McShea’s Say: This Naomh Conaill side simply don’t do complacency 

Rivalry is defined as the “against each other” spirit between two competing sides. 

On Sunday, armies great and small from both Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair will converge on MacCumhaill Park, bedecked in their club colours, to support their team in a battle for the honour and pride and very soul of their club. 

At a county final, there are few sounds as sweet as the final whistle when things have gone your team’s way, but few sounds as terrible as the sound of your rivals’ cheers of joy when they haven’t. 

Sporting rivalries are fuelled by the passion of players and supporters alike and by the fact that it can seem sometimes like nothing else matters but what happens on the field of play, that nothing can come to any good unless your team does well. 

For a sporting occasion to be wholly immersive, there must be a sense of us and them, of absolute and total polarisation. When I played football, I was fortunate to be part of a team that qualified for ten county finals. 

Nine were played but one final never took place because of a fallout over the venue. St Josephs were to meet MacCumhaills in that final, but the clubs could not agree on a venue and the final never took place. 

The two finals I remember were the two that we lost, and even though we won seven championships the defeats were very hard to take. Playing with one’s club is a very special honour. 

You are playing with school pals, your friends, and neighbours and your parents get great pleasure out of supporting your own parish or region. 

Friendships forged when playing with one’s club are life-enduring, and as the years go by those relationships seem to become even more special and relevant. 

The Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair players who are in action on Sunday will no doubt agree with that observation. 

I still don’t feel that this year’s championship has yet caught fire, Sunday’s teams are in this final on merit. 

Gaoth Dobhair have shown considerable improvement in every outing while Naomh Conaill, in beating St. Eunan’s in their semi-final, were just themselves, rapacious and disciplined in defence, with a hypnotic quality about their passing, movement off the ball, and their point scoring.

Gaoth Dobhair were impressive in defeating a young MacCumhaills outfit in their semi-final, when they scored three goals. Glenties’ wonderful consistency in recent years sees them favourites to hold on to their title this Sunday. In fact they are quoted at odds of 8/15 while Gaoth Dobhair are available at 2/1.

The odds on the game finishing in a draw are 7/1.That seems to suggest that Naomh Conaill should win this final with a bit to spare. But I believe that this will be a close game with little between the sides at the final whistle. 

The individual battle between Anthony Thompson and Odhran MacNiallais will have a big bearing on where the Dr. Maguire Cup lands on Sunday evening. 

In a long and distinguished career playing for Glenties and Donegal, Thompson has been a rock of consistency. Statisticians may say that there were more glamorous players, but for sheer honest-to-goodness endeavour year after year, match after match, Thompson’s record will stand up to the closest scrutiny. 

MacNiallais is a different type of player. He has good hands, uncanny control, and matchless kicking ability, while his reading of the game is flawless. 

I’m looking forward to this final and I believe that Naomh Conaill will prevail, but with little to spare. They simply don’t do complacency at this stage of matters. 

I would hope to see an open game of football in this final, but I will not hold my breath about that possibility. 

It would also be a real bonus to see some of the players from both sides show the kind of form which would see them included in the Donegal squad for the league campaign.

Erne Gaels

Next Sunday our neighbours across the border Erne Gaels, Belleek, contest their county final when they meet renowned championship battlers Derrygonnely in Brewster Park Enniskillen. 

After defeat in last year’s final, this Belleek team will be anxious to make up for that disappointment. 

And while Derrygonnelly will go into the game as favourites Erne Gaels, if they play to their potential, are good enough to bring the championship back to the pottery town.

Johnny Sexton 

The Rugby World Cup saw the Irish side do the country proud with the excellence of their play before the narrow defeat to New Zealand on Saturday night. 

The retirement of Irish captain Johnny Sexton, the greatest player ever to wear the Irish jersey, sees one of sport’s most compelling characters and brilliant players end a glittering career at 38. He will be incredibly difficult to replace.