We know there is more in the Gaoth Dobhair tank - Michael Carroll 

Michael Carroll says Gaoth Dobhair must improve now as they advance to the preliminary round quarter-finals or, last 12, of the SFC. 

On Saturday evening Carroll turned in another solid display as Ronan MacNiallais’ team edged out Dungloe 0-9 to 0-8. Gaoth Dobhair will now renew acquaintances with their local rivals in the knockout stages. 

“It was helter-skelter out there,” said Carroll. “They have a physical team and we were expecting a bit of a battle from them and it will be no different in a fortnight’s time.

“It is a tight pitch here over in Dungloe and you are never going to get anything easy in a derby match.” 

Dungloe hit an early purple patch and went 0-3 ahead, but Carroll was taking hope from the way his side responded. 

“Something similar happened up in Ballyshannnon a few weeks ago and we did not really respond but tonight, we hit back with four points in a row which was very encouraging. But there was nothing easy here. 

“We know Dungloe well and we never underestimated them as we are mates with many of them and they always bring a serious challenge. 

“They know all about our game and we know all about theirs so it was always going to be a dog fight. 

“We held the ball well in the second-half and that was encouraging too.” 

Gaoth Dobhair slipped up against Aodh Ruadh last time out so this win was pretty important. And they will again be missing the traveling Cian Mulligan and Daire Ó Baoill in the knockout stages. 

“They are big losses but we have some very good young reserves and our bench is pretty strong too. There is still a lot of football in Gaoth Dobhair”.