Kevin McDaid hopes Termon can see promotion push through in final league outing

Kevin McDaid has challenged Termon to get the job done in their final league outing as they look to secure promotion to Division 1. 

The Burn Road men are currently third in the standings but locked on 18 points apiece with both second-placed Buncrana and Killybegs, back in fourth.

Termon could yet find themselves in a Division 2 decider if results elsewhere fall their way. They go away to already safe St Naul’s in their last outing, Buncrana host relegated Na Rossa while Killybegs are on the road to promoted Four Masters. 

It’s almost impossible to see Gary Duffy’s Inishowen side slipping there so McDaid, part of brother Caolan’s backroom team, is only focused on that play-off berth. 

“If we win our last game we’re guaranteed third so that’s the main aim,” he explained. “If we were offered that at the start of the season, we’d have taken your arm. That would be another competitive game before the championship. 

“It’s fairly tight at the bottom of Division 1 as well so we’ll just have to wait and see how all that pans out on the last day. We just need to win and do our bit then we can think about that”. 

Termon were made to work for their win over Ardara on Sunday as the hosts led by the minimum at the break at 1-5 to 0-7. 

However, with the wind behind them in the second stanza, a stirring third quarter eventually helped the  hosts over the line in comfortable fashion at 2-13 to 1-9. 

“Ardara caused us some real bother,” McDaid explained. “Big CJ Molloy, I’d many battles with him myself and he’s a real handful. He was central to that opening 1-3 they got. 

“We dropped back a little deeper to deal with that and, hitting on the counter, we started to get to grips with the game”.  

Termon are also slowly turning their attention towards the Intermediate Football Championship with the recent draw pitting them against Naomh Columba, Malin, Burt and Red Hughs in the group stage. 

“We’ve enjoyed the league - it’s been a really competitive season. With county players missing for many sides, we’ve probably benefited from that. 

“We’ve been battling away with the likes of Four Masters, Buncrana and Killybegs at the top. It’s been so competitive. Even Red Hughs at the bottom, they were one of our toughest games.

“We now also know what’s in front of us in Championship. The Intermediate will be a real battle with probably six or seven sides feeling they can win it”.