Letterkenny Gaels leading the charge in Division 3

Letterkenny Gaels are leading the way in the early stages of Division 3, and manager Aidy Glackin is hopeful they can push for promotion.

The Glebe men were relegated to Division 3 and the Junior Championship in 2024, but they are beginning to rebuild under their management.

It’s a second year in charge for Glackin, who has Conor Cunningham as coach, with Frank Carberry, Shane Gildea, and David Cafferkey also in the backroom team.

And the manager feels they are much better positioned than twelve months ago, when they were just finding their feet with a new squad.

“The big thing in the league for us last year was that most of the teams we were playing, we didn’t really know.

“We had a very small squad last year, and we were missing the likes of Ronan Frain. Then, when you get a couple of injuries, as every team does, we struggled for numbers.

“We were getting used to the players and they to us, but we felt leading into the championship that it was clicking and we did well for the rest of the season.

“We’re a year down the line, and it takes time for players to adjust to what Conor and I wanted to do.”

Squad numbers have increased, and after wins over Urris and Naomh Ultan, they picked up a third league win against Pettigo on Sunday.

Missing a couple of their big hitters didn’t impact them with that extra depth in the squad, and the youthful Gaels are going well, with bodies to come back in.

“This year we have six of last year’s minor team in the squad, and they’re all good quality, which has made a big difference.

“Cathal Doherty and Callum McGilloway were county minors last year, then Michael Sweeney, Killian Sampson, and Dylan Singaroyan all played at the weekend, then Ronan Cullen is also in the squad but wasn’t available.

“Eight of our starting team from Sunday are Under-21, then the likes of Liam McAlary, Shay Doherty, Brian Diver, Ryan Graham, and Diarmuid Ó Cathail are all mid-20s.

“It’s a very young team, but what may be a lack of experience is made up for in fitness and pace, and Conor has taken them on to a great level, and they’ve really bought into it.

“Ronan Frain and Conor Browne were injured at the weekend, but we’re hoping they’ll be back this weekend, and then we’ll have Sean McDonagh and Conor McBrearty rejoining the squad over the next couple of weeks.

“It is year two, so we have to see an improvement from the players themselves.

“We finished fifth in the league last year, so we have to be aiming for the promotion spots this year.

“We got to the final in the championship, and we probably didn’t do ourselves justice in the first half, so it will be a big target down the line, but promotion is the target for now.”

The Gaels have had a good start to Division 3 this season and are the only team on six points after three games, while St Naul’s also have a 100% record with two wins from two.

They remain the only two unbeaten sides so far, while Gaels’ opponents this weekend, Moville, sit in third after a loss to St Naul’s before back-to-back wins over Robert Emmets and Na Rossa.

It may not be like last year, where 18 points wasn’t enough to get automatic promotion, but Glackin and his side want to keep getting points on the board as early as possible.

“We entered the Ulster League to play some really good teams. We played Stewartstown in the final and gave them a really good game so that gave the boys confidence going into the league.

“From our perspective, we’re playing eight or nine weeks in a row, so it is busy, but with the extra depth in the squad, we can afford to rotate, and everyone is getting game time.

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“We have been lucky with injuries, but with the depth, it makes a massive difference if you have the players to come in and replace them because every team in Division 3 can cause you problems if you’re short a few men.

“The scoreline against Urris looks comfortable, but it was anything but that. There was a ten-minute spell where we just couldn’t get the ball, and we were lucky to get a goal before half-time to get us back into the game.

“Against Naomh Ultan, we got a goal late on, and until that, they were playing really well. Pettigo at the weekend, we just got the goals in the first half with the wind, and there was nothing between the two teams other than that.

“They’re all improved from last year, and they’re all good sides.

“Moville last year, we only beat them by three in the league and six in the championship with a late goal. They were brilliant against Na Rossa on Saturday, and they are strong and physical, and Christy Hegarty, Malachy McDermott, and Danny Murphy are as good as anything at our level.

“I was impressed by them, and they’re under new management.

“Last year, Naomh Bríd only lost two games last year to Red Hugh’s and Burt, who went up, and they lost the play-off, so it shows how tight it can be. We talked after Sunday that we have momentum after winning three games, but Moville have won their last two, so we need to prepare for them, or we’ll be found out.”