Top four is the main aim for Naomh Conaill - Marty Boyle 

Naomh Conaill warhorse Marty Boyle says Naomh Conaill are exactly where they want to be going into Round 3 of the SFC. 

The reigning champions drew 0-9 apiece with main rivals St Eunan’s on Sunday - a contest where the mercury spiked on numerous occasions. 

Martin Regan now brings his team to Milford on Saturday where they’ll be big favourites to pick up the win as they remain on course for an automatic spot in the last eight. 

“We’re in a really good position now with three points,” Boyle said. “Another win should see us through. The top four is still on hopefully. The reward there would be a free week going automatically into the quarter-final and avoiding that preliminary knockout round. That’s attractive for obvious reasons”. 

Naomh Conaill found themselves 0-7 to 0-2 behind at the break in Davy Brennan Memorial Park against Eunan’s at the weekend. But Boyle said no one was panicking in the Glenties changing room at the midpoint. 

“The breeze was a lot trickier than it looked. Ciaran Thomspon had three frees in a row out on the left and you just knew it was difficult when he was having bother. It definitely made a difference. It was a good response.

“That said, we were poor in the first-half. The intensity levels weren’t there. And St Eunnan’s got the first score after the restart as well to make it a six-point game. In fairness to St Eunan’s, they were well up for it. 

“It was a really good battle there. Eunan’s might feel disappointed they didn’t push on and win it. We missed one or two as well - we had a goal chance as well. They also got in behind us as well so maybe the draw is the fairer result”. 

Jim McGuinness was an interested spectator at Sunday’s high-profile clash. And Boyle - who played under his fellow clubman during his first spell in the Donegal hotseat - says his old teammate will get the best out of the county’s senior footballers in 2024. 

“Yeah - and there are plenty of young players in the county that will be aiming to put their hands up. It’s exciting times - it’s a brilliant appointment. One thing for certain is that he’ll get the best out of them As a supporter it’ll be very interesting to see how things go now”.