Carn ready for Ulster Junior football challenge against Monaghan champs Emyvale

Carndonagh manager Michael O’Donnell says his players are focused and fresh as they prepare for their Ulster Junior Championship quarter-final clash with Monaghan champions Emyvale at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones, on Sunday.

Three weeks on from winning the Donegal Junior A title with a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over Letterkenny Gaels, O’Donnell says Carn’s attention quickly turned to Ulster.

“It’s great to be training this time of year,” he said. “There hasn’t been much time to celebrate the county final - the boys have been working really hard in training and focused on our Monaghan opponents.”

A few Carn heads travelled to watch Emyvale’s 2-22 to 1-14 county final win over Sean McDermott’s on the weekend before last, and O’Donnell knows the challenge that lies ahead against a side who have been a well established intermediate side in Monaghan for many years.

“They were really impressive - they’ve good footballers all over the pitch and plenty of experience,” he said. “We’ll have to be at our best to give ourselves a chance.

“But we’re focusing on ourselves and our own game, not overdoing it on the opposition. We’re happy to be in Ulster and happy to take them on and really go for it.”

Carn’s build-up has been carefully managed, with several of their U21 players - including Seán O’Carroll, Cian Doherty, Daniel McDaid, Brendan McLaughlin and Danny Diver - excused from Saturday's U21B championship win over Muff to stay fresh for Ulster duty.

“The Ulster club doesn’t come around often and we want to give ourselves the best chance,” O’Donnell said. “There’s a good pool of players there, and the lads have been working really hard.”

Carn’s title success this year capped a remarkable run that also saw them lift the Junior B crown, reflecting the club’s growing strength in depth.

“We have great numbers and it’s pushing us along,” O’Donnell noted. “We went back training after the county final, and there are boys from the reserves who are bursting a gut and getting close to the senior team. There are lots of great options for us.”

Emyvale, Ulster Junior Club champions in 2009 and 2013, will enjoy home advantage, but Carn manager O'Donnell and his selectors Gerard Doherty (Kinnego), Niall McLaughlin (Joe Billy) and Michael Doherty (B) will ensure their team travel with real belief in themselves.