MacCumhaills' Eoin Gallen ‘relieved’ to get vital two points against Killybegs 

Eoin Gallen admits that MacCumhaills were breathing a huge sigh of relief following their 1-12 to 0-12 SFC win over Killybegs in Ballybofey on Saturday evening. 

The Twin Towns side and their Fishermen counterparts had both lost their opening round tussles - MacCumhaills away to Gaoth Dobhair and Killybegs at home to champions Naomh Conaill. 

So both sides were already feeling the pressure going into the weekend. After a subdued and cautious first-half, which the hosts edged 0-4 to 0-3, the game burst into life on the early resumption. 

With Killybegs setting the early pace there, Gallen admits the shackles simply had to come off their end as well. In the end, Joel Bradley Walsh’s 41st minute goal proved decisive in this back and forth duel.  

“We were probably cautious of the breeze - we didn’t want to get turned over and maybe hit on the counter,” the MacCumhaills custodian explained on that sleepy first-half spectacle.  

“We were patient and just kept men behind the ball early on. It mightn't have been a great watch but Killybegs were that well set up we just had to be careful. 

“The second-half then, it went end to end. They threw caution to the wind and went for it. It could have went either way but the goal was massive - the real difference in the end”.

Even though he registered five points, Cillian Gildea could have been reasonably happy with how he restricted Osin Gallen to just two overs from play over the hour. But with MacCumhaills other Twin Terror Walsh nailing 1-6, that duo takes some stopping. 

“Joel’s frees are unbelievable,” Gallen said. “His range is right out there, 50 to 60 yards. Any team would love to have him. To be fair to Hugh McFadden, he nailed a few really big ones as well.

“We’re lucky to have the two lads and Kevin McCormick inside. It’s a serious threat and hard to watch. Kevin has been carrying a knock but came back in there tonight. So that’s a positive”.

MacCumhaills now have to wait until later on this evening, Sunday, to find out who comes their way in week three. 

“It’s a step into the unknown now - what's coming our way next week. That’s exciting too. We’ll just have to wait on the draw.  I think you really have to target the first two games. If you don’t pick up a win there you could be in real trouble. 

“That’s why we’re really happy to get over the line this evening. It’s a little bit of relief really. We played alright in Magheragalon last week. But we kind of died towards the end.

“So this was a big one. Hopefully, now we can really kick on”.