SETANTA boss manager Gary McGettigan feels his team is ready to hit the levels of pace and intensity that Sunday’s Ulster JHC final against Shane O’Neill’s will demand.
The Donegal men have come through a couple of tough ties, and had to dig deep to get the better of Eoghan Ruadh of Tyrone and Derry champions Na Magha on their way to the decider.
On both occasions, they were able to deliver when serious questions were asked of them hurling with heart and courage to get over the line.
“They were two real good tough tests for us, and that’s really what you want on the way to a final, because if you get through a one-sided game, you’re not going to learn much from it,” said McGettigan.
“But we have had two real good battles, so hopefully it sets us up well.”
It’s been the story of the season for the Killygordon side, with the Donegal SHC final going to extra-time before they got the better of Burt.
But that was back in the summertime, and they have had to reset following a lengthy lay-off in preparation for the provincial series.
“That was at the end of July, so there was something like 14 weeks between the Burt game and the Dungannon game in early November.
“The Burt game was a real good battle for us as well and we got through it after extra-time, but by the time we got to Ulster, we had lost that bit of momentum we had gathered coming through Donegal.”
Setanta won the Ulster junior title back in 2017, but just a handful of the current team can call on that experience, with new blood and fresh talent driving this year’s challenge.
“Even though it’s only five years ago, I think there’s only six of the starting 15 that will be in contention for starting this week.
“We have a few boys with a lot of experience, but there’s still a lot of young fellas that have come through in the meantime.
“It’s good to have the experience, but there’s plenty of young lads there too to give us a mix of both.”
There’s been a buzz around The Cross in the build-up to the decider, but the players have been operating in a parallel world of diligent preparation.
“There’s a big buzz around the wee village, but we try and stay away from that,” said McGettigan.
Setanta’s appearance in the provincial decider is a shot in the arm for the small ball game in a county where Gaelic football generates all the big headlines, most recently with the news of Michael Murphy’s retirement.
“We’re in a county with 40-odd football clubs, and six or seven clubs trying to keep the hurling going.
“Anybody involved in hurling in the weaker counties is not in it for the glory, you’re in it for the love of the game.”
