Rory Kavanagh not happy with St Eunan’s performance in loss to Naomh Conaill

Rory Kavanagh admits that his St Eunan’s side didn’t deliver liker he would have liked in their 0-9 to 1-5 Division 1 league final loss to Naomh Conaill. 

In a drab enough first half, Martin Regan’s charges went in 0-4 to 0-2 in front. Matters picked up somewhat in the second period but it was a game that not only lacked some of the sides’ best players, but it also lacked any real bite. 

The mercury did spike in the fourth and final quarter. But even though a late Eoin McGeehin penalty reduced arrears to one deep in injury time, time was soon signalled as Glenties deservingly held on for the win.  

“I wouldn’t use the lack of first choice players as an excuse,” said Kavanagh right away.  “The players that went out over the white line would be good enough to get the job done. But we wouldn’t be happy with the performance or how we played. 

“Naomh Conaill, in fairness to them, they were dominant in a lot of areas. They were squeezing really high in the first-half and we found it hard to get out against them. It’s something we’ll have to look at. 

“We’ll be playing them again in two week’s time. A lot of the lads mightn’t have known the level during the league but they now know it”. 

Kavanagh felt his side simply took the wrong option on too many occasions and it left it much easier than it should have been for Naomh Conaill to grab their scores. 

“We contributed to it by not putting our attacks dead. We’d far too many lads taking the wrong shot selection or just picking the wrong pass. It’s a learning curve - that was a good Naomh Conaill side”.

He added: “We’re happy enough with things. We’re gearing towards championship but it would have been nice for the less experienced guys to get over the line today. A few of them wouldn’t have ever played in a league final. Or have that medal 

“But it’s always about championship and now we’re going to turn the complete focus to St Naul’s”.