Mac Niallais says his players are playing for the 'Geansaí Glas'

While Gaoth Dobhair manager, Ronan Mac Niallais, was playing down the win over Kilcar in the senior championship quarter-final, there was a hint also that confidence is rising in the team after the win.

The Magheragallon residents were comfortable for much of the game but had to recover after Kilcar hit a goal and a point at the very end to cut the lead to a point only for Micheal Roarty to come forward and secure the win with a wonderful two pointer.

"We wouldn't be happy at all with that performance. There were periods, the last 15 minutes of the first half and the first 20 of the second half were very impressive, not perfect, but we were happy.

"But then the last 10 minutes, we wouldn't be happy at all with that. We're there, we're in the semi-final. We have kinda stuttered our way to here and we have a lot to improve on. That performance wouldn't be good enough in a semi-final. We just kinda got away with it today," was how manager Mac Niallais summed it up afterwards.

After going six points down in the opening 11 minutes, Gaoth Dobhair then took control of the game despite playing against the elements and were just a point adrift at the break, 0-7 to 0-6 and Mac Niallais agreed that they were happy at the break.

"We were delighted but Kilcar had three goal chances in the first half and didn't take any of them. So if any one of them go in it's four points so it could have been a totally different story.

"In regards to shooting for points we would be happy enough. We didn't allow too many shots. Any shots they had there was decent pressure on and it from distance out.  Kilcar seemed happy to take them on and some days they go over. Luckily for us today, they didn't. So, yeah, we were happy to be only a point down at half-time, not overly happy with the performance but you will take that when it comes to championship football. You can't have it perfect all the time.

"In the second half we defended brilliantly and obviously they had to get closer to goal to get shots off. I don't know how many turnovers there were but it was good and we did well on kick-outs too and breaking balls.

"Look, our boys brought a lot of heart there today, they brought a lot of hard work and they were well up for it. And when we were under pressure they dug in so you would have to be delighted with that. They have a great attitude; everything we ask of them they do it and they go above and beyond for that green jersey.

Mac Niallais felt his side have a lot of running power and he paid special tribute to Ethan Harkin, who he says is now a marked man given his scoring power. "He showed today what a footballer he is and it's down to nothing but his own hard work on and off the field. He's down kicking and practicising. Tonight he had a great performance and he deserved that."

As regards the late drama with Kilcar getting a goal to cut the lead to a point, Mac Niallais said:  "I just wanted Enda (McFeely) to blow the whistle and call it off. It was just one of those, a high ball came in; we broke it down and it fell to Paddy (McBrearty) and he stuck it in the net," said Mac Niallais. "We were under the cosh but that man Micheal Roarty stood up and struck an unbelievable two pointer. He has been mad trying them all year and we have been trying to put him off it, but in fairness he can do it. That was huge."

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The Gaoth Dobhair manager can now look forward to a semi-final and he gave a hint that his side are ambitious.

"We were in the final two years ago and some would say we were lucky to get there. But we didn't perform at all in the final. I felt last year we had a better year; we only lost to Eunan's by a point in the semi and we knew we were not far away.

"We are not setting the world alight this year but when you have the quality of player that we have and the effort they are putting in for the Geansai Glas, as we call it, you are never going to be too far away hopefully."