Kevin Kane wants Pettigo to push on now and be competitive in Junior A

“We have a good spirit in the camp and it was all wanted today,” said Pettigo veteran Kevin Kane after watching his side lift the cup to win the Donegal ‘C’ Championship.

The Border club had a point to spare at the finish (1-5 to 0-7) against MacCumhaill’s and there was never more than a couple of points between the sides.

Kane scored the only goal of the game towards the end of the first quarter to get Pettigo on the board and it proved a vital score.

“In the first half, I don’t know if it was nerves, but we were slow out of the blocks. We got to  half-time and got a good burst immediately after and kept the scoreboard ticking over.”

But it was the goal that really kick-started Pettigo. “Johnny (McManus) made a great run and you can see the scoreboard there, it was a goal that was badly needed because at the end MacCumhaill’s were pushing and looking for an equaliser. And I suppose with the last kick of the game it could have ended level.

“Listen, we’re there. Thanks be to God we don’t need a replay and the oul legs are not fit for that anymore,” says Kane. “We got over the line today anyway.”

Kane agreed that the two quick points after half-time with just over a minute on the clock was important. “Yeah because MacCumhaill’s got a purple patch after that and we were on the back foot again.”

Pettigo hold on to take Senior 'C' title in close encounter with MacCumhaill's

An early goal from Kevin Kane put them on their way but there was never much in this contest until the final whistle

When it was needed Pettigo had a real hero in John Carrigeen, who kicked three great second half.

“John Carrigeen kicked a few fine scores and they were badly needed and we did kick some ball away. There were maybe a wee bit of panicking stations, with MacCumhaill’s coming at us,” said Kane, who said there was a slight breeze in the first half. “The ball was carrying better in the second. We were sitting far back in the first half and the manager got us to regroup and push forward.”

The success follows winning a Junior B title five years ago and Kane hopes that lessons can be learned from 2018.

“Five years, the Junior B cup, it was great to get it. We went up to Junior A and had a couple of bad years in Junior A and we had to reset again. We were close to having no club at all.

“We got a new chairman in there in Barry Gallagher and we got a good environment there and we got lads out. Today is the result of it.

“Five years ago we probably wouldn’t have enough young lads to push it on. But now we have some good minors coming through and young (Ronan) Maher. Again we can learn from our mistakes from five years ago and hopefully we can push on and compete in Junior A,” said Kane.