Gaoth Dobhair manager McFadden: 'Our aim was to get them down there and join in'

Manager Christopher McFadden said Gaoth Dobhair’s victory in the U-21A Championship was a reward for the commitment shown by his panel.

Gaoth Dobhair came out on top against Termon in a final that swung one way and then the other, but when referee Kevin McGinley called for time at the end of extra-time it was the Magheragallon team who were 3-7 to 2-8 in front. McFadden said it was his and his management team’s responsibility to get young men back involved in football.

“There’s a serious drop-off there from 17 to 21,” he said. “Every club needs to look at it. The amount of players that are being lost is ridiculous. I don’t know what has to happen there - does the grad have to be brought back to 18? I think it does. We took it on to get lads back interested in football and it will take the seniors and reserves on.

“Back when we played it was always wet and windy playing under-21s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a summer one. The conditions are there and we can’t help that. I’m just glad we came out on the right end.

“In 16 years we’ve won it twice and that’s not enough, but just to get the young fellas back involved. That was our main aim, to get them down there and join in. We started with 20, maybe 24, lads and to see it today, the joy, we had them all down at Magheragallon and it’s great to get something out of it.”

With so little between the sides down the years, it was always going to be close and two penalties - one for each side - in injury time really set the final alight.

“Going into the last 10 or so of real time I thought we had it won,” McFadden added. “The penalty went in and Termon kept at it. They’re so dangerous under a high ball. Fair dues to the ref, he called the right decision. We were full sure with the breeze it was going to be easier but it wasn’t easier. Going with the elements was harder.

“We knew it was going to be so narrow and whoever took their chances would win. Going into that second period of extra-time I thought we were under pressure but the boys stood firm and Eoin de Búrca got the goal. Goals are so important. There were five scored today but conditions were so bad out there. It was the same for both teams. Fair play to Termon and Gaoth Dobhair for both turning up.”