Na Rossa adventure way beyond expectations - Adrian Sweeney 

Adrian Sweeney admits he really didn’t know what to expect when, after a five-year absence, he decided to lace up a pair of football boots once again. 

At 47 years of age, the former All-Star said his initial intentions were to do a bit of training along with Na Rossa and be as much of an assistance to Declan Bonner, along the line, as he possibly could. 

Sweeney forged admirably for so long with Dungloe but the rewards were scant as he missed out on the big prizes at SFC level. 

To fall over the championship line at this stage, albeit the Junior A one, had to feel as special as it did unexpected. 

As well as that, the Donegal legend is now looking forward to a first-ever provincial campaign as Na Rossa open in Letterkenny against Fermanagh counterparts Lisnaskea on Saturday.  

“I went in to do a bit of training, but not with any real plan of playing that much,” he said. “I just wanted to get a bit of training done, get a bit of weight off. And just being back in that group training fold, it was just so enjoyable right away. 

“I happened to run into Declan and I remember him asking me if I’d be interested in helping out, whatever that was I wasn’t too sure at the time. 

“But the way it’s transpired, you picked up that bit of momentum and it sort of got to a point where Decan felt I would be able to contribute on the field. And 10 and 15 minutes here and there since, it’s been brilliant. 

“It’s been enjoyable with no real pressure. We put so much into it at Dungloe and we just never got over the line. But for a club championship medal to come along now, at this stage, it was lovely. 

“Even looking about Na Rossa and what it means to the club people and the ones behind the scenes, it brought real joy to so many faces. It genuinely isn’t something I imagined would happen.

“It was the last thing on my mind when I came back in, winning a championship. But once you were immersed in it you seen the potential. 

“They’d visited the semi-final juncture a few times but to finally get over the line, the hope now is the confidence will be there to progress on again”.  

Sweeney, in his pomp, was the real deal. An All-Star winner in 2003, he was an amazing inside forward that held his own against the very best, at a time when Donegal, on the whole, just didn’t. 

Still, there had to be some trepidation going back in and attempting to get up to the mark that would be required. And when you’ve previously set such a high barometer, you’ve also a certain billing to live up to. 

“I didn’t see it that way,” he explained. “I genuinely didn’t set any real target, I just went with the flow. There is a real mixture of lads there. 

“With numbers at a premium at a club like Na Rossa, you’ve other lads who are well into their late 30s and early 40s and, at the other end of that, lads just in the door not long out of minor. 

“So there is a real buzz there and it’s enjoyable being back part of something like that. Winning something, a Junior A title, it’s a real achievement for the club. There was a real fulfillment to that as well.

“Declan had set that goal out for the team- he talked about it and when it comes to fruition it’s just really special. And listen, there is some real quality there too. Oisin Caulfield, Cillian Bonner, the McHughs, there is some real natural talent there.  

“Na Rossa nearly went to the wall, that’s no secret. But it was down to lads like Donal Trimble, John Paul McCready, Cormac McHugh and John Paul Breslin, lads that have hung around simply because they love the club so much. 

“It would have been a devastating blow had things folded. So it really was one extreme to the other in terms of the win over Moville. There are no egos. And the effort that’s going in is top level. 

“Declan drives the thing on hard and the great thing is they’ve got that bit of reward. Next year, they go up to Intermediate level and they’ll play Division 2 football. There are three Rosses teams in that league tier with Dungloe and Naomh Muire for company. 

“That will be great for the locality. It’ll bring real excitement and rivalry. And that’s only a good thing”.  

Na Rossa now have a chance to progress onto an Ulster semi-final, if they can topple their Erne opposition at the weekend. 

And borrowing a line from Leo McLoone’s book, Sweeney says it would be a lovely reward for Na Rossa supporters to have at least another fortnight of excitement and football to look forward to. 

“That’s the thing right now - there is real excitement ahead of the weekend. And the whole club, on and off the field, is gearing towards that right now. And Leo McLoone framed it really well last week when talking about the same thing. 

“It extends the season and everyone is talking about football. At the beginning of November, it’s amazing to still have football in front of you. 

“You can call it bonus territory if you want but, at the same time, the lads will throw the kitchen sink at this because they want to keep the whole thing going for as long as possible. Another two weeks, for such a small community, it would be amazing”.