Naomh Conaill the team to watch in JFC - Oliver Prunty

Naomh Padraig, Lifford’s one-point win over St Eunan’s in the Donegal Junior A Championship was the standout result in the first round ties. 

It was followed closely by Naomh Conaill’s draw with one of the pre-championship favourites, Na Rossa, on their home turf. The Glenties men also failed to convert a late penalty in that tie. 

However, the Naomh Conaill result in particular did not come as that big of a surprise to one former junior club manager.  

Oliver Prunty bossed St Mary’s, Convoy for a number of years in the JFC and was not at all surprised by the result when he looked through the Naomh Conaill lineup. 

“They have a number of senior championship winners in the team and they also have a number of good young footballers that have played for the county at underage level,” said the St Mary’s clubman. 

“They have a good mix of youth and experience and it will be interesting to see how they go in the championship. Like St Eunan’s, I gather it is effectively the club’s second team. 

“They are playing Naomh Padraig, Lifford, this weekend and though Lifford got a great result against St Eunan’s in their first round, I still fancy Naomh Conaill with home advantage to win.

“I really fancy Naomh Conaill to be a serious challenger for the  championship. 

“I saw the last 15 minutes of Lifford’s game with St Eunan’s and they came from behind to beat a very strong St Eunan’s side that, like Naomh Conaill, had a couple of senior championship winners in the team.” 

Naomh Padraig’s win was the club’s first win in the junior championship in 12 years since reaching the  2011 junior final. 

“It is a very competitive junior championship with a number of very good teams. We (St Mary’s) won it last in 2020 and  I would like to think we will be there or thereabouts again this year.

“Paddy Dolan is fully fit again after shaking off a couple of nagging injuries and Joe McGill, who  played for London in the Allianz National Football League and in the Connacht championship, is back on board.

“Joe didn’t play club championship football in London so he is back with us and is a noted scorer and is a huge plus for us.”

Prunty accepts if St Mary’s are to claim a second junior title in four seasons there are a lot of hurdles to cross. 

He cites last year’s beaten finalists, Carndonagh,  Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin and Moville as contenders, with Naomh Conaill and Na Rossa as all potential champions.

“I know Carndonagh were beaten by Moville last week. But Carndonagh were without Conor O’Donnell and he is a big player for them. He is Carndonagh’s Michael Murphy. 

“We are playing them this weekend in Convoy and the word is that Conor is going to be back for that game. 

“Moville, if  they don’t lose players to soccer, they will give it a rattle and then you have Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin. I think they are the best of the Inishowen teams.  

“They had a big win over Urris last Saturday evening and they were without Caolan McColgan. I believe he is expected to be back in the next week or so which will strengthen  their challenge. 

“You also have St Eunan’s, they have a strong junior team and if they can field their best team every week they will not be far away.

“Naomh Ultan are a good championship team too. But they’ve lost a lot of players. They are having their first outing this weekend when they play Naomh Colmcille.

“We beat Naomh Colmcille well in the  first round and they are going through a lean spell and I expect Naomh Ultan to get up and running with a win. 

“Urris are struggling at present. But they are a proud club and they face Na Rossa at home this weekend and I expect them to put it up to Na Rossa. 

“But given the players Na Rossa have gained in recent weeks  and with Declan Bonner manager they should get back to winning ways. Fair play to Declan there are not many junior clubs that have a former county manager coaching them.”