SFC quarter-final is Gaoth Dobhair's aim, first and foremost - Eamon McGee 

Eamon McGee says it’s all about making it through to the last eight of the SFC and taking it from there after that.

Gaoth Dobhair have four points from three games and have already booked their place in the preliminary quarter-final.

Having helped his side secure a 1-10 to 0-8 win over neighbours Cloughaneely, in Magheragallon, Gaoth Dobhair are now looking forward to another neighbourly tussle in Round 4 in the form of Dungloe.  

“After the Cloughaneely win, we are on four points and are through to the preliminary quarter-final at least. But it is all about getting to the quarter-final no matter how you get to it.” 

Gaoth Dobhair turned in a big first-half performance against Cloughaneely and led 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time. Cian Mulligan scored the goal and they also had another three-pointer ruled out for a square ball infringement, in the opening.  

But despite having wind advantage and also playing downhill, they only added two more points in the second half to Cloughaneely’s three.  

“We were happy with the first half; we probably could have been further ahead. The square ball wasn’t a square ball but you will get those calls.

“But our performance dipped in the second-half and that would worry us, especially after coming off a bad result against Aodh Ruadh where a few moments of madness cost it.

“But the important thing is we got the win because we had a very young team out there today. 

“It will be different as the thing progresses but the good thing is we got the two points”. 

It has been a mixed season for Gaoth Dobhair so far and McGee agrees their performances have lacked consistency. 

“It has been an up and down season and it has been about getting a settled team.

“The reality is we are missing a lot of quality players like Daire Ó Baoill, Odhran McFadden Ferry and Michael Carroll is just getting back into it and he needs a few more games. 

“Daire and Odhran are in Australia and unless Jim McGuinness puts out an SOS to them they won’t be back for the club championship. 

“We still have a lot of quality. We still have Odhran MacNiallais on the field. We still have Niall Friel on the field and we have a lot of good young lads. 

“We have a good minor team and there are a number of good underage teams coming through. So the further we go in the championship, the better for bringing those young players on.”