Naomh Conaill's Waide has no intention of hanging up the boots

Naomh Conaill’s journey for 2023 will take them to Healy Park, Omagh on Saturday evening (5.30 pm) to take on reigning Ulster club champions, Glen’s Watty Grahams from Maghera in Derry and it will see Eoin Waide play his 104th club championship game for Naomh Conaill.

While Waide has not been a first choice player this year, partially due to injury, he has been the first port of call for manager, Martin Regan, when the Naomh Conaill game is flagging throughout the year.

One of six players on the panel now that has 100 club championship games to his name, Waide has been a great servant since arriving in the parish from Loughgiel in Co Antrim in 1995. With Loughgiel being solely a hurling club, his arrival in Glenties has been phenomenal.

Apart from his seven senior championship medals, his medal cabinet holds two Donegal minor club championship medals; three U-21 club championship medals; two Donegal senior league medals; three County Gaeltachts and two All-Ireland Gaeltachts - that’s just with Naomh Conaill.

At county level he has Ulster Minor League, Ulster Minor Championship, Ulster Senior Championship and National League Division 2 medals as well as two Dr McKenna Cup medals.

Waide was Donegal minor captain when Donegal won their 4th Ulster minor title in 2006.

He did play some hurling at underage level in the county up until he was 16. 

“Aidan Hennessy in Na Rossa had a gang of us playing. Leo (McLoone), Dara (Gallagher), all them boys.  He was a Cork man.

“I played for Donegal in the Golden Cow games up in Belfast; I was playing hurling and football on the one day there for Donegal,” said Waide.

The talented youngster was a county minor in 2005 and 2006 and has been playing for Naomh Conaill at senior level since 2005 - a total of 19 seasons - and there is no sign of it ending any time soon.

He was involved with Donegal at senior level on either side of the All-Ireland winning year of 2012.

“John Joe Doherty was the first man that brought me in. Then Jim (McGuinness) took me back in and then Rory (Gallagher) took me in in 2016

"I was just knocking about the panel. I didn't have that wile interest in it,” said Waide.

But one thing is for sure, Waide has been a consistent ever present for Naomh Conaill from the start.

"In all the championships that we won (before this year), I was always wearing the No 7. This year was a funny year because of injury.

He joined the Naomh Conaill 100-club when Naomh Conaill overcame Kilcar in the championship quarter-final against Kilcar in Fintra this year in September.

"I didn't even know about it, to be honest, and then there was a wee presentation after the game. Muriel (Hegarty) would have kept the records. We knew about Marty (Boyle) last year but we didn't really know about it this year. You would be thinking about games you should have played between injuries and stuff.

"Brendy (McDyer) made the 100 in Cavan but (Stephen) McGrath, the goalkeeper, has the best record of the lot. He started in 2006 and hasn't missed a single second of any championship game since. It is some record.

"He doesn't say much, a calm enough fella.”

The others who make up the Naomh Conaill 100 club are Leo McLoone and Anthony Thompson.

So what makes it so enjoyable and career-extending?

"I suppose it's the championship success and good teams. All the boys you grew up with, a good handful are still there. You wouldn't like to be the man who was leaving.

"I suppose we are getting close to it at this stage, but whenever there is a chance of winning something, you don't want to leave. You don't want to be missing out.

"Ah but it's great. The football is enjoyable too, the whole set up, being about the place. And (Martin) Regan has been about the place now for a while too. He takes in different men at different stages to freshen things up and everyone he brings in seems to work.”

And it looks as if there is a ready made production line at the club and Waide is helping out three as well, being part of the backroom team with the U-21s this year. Among those who are putting their hand up are the Roartys. 

"There are three of them there. I suppose Finbarr is training with the seniors but cannot play until next year. Conor and Sean are both on the panel. They are hardy boys and are unlucky not to be playing. There is a good panel there but it's hard to move anyone on that team at the minute, to be fair.”

Waide has been involved with Naomh Conaill on all their journeys in Ulster from 2005 until the present day.

"The first year, Mayobridge beat us up there (in Newry) in '05. It was really bonus territory for us that year, our first Ulster championship. We were missing (John) Gildea that day, he was away in Australia. He was a massive loss for us as he nearly carried us over the line in '05.

"We've been in two finals since then, but last year was a big disappointment in the first round against Cargin.

"We got a bit of luck last week ourselves. That's just football. You'll take it whenever it's on your side,” said Waide, pointing to the late goal by Kevin McGettigan, which got them through by a point against Gowna of Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park just over a week ago.

They know that they will have to improve again when they meet the Ulster champions, Glen Watty Grahams on Saturday. It will be the first ever meeting between the sides.

"Obviously, it will be our first team meeting them but you want to be playing against the best and they are Ulster champions and were in the All-ireland club final.

"I don't know a wile lot about them really. We obviously know their main players who play with Derry. It's good to be able to test ourselves. We will not be fearing them, we will go in confident that we can take them. I suppose they'll be saying the same about us.”

Dungloe GAA celebrates 100 years with launch of club history book

The club already had a very successful fun day in Rosses Park back in July and Saturday night’s event brings down the curtain on the centenary celebration

Asked if he is comfortable sitting on the bench this year, playing a different role, he is quick to reply.

"No, you would rather be on. The hamstring was giving me bother during the year and I hurt it again against St Eunan's and when I came on against Gaoth Dobhair (in the final). I have only got four or five training sessions into me recently. I kinda knew where I was but I didn't want to be sitting on the bench.

"It's hard sitting on the bench. I would do a bit of shouting but it's a nervous place. It's easier being on the field and in the middle of it. You would be settled down, but on the sidelines you're biting your nails.

"It's a bit cold this week so I won't be worried about the nails. Ah yeah, I would hope to be coming on. I was first on the last day and if I get a chance to come on it would be great. But there are a lot of boys pushing for that game time too.”


And will the half-back think about retiring when the season eventually comes to a close?

"Brendy (McDyer) is a year older than me; Tony (Thompson) is another year older and Marty (Boyle) is another two years older than that. It would be hard to go before Marty and Tony anyway. We'll let them go first,” quips Waide.

And outside of his own career, there is a family life which looks like extending his football career well into the future. Engaged to his partner Catherine, they have three children, Katie (who will be seven in January), Harry (5) and Patrick (3).

"They seem to be fairly interested and they love going to the games,” says Waide.