Happy to get second win in Mac Rory Cup - Abbey VS manager, Pauric O’Donnell

Abbey VS, Donegal Town secured their second win in the group stage of the Mac Rory Cup with a one point win over South-West Donegal in Pearse Park, Ardara on Friday night.

It was a much closer contest than expected with the South-West amalgamation putting up to last year’s finalists, who didn’t take the lead until the 53rd minute.

“We’re happy to come out of it with the wind. It didn’t play out the way we wanted to play out. They got the goal, the first score of the game.

“I thought we started very flat, but look, our boys were doing exams all week and we didn’t see them all week; we left them off. Education is what they are at school for and it’s the most important one for us and we keep telling them that,” said Abbey manager Pauric O’Donnell.

The Donegal Town side took a while to get into their stride but once they hit the front they pushed the lead out to four  before a late penalty gave South-West a late chance to force a draw at least.

“They were a wee bit tired looking at the start but they grew into the game. I was very proud of them in the second half. They were up against it there and they came out well.”

The Abbey boss agreed that midfield played a big part in the game for both sides.

“The first 10 minutes of the game we lost midfield and then we got it back. Then at the end of the first half we lost it again. Look, that’s the way football is going at the minute, it’s a huge area.

“The penalty at the end brought it a wee bit closer than it should. We should have been able to close out the game at that stage, but we’re happy enough (with the win).

“South-West are a very good team. They have a lot of quality players and good players inside. And like that too, no different to our forwards, there were wee patches that they came really good in and other times they coughed up possession the exact same way we coughed up possession. That’s the nature of the game now,” said O’Donnell.

Abbey are now in a strong position in the group and if they can get the win over Our Lady’s, Castleblayney in their final game they will top the group and secure a quarter-final place.

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“We had the win (against St Michael’s) and now we have another win which puts us in a great position. It is just a case now of keeping the boys going. They have a lot on, some of them boys. 

“We had no U-16s tonight, they are away with Four Masters. A lot of them have an eye on the Ulster Minor Tournament as well. We have a few boys with injuries as well and we’re trying to work through them and get them back as well,” said