McShea's Say: Naomh Conaill must be positive and ruthless to reach Ulster final 

On Saturday evening Naomh Conaill face a tough test of their credentials when they play Derry and Ulster champions Watty Grahams Glen in the Ulster Club SFC semi-final. 

Glen are managed by Malachy O’Rourke - a bright operator who has brilliant managerial instincts. 

Very soon after his appointment as boss of the Derry outfit, he almost instantly created a championship-winning team. There seems to be an aura of invincibility about this Glen team if one were to give the bookies any credibility. 

O’Rourke, unlike most modern-day football managers, never tended in the direction of reducing his players to mere machine level. With O’Rourke, a combination of a very high level is a key feature of his teams play, and playing unselfishly is also a major factor. 

In recent times some commentators were talking about an extended spell of both Derry and Glen supremacy and in recent years they have played with athleticism, teamwork, disciplined tackling and point-scoring from distance. 

In their last matches both Glen and Naomh Conaill were not at their best, but their common denominator was that both teams prevailed while somewhat off-colour. In the modern game tactics evolve - but not much in recent years - the balance of power shifts, but O’Rourke will never put his team’s emphasis on power and speed at the expense of skill or individual expression.

 Even though this Glen team were unlucky to lose last year's All-Ireland club final to Kilmacud Crokes they will be very aware of Naomh Conaill’s ability and this game may well develop into a clash of cultures. Martin Regan’s team possesses a sheer need, which could prevail over Glen’s belief that their final loss last year to Kilmacud was an unfortunate blip and that their cuteness and innate virtuosity will restore the natural order. 

If Naomh Conaill are to get to the Ulster final it is imperative that they start this game well and do not let the Derry men dictate possession early in the match. They will be very aware that this is a major step up in standard from county championship level. 

Missed tackles and misplaced passes will be severely punished while missed opportunities and bad wides are always very costly in Ulster club football. Discipline of the highest order is also crucial because a red card will inevitably mean the loss of the game. 

A very big Donegal following would be a great boost to our county champions, and they deserve good support, as they showed in their last second quarter-final victory against Gowna. Donegal teams do play with great pride in the jersey. In the other semi-final on Sunday Scotstown are marginal favourites to beat Tyrone standard bearers Trillick and I believe that the Monaghan side, after beating Kilcoo, will not slip up this weekend.

Gender Balance in the GAA
Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne said that at GAA Special Congress in September - which proposed achieving and maintaining a gender balance in the membership of the Central Council Management Committee - is something to be strongly welcomed. With the Donegal GAA Convention just a few weeks away there is also much speculation about the possibility that the gender balance in the county executive may also be improved. 

Sinéad Breen has decided to join the race to become the new Donegal GAA PRO

Following a difficult year for Donegal GAA, both on and off the field, Sinéad Breen is keen to accentuate the positives in regard to the potential that exists both within and outside of the county

I believe that one definite female candidate is Sinead Breen, a member of St Mary’s Convoy club, who also is involved with the Setanta Hurlers. Sinead has held an array of positions in Donegal GAA circles, and she has an infectious enthusiasm for all things related to the Donegal GAA family. 

The news that Damian Diver is to seek the post of Coaching Officer will be greeted with much acclaim by a legion of Donegal fans. Damian was one of Donegal’s best players at inter-county level in a long and distinguished career in the green and gold, while he was an ever-present for his club Ardara.  

Damian was also a valued member of Jim Mc Guinness’s backroom team in 2014. Apart from his excellent CV Damian’s infectious personality is ideally suited to making a significant role in developing Donegal football.