Mogan, McCole and Mulreany putting St Naul's on the national map

The performances of St Naul’s Peadar  Mogan, Brendan McCole and Gavin Mulreany in this year's championship is putting the Parish of Inver and the St Naul’s GAA club on the national map in 2024.

The Mountcharles-based club play in the Marley Travel Division 2 league and have had to manage without the trio for the entire league season, such has been the journey that the Donegal senior team has taken.

The flying half-back, Peadar Mogan, has been picking up Man of the Match and Player of the Month awards nearly on a weekly basis, such has been his outstanding displays, while Brendan McCole has been the defensive rock on which Donegal’s success has been built.

The St Naul’s player manager, Stephen Griffin, himself an All-Ireland winner from 2012, has watched his teammates with some pride during the year and is backing them to keep it going for another few weeks. While the club championship doesn’t start until the second week of August, Griffin doesn’t want to see them for a few weeks yet.

"The boys are flying. We want them to keep going on. We don't need them here, we have only one league game left.

"We're hoping the boys go on (to the final) and they are flying with confidence.

"Peadar (Mogan) is obviously flying and everyone in the country is talking about him. I was up last week at the game (against Louth). I think it's his confidence, Peadar always had the pace and the skills, it is just his confidence is now sky high. He is just playing out of his skin.

"To be fair to him in all the Donegal games he has been playing well all year. It is not just that he came good now (in the championship). I would say he has been their best player in the league as well.

"And during the championship I would say himself and Jason McGee have been the best up until Jason got injured. So he has been very, very consistent," said Griffin.

Only this week Mogan picked up the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for June, following him also getting the award for May, a most unusual occurrence. And it shows just  how good Donegal have been because Ryan McHugh got the award for April.

But Stephen Griffin also feels that another club stalwart, Brendan McCole, has been just as consistent in the role he performs at county level. 

"In fairness to Brendan (McCole), there doesn't be much talk about Brendan, but he is tying down the best forward (on the opposition) and that's a job on its own.

"Any forward that comes in, you're not hearing about them doing much. He has come out on top; he is getting better every year. He has grown into that full-back role and he's a name now, I'm sure, that forwards are fearing. Every time he comes up against Shane McGuigan, I always be saying, he just has Shane McGuigan's number.

"Next week is going to be a good one too because he's going to be on either Damien Comer or Shane Walsh probably. That will be another good test for him but one thing about Brendan, he will not shy away from it," said Griffin.

The player-manager also praised the contribution of Gavin Mulreany to Jim McGuinness's side, coming on against Derry and starting against Tyrone.

"Gavin is a brilliant modern type 'keeper and I've no doubt he's pushing Patton as hard as  possible behind the scenes.

"He's already shown he belongs at that level in the two chances he's got.

"And he'll be a brilliant addition behind the scenes in and around the dressing room as well."