Martin Regan praises goal hero Kevin McGettigan after battling to SFC semis win

Naomh Conaill boss Martin Regan had plenty of compliments to award Kevin McGettigan after the hardy defender got the goal to spark a comeback for the side.

The seven-time champions were under pressure against the youthful Four Masters in extra-time as they went three behind in the third period.

But McGettigan, who had a collision with teammate Max Campbell, was forced off for a blood sub twice before he netted the goal that got his side back into the game, and immediately had to come off once again for a blood sub after raising the green flag.

“It was huge, I’m still unsure of the way that game transpired,” Regan said after the game.

“It was up and down for the second half of normal time and all of extra time. But I’m just thrilled to get over the line, and I have nothing but pride for the boys with the way they grinded it out.

“We were three down at one stage in extra-time, and it wasn’t looking good, but they dug in and Kevin (McGettigan) got the goal, which was the big score when we were three points down.

“No more than the game last week against Termon, when we needed a score, Max (Campbell) popped up with the big score last week, and Kevin this week, and just the composure to finish the goal. 

“He won the kick out and ran half the length of the field, and he was out on his feet at that stage. He was on and off about four or five times with the facial injury.

“So the composure to finish after that run was a credit to them.

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“If you keep going to the well like that, then you’ll get caught at some stage, but thankfully, the last two weeks we survived it. We could have lost either of them two games, but as I say, Kevin got the big goal at the right time and we kicked on and finished the game really well.

“The boys coming off the bench made a huge difference (Seamus) Corcoran and Mark McDevitt, all those boys came on and had a massive impact on the game.”

It was a fifth weekend of competitive action in a row for Regan’s men after coming through the preliminary quarter-final, so a break ahead of the final is much appreciated when they meet Gaoth Dobhair on Sunday, October 12.

“It has been tough, probably for us more so than others because our round three game with Downings was put back a week, so we were out five weeks running. That’s hard going and even mentally training, we’re coming back from games the last five weeks on a Sunday night, and you’re in to watch a video for the following weekend, so it was hard going.

“It’s lovely to get the two week break and put the feet up, then start looking at Gaoth Dobhair, but it’s nice to get the two weeks because the five weeks running were tough.”

Regan admitted he didn’t get a chance to attend the other semi-final on Saturday as Gaoth Dobhair beat St Michael’s by 1-16 to 0-13.

It sets up a repeat of the 2023 final, which the Davy Brennan Memorial Park men won comfortably after going seven clear early on, and they went on to win by eight, but the Magheragallon men look a different proposition this year.

“We had enough on our plate with Four Masters, but we’ll knuckle down and do our homework on Gaoth Dobhair over the next two weeks.

“They’re a top team and they have been for a number of years, and they’re always knocking at the top table.

“They’re the only team in the county unbeaten in the championship yet, they won the four group games fairly comfortably.

“They’re well set up and well drilled, but you’d expect that from a team with Rónán (Mac Niallais) and Francie (Friel) in charge, and Niall Friel is back for them also, which is a big lift.”