Sean McVeigh thriving as a ‘duel’ in the St Eunan’s crown 

When they talk about towering dual players, Sean McVeigh stands tall in any company. 

He is of equal importance to St Eunan’s hurlers as he is to their footballers, but the hurling gene is strong in his DNA. 

In Saturday’s SHC final clash with champions Setanta, he will be manning the centre half back slot for the Black and Amber, flanked by fellow county players Conor O’Grady and Ryan Hilferty. 

And while there is great rivalry between St Eunan’s and Setanta, there is also great respect. 

“I suppose that goes back to the fact that a lot of the lads have played with each other at county level for so many years,” explained McVeigh.  

“I feel there is massive respect in general in the hurling community in Donegal. And I think everybody wants to push the game forward, going in the one direction at the end of the day. 

“And that is why it is great to have a day of hurling on Saturday, where you have the three games including the Junior and Intermediate deciders on. It will be a great day out.” 

McVeigh agrees with Setanta’s Kevin Campbell that the Cross men’s earlier SHC victory over Eunan’s will have no bearing on Saturday’s big joust. 

“It’s now towards the end of the year and that’s when you’re at your peak - that is what we have been aiming for over the past few years. 

“So, we know the level we have to be at to match Setanta and get over them. If we get to a level we know we are capable of, we know we won’t be too far away.” 

But McVeigh is keenly aware of the massive challenge Setanta will bring. 

“Listen, they have ten or eleven county players and that is a huge boost to them. 

“Danny Cullen is probably the best hurler Donegal has ever had, Declan Coulter does it every day he goes out and Gerry Gilmore has put up massive scores in this championship. 

“Ruairi Campbell is also coming into form, they have matchwinners all over the pitch. 

“But at the same time, we have got quality players as well and we have a lot of county players and a lot of boys with county experience. We also have a squad with that experience of playing in county finals as well.” 

McVeigh added that a lot of the younger players were now at a good age in their mid 20s. 

“There is that experience and Brian McIntyre, Kevin Kealy and Cormac Finn are all just coming into their mid 20s, which is a great age. They are coming into the peak of their powers and will be there for quite some time. 

“We also have Peter Kelly and Russell Forde up front, and we know we have lads who can do damage. They may not be as well known as the Setanta lads, but they are great hurlers.

“We have a great spread of scorers and that has been very positive this year as we have not been reliant on frees. 

Virtually everyone has been chipping in with a few points and if we can get a few more adding to that at the weekend, it could make all the difference for us.” 

Of course, McVeigh, McIntyre, Kealy and Finn are also playing football at a high level, so how do they manage that tricky balancing act? 

“It’s not easy to be fair and we had two games last weekend. But it is brilliant to be able to do it while you can do it, so why not? 

“You could train all year round and not be playing games so we are not going to complain about being involved in big days.” 

He added that it shows the mutual respect that exists between hurling and football at the St Euna’s club. 

“It’s there between the players and the management too. Hurling has come up so much in the club and in the county and hurling. The game is in a place now in Donegal where it is respected.

“They know we take hurling very seriously and we get that chance to play it”. 

St Eunan’s of course landed a first SHC title in close to half a century two years ago when they shocked the red hot favourites, and dominant Donegal champions Setanta.  

McVeigh said: “It was nearly getting to a point where I was wondering if we were going to get there at all and created a massive buzz around the club and around the town. 

“There were so many men for so many years who had contributed to getting us there, people like Eugene Organ, Colm Breathnach and Denis Murphy. It was just great for them to see that day.”