Roulette nature to SFC quarter-final draw adds real spice to preliminary clashes - Gary McDaid 

Gary McDaid believes the blind avenue in front of this weekend’s SFC preliminary quarter-final combatants means all eight sides will throw the kitchen sink at their respective encounters. 

The Donegal Competition Controls Committee (CCC) have released their fixtures with three of the contests down for Saturday evening and one to be decided on the Sunday. 

And with the draw for the outright last-eight Dr Maguire chasers scheduled to then take place later that same evening, three-time winner with Glenswilly, McDaid, says there will be potential and indeed surmountable opposition there that could unlock an otherwise unlikely door through to the last four. 

“Definitely - I think it’s a massive incentive. The CCC deserves a pat on the back for this element to the SFC structure. Because, otherwise, we’d have four teams finished up for the season. It keeps it really interesting. 

“Remember back to the county All-Ireland series, these games, at this juncture, turned out to be some of the best of the entire season. I think we could be in for some cracking games this weekend. 

“There is nothing there jumping out at me that says ‘complete one-way traffic’. They should all go down the home straight. And the top-four will be very interested spectators this weekend. But because of the open draw, they’re going to have to travel around all four games. 

“I think it’s created a nice buzz. I’m a fan of it - it’s a good way of promoting our club games”. 

In a week that the CCC has taken a real battering in regards to how they’ve gone about their business and, in particular, last weekend; McDaid says the Donegal fixtures committee needs to be cut some slack. 

He states that without a doubt, that role is the most difficult in the county. 

“It’s the hardest job in Donegal GAA. Others have come in and tried it but quickly moved on. The way it’s been the last number of years is as smooth as it’s ever been, I feel. Yes, there are bumps in the road, like last weekend. 

“But by the law of averages, I think it’s been pretty solid the last few years. On the whole, it’s been very fair to all clubs. 

“It must be a nightmare to organise. I’d just say, be careful what you wish for. Because there have been others that have come into that seat but moved on after a year because it’s simply overwhelmed them”. 

First up on Saturday in the battle to progress into the outright last-eight is the derby meeting between McDaid’s own Glenswilly and Glenfin. That tie is penciled in for O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny with a 2.30pm throw-in. 

With three wins from their four group outings, Padraig Bonner’s men were really unfortunate not to make the quarter-finals. Their victories were earned in succession over Ardara, St Naul’s and Dungloe. 

Indeed, even in that one loss, they ran reigning champions Naomh Conaill close. 

Glenfin, on the other hand, were on the absolute periphery of qualification for the final 12, suffering three losses and collecting just a single win, against St Michael’s, first day out. 

“From Glenswilly’s point of view, they’re going to have to err on the side of caution here. Neutrals will see this maybe as a Glenswilly win. But I know well that it’s a local derby. And in that case, form goes out the window. 

“I expect Glenfin to have a real cut at this. There won’t be a kick of the ball in it. There is a healthy rivalry there, it’s not nasty but there will be a championship edge. The Glen will be disappointed with how they finished in Glenties. 

“They played for the first 15 minutes but only scored three points in the remaining three-quarters of an hour. The big learning there is that Naomh Conaill mentality - the one where they believe they’re never beaten. 

“That’s a lesson there that every single other club could look at Glenties and take. It’s a brilliant quality. They were down by five against Eunan’s, six against the Glen and they simply pressed the reset button. 

“Glenfin, they finished on just two points and other sides with that total ended up in the relegation scrap. With the sad passing of Gareth Martin, they’re still probably trying to process that. 

“There is more to life than football and it really puts that into perspective. There is a big connection there between the clubs and Gareth’s dad, Francie, has managed in the Glen for years. Gareth will be well remembered this weekend for sure. 

“Calling it, I still think Glenswilly will just get over the line but it’ll only be by one or two points. 

Moving onto 4pm at the very same venue, Ardara and Cloughaneely will tangle. Damien Devaney’s team picked up two wins from four, against Glenfin and Milford while their reversals came at the hands of Glenswilly and St Eunan’s. 

Cloughaneely, with an identical record, accounted for Milford and Four Masters but were defeated by Kilcar and Gaith Dobhair. 

“Ardara have probably been in the relegation play-offs for the last four years so this is significant for them. The big thing for them now is to back that progress up and make the last eight. 

“They’ve been hit really hard by emigration and lads moving away. I just feel Cloughaneey’s trajectory is just going a different way. They have a freshness after their Intermediate win. 

“They got a good win over a youthful and similarly energetic Four Masters last time out when they really needed it. Jason McGee, watching the Boston final on the stream, his performance was just awesome.

“I’ve worked with him in the past and he really has every tool in his locker. I just feel Cloughaneely will pull away in the final quarter. I think they’ll have four or five to spare. 

Finally, on Saturday evening in Glenties, MacCumhaills clash with Four Masters. The Twin Towns men won two, drew one and lost once in their group campaign. Their wins were sourced against Killybegs and Glenfin while the points were shared with Kilcar in Round 4. 

Their only blip was suffered in Magheragallon, first time out, as Gaoth Dobhair took a convincing win. Four Masters took three points from a possible 12 on offer in the group stage. Their victory was earned against Dungloe while their other point was taken in a drawn encounter against St Michael’s. 

Their losses were dished out by Aodh Ruadh and Cloughaneely. 

“Four Masters, just like Ardara, will be delighted, first and foremost, that they stayed out of the relegation spots. They’ve been hovering around that same position as well for a few years, simply because they’ve gone through a massive transition. 

“I think that overhaul is now beginning to balance itself out which is exciting for Four Masters. They’ll still see themselves very much as a work in progress. Their underage structures are the best in Donegal right now so they’re only going to improve. 

“MacCumhaills have kind of flattered to deceive in recent seasons. There has been this hope that they’re going to break through. But now might well just be their time. Like, the two lads inside, Oisin Gallen and Joel Bradley Walsh, that’s a serious pair to have together on the one team. 

“I’m stating the obvious but it’s unrivalled anywhere else in the county. So that’s a unique string to their bow. Four Masters have some serious scheming to do. The two of them are over six foot, they are athletic, powerful and can both break tackles.

“They are two giants that can also fetch and rotate. They both score, they land big personal hauls and they both hit frees. There isn’t much either can’t do. And again, like Masters, MacCumhaills had a number of successful minor and U-21 sides in recent seasons that will add to things moving forward.

“People will probably think it’s a ridiculous statement to say they could go on and win a SFC real soon. But I’m not one of those people. If you have two of the best forwards in the county, two lads that can play it any way you want or need to, that’s an unbelievable platform. 

“I look back at Dungloe over the years, how they never won a SFC with Tony Boyle and Adrian Sweeney inside, I’ll never know. So MacCumhaills don’t want to be another statistic like that. It probably is a little early for them this year, but for sure, down the line, they should be seriously aiming for that.

“In the here and now, I still think they’ll get over the line against Masters with four or five to spare on the scoreboard”.  

Lastly, on Sunday, centre stage seems to have been given to Gaoth Dobhair’s 4pm meeting with Dungloe at the Banks. This warring derby pair played out a fractious encounter at Rosses Park in Round 4 that the visitors just about shaded. 

And there is no doubt some residual bad blood, as well as progress to the quarter-finals, will impact both teams’ motivation here. Dungloe ended up in eleventh spot in the final group standings, with a record of three losses and one win. 

As well as their local rivals, Dungloe also came up short in outings against Four Masters and Glenswilly. Their sole win came back in Round 1 against Milford.  

“The Banks will see plenty of people through the turnstiles on Sunday. This should be tasty. There was a bit of turmoil and niggle in the last game. Some of the off-the-ball shenanigans was as interesting as what was happening on it. 

“Dungloe will have one or two lads back in, I’d say, like Mark Curran who had hamstring trouble. They’ll need to get 60 minutes out of him here. Young (Ryan) Connors is going as well as anyone out there. 

“His placed ball kicking has been exemplary as well. Gaoth Dobhair, and it’s been well highlighted, they have been decimated by emigration. Cian Mulligan is now gone as well. 

“That’s another intercounty player gone as well as Daire Ó Baoill and Odhran McFadden Ferry. Michael Carroll, his return has been massive and I’m delighted to see it. People might forget just how good he is.

“He is such a raw talent. I mean that in the sense so much comes naturally to him. He has power, pace and can run the ball amazingly well. Funnily enough, I think he would suit what I think Jim McGuinness will look to bring to Donegal on his return as manager. 

“He’s still a very young man. I remember the role Ryan Bradley played at wing forward for Jim. Carroll fits that mould. So it’ll be very interesting to see how he gets on. Micahel has a massive engine and he’d thrive in that kind of role. 

“He’s a brilliant footballer and can also kick points. If Gaoth Dobhair do get over the line it wouldn’t surprise me that it’s because Michael grabs the game by the scruff of the neck. They’ll pin a lot of their hopes on him on Sunday. 

Still, looking at a potential upset, if you want to call it that, I think it could be here more than anywhere else. I have a sneaky feeling Dungloe might do it by the bare minimum. Eamon McGee and Francie Friel will probably not like me for saying it but I think Dungloe will do it”.