Glenswilly looking for an improvement on last year, simple as that - Padraig Bonner

Padraig Bonner says Glenswilly’s main aim this term, in the SFC, is to go one better than last term’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Naomh Conaill. 

Glenswilly could and perhaps should have had Naomh Conaill’s number that day in O’Donnell Park but Martin Regan’s men, like they so often do, somehow found a way as wasteful Glenswilly were left to ponder what might have been. 

Almost a full calendar year down the line, and with paths crossing once again in SFC battle, it was a similar enough story at Davy Brennan Memorial Park. 

Two huge opening half three-pointers from Michael Murphy, including one from the penalty spot, helped propel the visitors 2-2 to 0-2 clear at the start of the second quarter. 

Still, the reigning champions simply don’t do panic and by the midpoint, the Boys in Blue had eased themselves back into within a point at 2-3 to 0-8. 

Glenswilly traded blows with their hosts for the majority of the second period but Naomh Conaill kept the visitors at a two-point arm’s reach in that same time. 

And with Charles McGuinness and Mark McDevitt hitting closing efforts, Glenties eventually crossed the line with four to spare at 0-15 to 2-5. 

Speaking after, Glenswilly boss Bonner admitted Naomh Conaill’s quality and experience is just so difficult to suppress for a complete hour. 

“A bit like last year, we left them in the game at that stage,” said Bonner on squandering that early half-dozen point lead. 

“The tempo was up and we probably looked to keep at it instead of maybe looking to take the sting out it in the first-half. 

“But, genuinely, Naomh Conaill are a top side. I know we say that a lot but they’re so good at what they do. They just kept plugging away, they didn’t panic.  That’s the mark of real experience. 

“Martin Regan has them set up brilliantly and they’re so fluid in all of that. They have a belief, and it probably comes from being so successful, but they just seem to know they’re going to get back in the game. 

“We probably needed a bigger gap at half-time. That said, I still think we acquitted ourselves very well in the second-half. It was a grind for most part but they managed to tag on a few late scores - they’re such strong finishers”. 

Hanging with the big boys and getting over the line are two completely different things and Bonner to his credit, said his side took little satisfaction from putting it up to the champions on their own patch. 

“Erm, not really,” he said on that front. “Look, we aimed to win the game. That’s the attitude the lads take out to the field every day. We’re leaving here disappointed not to win. We probably just didn’t take the right options in the second-half. 

“We rushed moments, took potshots from areas where we probably had men off the shoulder in the first period. But those things, those shortcomings, they can all be fixed. It’s down to us in that sense. And that’s still a positive if you look at it the right way”. 

Next up for Glenswilly in the preliminary round quarter-final is a derby tussle with neighbours Glenfin. The sides met last year in the group stage with Bonner’s men picking up a 2-14 to 2-9 win at Pairc Naomh Columba. 

This time out, the contest will take place at a neutral venue and Bonner feels that is unfair given the fact Glenswilly finished fifth in the standings and Glenfin much further back, on the absolute periphery of qualification, in twelfth spot. 

“It’s been back-to-back but this is a chance to breathe and take stock,” he said on the two weeks’ respite immediately in front of his team.  And we’ve plenty to look at. 

“It’s not home advantage for us either. I think it should be, for the sides from fifth to eighth. But we’ll just get on with it.

“Even Naomh Conaill there, they’ll also be wondering what’s the reward for making the top four? It’s a small thing but I think there needs to be a carrot of some description there. That’s not a criticism. 

“And there isn’t a huge pile wrong with the format. So maybe that’s just something that can be looked at again, for next year. I mean we all went into the weekend’s games with something on the line and that’s a good thing”.  

He added: “It’s a derby, it’ll be a tough outing. We played Glenfin last year and it was a real grind right up until the last quarter of an hour where we maybe pulled away. They are a strong and proud club. 

“They’ve had a difficult few weeks with the sad passing of Gareth Martin. But both sides will know each other inside out. We’ll go into it knowing it’ll be a battle. We want to progress every year. 

“The quarter-final last year, we haven’t even reached that mark yet. So we have to aim for that first and foremost”.