Letterkenny Gaels hitting form at just the right time

When it comes to form, Letterkenny Gaels have been hitting the right notes as the Donegal Junior A Championship enters the business end. 

On the back of a 3-18 to 0-3 win over Robert Emmets in last weekend’s quarter-final, and their 5-17 to 0-13 win over Naomh Ultan in the last of the group games the week before, they now face Naomh Brid for a place in the final.

“We’ve got a number of lads back from injury in the last few weeks and we are going in the right direction,” manager Aidy Glackin told DonegalLive this week.

“Last Saturday's game against Robert Emmets was the first time we had a fully fit squad apart from a couple of longer-term injuries. And I think it showed in the performance. 

“We led by seven points at half-time and we pushed on in the second half and played much better.

“We played to the tempo, we controlled the game better in the second half, and won comfortably in the end. 

“Every week you come up against teams who are set up differently, and you have to adjust, and it was great that we were able to do so and turn the game back in our favour. 

“There were aspects of our game that neither the management nor players would be totally happy with, and there is room for improvement. 

“But the good thing is that we are through to the semi-final. We are happy with that and the lads are in good shape and thankfully, the injuries have cleared up. 

“Conor Cunningham, the head coach, has worked hard with the lads and they are really in top shape and looking forward now to Saturday and Naomh Brid.”

The Gaels’ semi-final opponents topped group A and have shown good form all season, but just missed out on promotion in the league, and go into the last four clash with four straight wins under their belts.

“Naomh Brid are a good side. We played them up in Ballintra in the league earlier in the year, and they beat us by three points in a high-scoring game. 

“I think we scored something like 3-12 and they scored 1-21, which is good tipping. They have a number of very good forwards like Aaron McGrory, Jack O’Hara, and Eoghan Gallagher, as well as the more experienced Darren Russell and Eoin Rushe. 

“They also have Callum Gallagher back in the middle of the field, and they have Gearoid Gallagher at centre half back. 

“We know them from the earlier game against them, and we had watched them a few times in the championship and they are playing very well. 

“We know it is a step up and we are going to have to play well if we are to make it through to the final.”