Bank of Ireland U21 Club Football Tournament: Paddy McLarnon Cup quarter-final: Sunday January 21 at Creggan Kickhams, 2:15pm: Gaoth Dobhair (Donegal) v Donaghmoyne Fontenoys (Monaghan)
The last of the quarter-finals of the Bank of Ireland U21 club football tournament takes place tomorrow with Donegal champions Gaoth Dobhair making the long journey to the lough shore for the second week running.
Having accounted for Antrim champions O’Donovan Rossa comfortably in the preliminary round, Tom ‘Beag’ MacGiolla Easpuig and his team have their sights now set on Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne.
The Fontenoy’s are appearing at the tournament for the second year in succession and having accounted for Clan na Gael and Clones in the Monaghan championship with ease, will be confident of progression.
MacGiolla Easpuig will still be without star midfielder Cian Mulligan once again.
The Gaoth Dobhair man is part of the Donegal squad and the Gaoth Dobhair manager will also be minus Conail and James Boyle for Sunday’s quarter-final.
“Cian’s a massive loss. He’s such a big-game player for us, when we need him he always stands tall to be counted. He’s a leader in the middle of the pitch and can bring a little bit of everything,'' he said.
“We’re looking no further forward than this Sunday but if we do manage to get past Donaghmoyne, Cian will be joining up with the squad.
“Conail’s injury was a blow before the match last week. He was due to start but went over his ankle badly in the warm up.”
They will once again look to Michael Carroll and Gavin McBride for the firepower while captain Niall Ferry will lead his defence. Having lost in the semi-final narrowly to last years eventual winners, Watty Graham’s, MacGiolla Easpuig is looking to draw on that experience for Sunday.
“We have much the same squad as last year and we’re hoping that the experience of playing in that defeat against Glen Maghera will help the boys from here.
“The experience of playing in such a match can only benefit us going ahead from here.''
Donaghmoyne fell at this hurdle last year to a talented Stewartstown side but having retained plenty from last year's squad, they will certainly provide a sterner test for the Donegal men.
In David Garland they have a fine forward and he’ll be assisted by Stephen Finnegan who normally operates around the ’40.
MacGiolla Easpuig added that they may set up differently to try and counter the threats posed by the Fontenoy’s.
“They’re a big, strong and powerful team with good forwards. We have a fair idea how they will want to play, and we’ll have to set-up accordingly.'' he stated.
“We’re going expecting nothing but a tough match, at the end of the day they’re there on merit having won the Monaghan championship and we know it won’t be an easy game.”
