Former Naomh Conaill manager Martin Doherty has tasted the heartache of narrow defeat with his native Glenties but he insists that if Martin Regan’s men perform to their ability, then they could shock hot favourites Glen in Healy Park, Omagh on Saturday evening.
Back in 2012, Doherty was at the helm when a last-gasp goal from St Eunan’s denied Naomh Conaill a county title, just two years after they had given the mighty Crossmaglen a tough tussle in their first ever appearance in an Ulster final.
Doherty was also involved with Regan in 201 -when Kilcar beat them in the county semi-final.
But he remains a seasoned and astute observer of a remarkable group of players who have the likes of Leo McLoone (34), Marty Boyle (37), Anthony Thompson (37) Brendan McDyer (36) and Marty Boyle (37) still driving the team to greater heights.
“In 2012, myself, Michael Gallagher and Stephen McKelvey managed them to a county final," he said.
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“We were beaten in the final at the last minute by St Eunan’s and it was bitterly disappointing, but in the finals, a lot of them, they do swing around, and we were a bit lucky to beat Eunan’s in 2015, although we were down to 14 men after Eoghan McGettigan was sent off and Leo McLoone led us to victory.
“Kilcar beat us in 2016 and I was part of the backroom team with Martin Regan.”
Doherty paid a huge tribute to the famous five veterans who are still the heartbeat of the team.
“2005 was our first ever Donegal championship and for Leo to come on and play at 16 years of age was just unbelievable.
“In the first drawn game against St Eunan’s, 17-year-old Brendan McDyer had a pressure kick at the side line to level the match and he did just that.
“That brought us to the second day and that was probably the first time anyone saw the blanket defence and the high energy, high press game that Jim McGuinness brought in.
“We were not fancied on the second day, but we won our first ever championship match and thankfully things have blossomed after that.
“It was brilliant back then as we had got to a lot of semi-finals but could not get to a final.
“I remember Johnny D Early of Ardara telling us at a training session that our biggest problem was in getting to a final and he told us that if we got to one we would win it.”
That did come through in 2005 when a very young Naomh Conaill team “just refused to lose”.
“Those five lads did not know anything about defeat because they were winning minor finals.
“We did win a SFL Division One final in 2002 and that was a big breakthrough too.”
“And then we got to our first ever Ulster club final in 2010 and we put it up to Crossmaglen but their greater experience saw them through.
“It was a huge thing to get there.
In 2015 Leo McLoone took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and led a 14-man Naomh Conaill to a famous victory over St Eunan’s.
“Leo has been doing that for years and he is a player that when you need someone to step up, he always delivers in his own quiet manner.
“He is now 34 and is playing better than ever at midfield and is in mighty shape and last year he got married and took over the pub which may have curtailed him, but he is leading the line in style this year.
“The other four are exceptional and Eoin Waide is always in superb shape and is like a breath of fresh air when he comes in.
“He has maintained a great level of fitness and Brendan McDyer was the club player of the championship in 2022 while Anthony Thompson and Marty Boyle are great warriors and leaders as Anthony showed against Gowna in the last match.”
And Doherty salutes the ‘FIntown Four’ Ultan, Eunan and Odhran Doherty along with Jeaic MacCeallbhuí who are a “revelation.”
“They are the men who will always go into the trenches for you.
“Ultan has the pace and power to man mark any forward and the other two lads have savage energy and can score points as well.
“Jeaic MacCeallbhuí can play anywhere-the ultimate modern athlete and being on the Donegal senior squad has helped as well.”
Naomh Conaill reached their second Ulster club final in 2019 and lost out narrowly to an emerging Kilcoo team, an experience that Doherty believes will stand to them.
“Kilcoo had a lot more experience than us and they showed their experience.
“But we were very lucky against Gowna and we had none against Cargin last year so maybe the luck comes back to you.
“We stole it against Gowna and we accept that they were the better team on the day.”
Glen were just pipped for an All-Ireland club title last year and Doherty is happy to make his club firm underdogs.
“It suits our lads as we will go in under the radar but there is one thing for sure and that is that our boys will leave everything out on the pitch.
“They owe us nothing at this stage and they are an exceptional group of young lads.
“They are a great example to the youth in the community because even lately there, Johnny McLoone’s young boy Danny has been going through cancer for a few years.
“Thank God he is in remission and is going well but the senior team gathered some money and took Danny and his class away to the cinema and to MacDonalds for the day about a month ago.”
He added: “We have massive support, and it is our 16th man and our support nearly lifted the roof in Breffni Park and once the crowd gets behind the boys at a vital time, it is as good as a point to them.”
“But you do need that, and I think we have a chance and If we play to our potential we will definitely hold our own.
“Of course, Glen have exceptional players like the Doherty’s, Conor Glass and Danny Tallon, but we don’t fear them, and we just hope things go the right way.”
