Kilcar wanted to stay under the radar this week to prepare for their Ulster Club SFC semi-final clash with reigning champions Slaughtneil next weekend.
However, manager Barry Doherty has this week been dealt a blow by the Donegal CCC (Competitions Control Committee) who have fixed a vital U21 championship clash away to Gaoth Dobhair for Sunday.
Just six days out from their eagerly anticipated provincial duel with the Derry men, it looks like the Donegal champions will have 10 of their senior panel involved in what should be a highly competitive clash with the current Donegal U21 champions.
Three of the above, Stephen McBrearty, Conor Doherty and Andrew McClean, are vital cogs in Doherty’s senior starting XV. Doherty explains that his club have been in contact with the CCC but they aren’t budging on the matter.
He said: “It’s not right. We’re representing Kilcar but we’re representing the county as well. So many people outside of Kilcar have told me they are looking forward to heading to Omagh (Healy Park) to see the game.
"We’re representing the county but the county are putting obstacles in our way. We take the U21 championship very seriously in Kilcar and have done well in it the last number of years. But the senior side takes preference.
“I’m a big believer that no young lad should be missing out on their age grade because of senior. But what are we expected to do? We have so many players missing during the year, no matter what the (Donegal) county football manager wanted, we played ball.
"We just feel hard done by now ourselves even though it’s November. We never put pressure on our county lads or failed to fulfil any league fixtures. But where is the thanks or reward now? We often had five missing but we plugged away.”
Kilcar, who bridged a 24-year gap in Tir Chonaill last month with defeat of Naomh Conaill, overcame favourites Scotstown in Clones last time out with a storming 10-point hammering of the Monaghan kingpins.
Their duel with Slaughtneil is expected to be a fascinating and exciting encounter. But Doherty admits this week’s fixtures gripe is an unwanted distraction.
“Of course it is (a headache),” he added.
“How do I turn around and tell lads they can’t tog out in the U21 championship. They are mad to win it.
"The reality is that when they came off the pitch in Clones the last day… less than 24 hours later on the Bank Holiday Monday they were involved in an U21 club championship fixture. Still, we didn’t complain. I know the competition has to be played.
"But there has to be changes to how we roll out fixtures. We have to find better times of the year to accommodate this competition.
“We’ve approached the right people, we’ve made the proper request, but it’s fallen on deaf ears. It was knocked back. It puts me, as senior boss, in a horrible position. If we were to lose even one player this weekend it jeopardises everything. It harms our chances.
"It also puts really wrong pressure on the young lads and that’s the biggest issue here. It’ll be really disappointing if this game goes ahead. The reality is that we will have to pull the players from the U21s.”
