Kilcar are hungry for success - U-21 boss O’Reilly

From the first day Gary O’Reilly got his Kilcar U-21 squad together, he was greatly encouraged by what he witnessed in his players. 

They had the one ingredient essential for success, and the Kilcar manager was happy his squad had it.

“From that first gathering I could see they were hungry for success,” he told DonegalLive this week ahead of this Saturday’s U-21 C county final meeting with Red Hughs, in Pearse Park, Ardara at 1.30pm.

“I knew after that first session we had something to work on. Once they had the hunger, I knew football ability was not going to be a problem because football is in our DNA in Kilcar.”

It is the club’s first U-21 final appearance for Kilcar in ten years, albeit it is a C final this Saturday, since they won the last of their six U-21 A championships in 2015.

“We’ve really struggled for numbers coming through from underage in recent years, and even in this team, there has been a big gap in the ages.

“All but three of the current team are 21.

“All the rest are members of this year's minor team. We have no one at 18, 19 or 20, which really underlines the problem of numbers coming through.”

O’Reilly and Kilcar have made it all the way to the final against all the odds, on the back of three wins out of four games on the way to Saturday’s final showdown. 

Those wins were over Naomh Muire, Lower Rosses and Saturday’s opponents, Red Hughs, in the group games and Killybegs, in the semi-final.

That last four win over Killybegs avenged their defeat to their neighbours, the only group game they lost.

 If the Kilcar manager had any doubts about his team's hunger, he had not long to wait.

“We were due to meet Red Hughs in our first game, in Towney. But both ourselves and Red Hughs had qualified for the minor championships semi-finals, and so the U-21 game was put back. 

“And we played Naomh Muire instead in our first game down in the Banks. It was an atrocious day weatherwise with storm-force winds and driving rain.

“We put in a big performance, especially in the second half and showed great hunger and will to win by ten points against a good Naomh Muire side.” 

The Red Hughs game was next, and Kilcar ran out 5-16 to 1-6 winners in Towney. 

“We are not reading too much into that game again. It was a very windy day, and Red Hughs did not score enough when they had the wind in the first half.

“We scored five goals in the second half, and as anyone who knows Towney, it is never too easy when you are playing out towards the bay against a strong wind. While we played well, I think we will be up against a different Red Hughs on Saturday.

“They went on a great run after that game and haven’t lost since and had good wins away to Naomh Bríd and Downings, two of the fancied teams.”

Killybegs beat Kilcar by two points, 1-8 to 0-9 in a close third round game in Fintra. But Kilar turned the tables on the neighbours with a five point win, 0-16 to 1-8, in the semi-final in Towney.

Kilcar are sweating on the availability of the experienced Ciaran O’Donnell, who is in a race against the clock to be fit for Saturday’s clash.

“Ciaran picked up a hip injury, and it is touch and go if he is going to be fit to win his battle to be fit to play.

“But other than Ciaran and the long term injured Ronan and Darren Cunningham, we have everybody else.

“We are ready and good to go. What we are hoping for now is that the winds will be gone by Saturday and we get a good day for the game, and conditions are good.”  

Kilcar squad: Piaris O’Donnell, Dara Byrne, Karl Lyons, Cian Carr, Oisin McShane, Eamon Byrne, Corey O’Donnell, Ciaran O’Donnell, Michael O’Donnell, Hugh O’Donnell, Ben Rafferty, Michael Gallagher, Ronan Haughey, Oran Hegarty, Charles Byrne, Daniel Byrne, Jack Hegarty, Ciaran Love, Liam McLaughlin, Alan Doherty.