Kevin Campbell and a family tradition still driving Setanta on 

From ace score-getter to goalkeeper is quite a transformation but Setanta’s veteran marksman Kevin Campbell is taking that transition in his stride. 

Now 37, for many years Campbell was the county’s most trusted free-taker and he lined out in the green and gold for 20 years.

He first played for Setanta seniors before he went to Feile na nGael when he was just 14, and has now clocked up 23 years in the black and green. 

The versatile Campbell only took up the job of custodian very recently but it fulfils a number of functions for the Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana PE teacher. 

Campbell is also part of the management team at the Cross and is a real commanding presence in nets. 

“We had two good keepers in the past few years in Ciaran Bellew and Mark Kane,” he explained. “Mark could not commit this year and Ciaran is away, so Niall Cleary got on to me and I ended up in nets.” 

Campbell has played in goals before on pretty useful Setanta seven-a-side teams in Dublin and that risky sweeping take on the role has proved a very useful skill now that he’s the senior No. 1.  

“It is a good position to read the game from and you can also give instructions and you can organise the backline as well. 

“I found last year you were instructing the boys where to go from the sideline but when you are actually in nets, it is a bit easier. 

“And you are more on top of the play, and you can see what’s happening in front of you as well. But it is definitely a challenge.” 

Campbell is going for his eighth county title at the weekend and, of course, comes from a family steeped in hurling. 

“Danny Cullen Snr. was a primary school principal from Carrigart who really started the hurling here and it was also his whole love of Irish culture which spurred that on. 

“My late father Eamon was from Loughgiel in County Antrim and he ended up in the Cross and he also helped. Eamon Farrell was such a big influence too. 

“My father missed seeing my brothers Mark and Paul growing up so when he had a chance to take senior teams, he took them. He had a good way with him and had a huge influence on hurling here.” 

The last time Setanta played St Eunan’s in a county final, back in 2021, the Cathedral Town men had a memorable victory. But Campbell does not accept that they may have caught his team on the hop. 

“I just think they outperformed us on the day, simple as that. They got the scores at the right time and they showed a bit more leadership than we did. 

“And then last year, in the semi-final, we were expecting St Eunan’s to get through. But the game was played on a tighter pitch in Convoy and Burt deserved their win on the night.” 

Setanta beat St Eunan’s narrowly in the Cross earlier this year, but Campbell dismisses this as mere “shadow boxing.” 

“You are figuring boys out, boys aren’t playing and boys are not fit. And look, Eunan’s have Kevin Kelly down there and he is a Hurling Development Manager for Ulster. 

“He is the best around and he has been working with them for the past two years. He has been very effective. Eunan’s have no real weak links to be fair to them. 

“They are all physically fit, good hurlers and are good on the ball. They play to a very set system and young Peter Kelly and Russell Forde are really coming good inside. 

“Then they have Brian McIntyre who, whenever things were looking tight last weekend, he came out of two or three breaks and carried the ball 40 yards, laid it off and his side got a score. He really is one of their big game players. 

“Sean McVeigh, Kevin Kealy, Matt Ahern, Conor O’Grady and Ryan Hilferty are all top- quality players. 

“Their half backline is very strong and that is something we are going to try to negate as much as possible.” 

Ahead of Saturday's SHC decider, Setanta will be minus Ruairi McLaughlin, who has a broken collar bone, while county star Sean Ward has damaged a tendon in his knee and will also probably be out. 

But Campbell had better news on Declan Coulter who is also 37 but still playing outstanding hurling. Coulter went off with a niggle to his leg in their semi-final drubbing of Buncrana but Campbell expects him to be lining out. 

“Declan will play, and he is so important on and off the pitch, he and Danny Cullen are just massive leaders. 

“Declan is in phenomenal shape. He got a bad thumb injury in May and usually boys who get injured put on weight, but he came back in even better shape. 

Michael Donaghue is not available, but the talented Oisin Marley could well be starting. 

“It is going to come down to character on Saturday evening and who wants it more. I think both teams will go all out for 60 minutes, and one will win, and one will lose.”