Tight schedule alongside new rules means players are running a gauntlet - Regan 

Martin Regan says the new Football Review Committee rules, coupled with a tight club championship calendar, are having a real effect on players as they attempt to keep pace with what’s been a gruelling schedule. 

Naomh Conaill are back in another SFC decider as they battle Gaoth Dobhair on Sunday. However, Regan, generalising and pointing to what both sides have had to contend with to date, explains that collateral damage has been sustained along the way. 

READ NEXT: We learned alot from the last few seasons - Aaron Doherty 

The Glenties outfit - who landed their first ever Dr Maguire title back in 2005 - are now looking to add an eighth SFC crown to the cabinet back home at Davy Brennan Park. 

But Regan explains this as being a campaign like no other as the FRC-led overhaul of the game has spiked the pace. 

By his own admission, Naomh Conaill has stumbled their way to the weekend’s showpiece and that usual cloak of assurance, worn so confidently by his team in the past, has been stripped from their backs. 

But speaking to his players, and talking with Regan in the lead-in, there are no complaints in regards to any of that. 

It’s helter-skelter and the drama that accompanied their run has created a real buzz in a parish that’s grown accustomed to putting up the blue and white bunton on an almost annual basis in recent times. 

The only concern for Regan moving forward centres on just how sustainable it all is, not just for Naomh Conaill, but for all club sides in Donegal. 

“With the five games, five weeks running, we have picked up injuries,” he said. “Max Campbell and Caolan McGill got injured against Ardara - Caolan ended up missing four games. Eoghan McGettigan got hurt and missed the last two games. 

“It’s something that needs to be looked at as the likes of Eoghan has worked so hard all year to get back playing football and because of that condensed format, it looks like he’ll miss the rest of the championship now. 

“The game is faster, there is no doubt, and because of that, there will be more injuries. It’s not an easy thing to get right for the ‘powers that be’. 

“The overall calendar, with the inter-county season, it’s really tight. But it’s not right on players that they are playing what is now a much faster game and those games so close together”.

Regan agrees that so much of the action now, once players cross the white line, is out of the control of management. 

It’s been chaotic at times for Naomh Conaill and, for a change, there are as many questions as answers hanging over their chances at the weekend. 

The fact that Gaoth Dobhair seem to have been able to harness the sweeping changes to the game and channel them would suggest they have the edge heading for O’Donnell Park.  

But, as they’ve shown already, Naomh Conaill won’t need to play well to get over the line. And that, in itself, is a bit of a conundrum for Ronan Mac Niallais to figure out. 

“It’s been a titanic struggle to even get this far,” admits Regan. “We lost two of our group stage games and the other two we won by a point and two points. 

“We got over Killybegs with a few late goals but there were two massive tests against Termon and Four Masters.

“We were dead and buried against Termon. But the lads kept battling away. We got a fortunate break with Max’s goal and Finnbarr Roarty then stepped up to win it.

“Four Masters, that was a game that went to extra-time and we’re just thankful we lived to fight another day.

“The new rules, they have been challenging. It’s much harder to defend than it was in the past. Gaoth Dobhair are probably the best set-up side I’ve seen so far, defensively. They have a very good system in place. 

“We have tried both. We have tried to go zonal at times and man-to-man. Neither scenario is easy to implement. 

“And even for referees, it’s challenging. The advantage rule, there are games where it’s five seconds and another where it might be 15. 

“I’m not being critical, we are all in the same boat where we both need more clarity, officials and teams. Because so much has come in so quickly, it’s made life extra difficult”.  

Regan was first appointed manager of Naomh Conaill back in December 2014 and has guided the club to Donegal SFC crowns in 2015, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. 

That’s a serious record considering they also contested the 2017, 2018 and 2021 finals under Regan’s watch. 

“It’s been enjoyable - they are a competitive group and even from refereeing in-house games at training, you see that come through. 

“They always come back hungry, regardless if they win the championship or get beat in a quarter-final, like we did last year. 

“They want even more success. You won’t always be competitive or have a group of players like we’ve had the last 15 to 20 years. And we’re trying to make the most of that”.

Gaoth Dobhair were accounted for back in 2023 when Naomh Conaill last tasted SFC success. It was a comfortable 1-16 to 1-8 victory but Regan says Glenties face a much different proposition this time out. 

“They will be hurting from last year. They ran St Eunan’s to a point in the semi-final last season and would have felt they could have edged that in the end. 

“So they’ll believe they have what it takes this time out. Like ourselves, they’ll leave it all on the field on Sunday”.