Raidio na Gaeltachta Donegal SFC final: St Eunan’s, Letterkenny v Naomh Conaill
(Sunday, Ballybofey, 4pm, deferred coverage TG4 (programme starts 2.30pm)
THE GLOVES are off and most of the championship clichés folded away as reigning champions St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill collide in a savoury county decider in Sean MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey tomorrow.
Already most of the local juries have come down firmly in favour of the highly-fancied Letterkenny lads who previously beat the men from Glenties in the 2012 final.
But it was a clear “steal” as Naomh Conaill were the better side throughout so this defeat could be some sure motivation for Martin Regan’s men.
Maxi Curran, who has loads of inter-county experience under Jim McGuinness, and latterly Rory Gallagher, guides the county champions.
And they have given masterclasses on the efficacy of the counter-punch against Glenswilly and St Michael’s en route to tomorrow’s decider in Ballybofey.
Those victories alone are probably enough to give them the mantle of favourites against a Glenties side who have the best forward line in the county.
Dermot Molloy, Dara Gallagher, Leo McLoone, Leon Thompson, Brendan McDyer and John O’Malley are as good as you will get in Tir Conaill.
But Eunan’s have a mighty central engine that contains Rory Kavanagh, 38-year-old John Haran and Kevin Rafferty.
They also have the very experienced Conal Dunne to notch the vital scores and strong youthful support from Rory Carr, Lee McMonagle, Conor Parke, Conor Gibbons and Sean McVeigh.
For manager Curran, tomorrow is a chance to build on an ever- improving season.
“Things have improved well over the last few weeks against Glenswilly and St Michael’s.
“We are lucky to have people like John Haran who have played in 11 or 12 county finals and these boys can just smell it when the championship comes around.
“They are able to raise their game and bring everyone else with them”.
“Hunger will never be an issue and they are a great example to the younger lads who look up to them so we have a very good mix.
Maxi’s inspirational captain Rory Kavanagh spent the summer playing football in Boston, but recently came back to play a key role in Letterkenny’s impressive semi-final dismissal of St Michael’s.
Glenties have already inflicted a heavy defeat on Eunan’s earlier this summer but Curran believes it was the “kick” his charges needed.
“It knocked us down the ladder of contenders but it gave us a kick.
‘It was really a lift to the boys.’’
But tomorrow will be very different as youthful Glenties boss Martin Regan concurs.
Martin has taken the short step from playing to managing this season, and has the forensic Tyrone native Cathal Corey to boost Naomh Conaill’s backroom team.
“That win in Letterkenny was important for us earlier on as we did not want to have to be playing neighbours Ardara in a play off.
“We had two months to prepare for that match but I am not sure if it was the defining game in the championship so far.
“But we know that on our day, given the quality in our squad, that if we perform to the level we are capable of, that we are more than capable of any team.
“It was something that was always on the cards that Cathal Corey was going to rejoin us.
“It was Cathal who actually rang me at the end of last year and asked me would I consider taking he manager’s job and that he would love to come back and give me a hand if I took the job.
“When you have a man like Cathal Willing to help you out it is impossible to say no.
“Cathal is a very good coach and the boys have great time for him and his return has been a huge boost.”
But the biggest boost of all could come from the Naomh Conaill forward line.
If they can get the scores and contain the threat of the likes of Kavanagh, Haran and Rafferty in the middle, they could take their first county title since 2010.
However, a very well-organised Letterkenny are unlikely to let that happen and should prevail, by a few points.
