McShea’s Say: Regan played a major role with critical calls in Naomh Conaill’s win

It has been an emotional, exciting, and at times turbulent journey for a panel of Naomh Conaill players who have brought their followers a decade of joy, mixed with heartache and many moments of breathtaking brilliance. 

Sunday's county final against Gaoth Dobhair was the culmination of hard nights and hot days of training to be the best for both teams. 

Both squads did come together many times to work, sweat, and dream about becoming champions of Donegal.

No doubt in both dressing rooms before the match, thoughts were focusing and the adrenal glands were working overtime.

Each player had his own way of fighting the demons in the final minutes before the door was thrown open. The senior players on both teams geared up the younger players, while others just sat and breathed deeply, as chests and backs were pounded, the talking had been done, the dressing room door opened, and daylight beckoned.

Thoughts affect feelings, affect actions, and in the first half, the intensity of Gaoth Dobhair's play was most effective, and those who seemed to believe that Naomh Conaill were a team in transition believed that assumption was correct.

Gaoth Dobhair were going very well, in control for the majority of the first half, and enjoyed a seven-point lead at half-time, apart from Brendan McDyer and Finnbarr Roarty.

Naomh Conaill were struggling to stay in the game, and few, if anybody, in O Donnell Park could see anything other than a Gaoth Dobhair victory. But before Sunday, Naomh Conaill’s incredible battling qualities were well documented. It seemed that the mindset of every player in the famous blue jersey was ‘we are not going to lose this final.’ They refused to die, to keep at it, rather than to trudge off yet again as nearly rans, tested their characters like never before. 

Manager Martin Regan was winning his sixth county championship with his club, and he had an excellent day on the line. 

He made some critical calls and was not afraid to make what would be considered serious errors if they did not work out. But on this occasion, he played a major role in winning this championship. In team management, there are two basic leadership styles: one is authoritarian, and the other is the inclusive style. I believe that Regan very successfully embodies a mixture of both.

The timing of Leo McLoone entering the fray was perfect. He brought leadership and class every time he got on the ball, and his use of the ball was quite outstanding. Brendan McDyer has had many wonderful games for Glenties, but he never had a better first half than he played in this final. 

He hit three wonderful points, and his contribution was vital in keeping his team in the game. Finnbarr Roarty played superbly from start to finish. 

Certain players seem superior, and Finnbarr is one of those. His physical speed and his football IQ are exceptional for one so young, and his display in this final was that of an All-Star in waiting. 

After a quiet first half, Kieran Gallagher controlled the vital midfield area for the duration of this final. He simply owned the ball for the final fifty minutes, and apart from chipping in with a vital point, his quality distribution led to many vital scores.

Gaoth Dobhair will be very disappointed as it looked as if their name was destined to go on the Dr. Maguire Cup at half-time.

I remember back in the All-Ireland final of 1986, Tyrone were leading Kerry by seven points at half-time. 

Kerry, like Glenties, dominated that final in winning Sam. 

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After the game, Art McRory, the Tyrone manager, said that the only eventuality that Tyrone had not prepared for was leading Kerry by seven points at the interval.

It was a disappointing day for Gaoth Dobhair as they also lost the Senior B final. 

Odhran Mac Niallais and Ethan Harkin both played well in the Senior final, although Odhran visibly tired after the interval, and while it will take some time to get over Sunday’s disappointment, they will regroup and never be far away at championship time. 

The winner’s superior bench was also significant in the outcome of this final. In such a close encounter, it can be a difficult game to referee, but St. Eunan’s James Connors had a very good match and let the game flow, making it an enjoyable spectacle.