennan said of Naomh Conaill. “We’ve been learning and learning from each game this year and used to league to try and gel a team together. We’re happy enough of where we are at but know that it will be very tough on Saturday against a good side.”
St Eunan’s have won 16 minor titles in all – 1931, 1938, 1941, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2008 and 2011.
