Ferocious competition for places is driving St Eunan’s hurlers - Cathal O’Brien

Cathal O’Brien says that St Eunan’s boss Chris McAuley has a real headache attempting to pick a side for the SHC final with competition at O’Donnell Park red hot right now.

The 2021 champions ruthlessly brushed aside the challenge of MacCumhaills on Saturday, 4-25 to 2-7, with O’Brien landing a personal tally of 0-13.

READ NEXT: St Eunan's ease past MacCumhaills to comfortably book SHC final spot 

The Offaly native explains that the Black and Amber’s league success boosted options in championship as they now look forward to a final clash with either Setanta or reigning title holders Burt.

“At the start of the year, the first target was to get to the league final and win that,” he said. “Without the county lads, that was a real benefit as it allowed us to just run the squad and get minutes into boys.

“We have ten to 12 lads back in now for championship and it just makes things ultra competitive. It’s a shocking headache for the management to pick the starting XV right now.”

MacCumhaills had matched St Eunan’s score for score early on at the weekend and matters were locked at five apiece approaching the end of the first quarter in O’Donnell Park.

But Eunan’s soon picked up the pace and this one quickly developed into something of a mismatch as the Letterkenny side cantered towards what was, in the end, a landslide 24-point win.

“We never expected today to be comfortable and at the start it was tit for tat. But they ran us very close in the earlier championship game.

“There is huge work rate there and our shooting efficiency has been really good. But we know that whoever it is, Burt or Setanta, we’re going to have to be at optimum level in the final if we’re to get over the line.

“It’s great for the lads and the management now to get a bird’s eye view of both. I’m rushing off to a wedding now but I’ll be checking the phone throughout!"