'St Michaels were just the better team on the night' - Killybegs boss Pauric Bonner

Killybegs manager Pauric Bonner was magnanimous in defeat after his team went down to St Michael’s in their championship opener at the Bridge on Saturday evening.  

St Michael’s emerged four-point winners 1-12 to 2-5 after laying the foundation for the win in the first half with the home side leading 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time as they played into a strong wind. 

“We are disappointed with the result but St Michaels were the better team on the night and they deserved to win,” said the Killybegs boss afterwards. 

“We got off to a good start with the goal even though it was a bit fortuitous but we did not kick on despite having a number of opportunities to do so.  

“I felt we had enough opportunities to go in at half-time in front. But we did not take them.  

“We coughed up possession and we were turned over when we were going too hard at it rather than being patient and trying to work the scores.”  

But despite being behind and playing into the wind Killybegs were back in the game in the early minutes of the second half when Paul Cunningham struck for their second goal.  

Cunningham got a fist to the ball as it was caught under his crossbar by St Michael’s goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley for goal number two. 

“We got back into the game with the second goal early, and we had a couple of chances for scores after the goal. But they dropped short into the keeper, something which has been killing us all season,” Bonner said. 

“But look, we made too many errors, coughed up possession, and were turned over too many times and we paid the price for it. St Michaels were the best team and well worth their win.” 

 Killybegs were without their county star Eoghan Ban Gallagher for Saturday night’s game with the half-back absent through injury.  

“Eoghan got injured playing with the county and he is currently rehabbing and we don’t have a time scale for when he will be back,” said the Killybegs boss. 

“He was a huge loss for the county when he wasn’t playing and so you can imagine he is a massive loss to us.”