Darren Curran: 'It is a good result for us but it is only day one'

Darren Curran was the man who scored the Dungloe goal that sealed the victory for his side against Glenfin in the first round of the SFC played at a windy Páirc Taobhoige on Sunday afternoon.   

It got the ball rolling for the Dungloe team in what was a 1-11 to 1-7 win, but Curran knows it’s still early in the season and he hopes there will still be a lot of football to come in the championship.  

“It is another year and another senior championship, another championship Sunday and it was great to come out with the win, especially away from home,” was the goal scorer’s immediate response when asked about the result.  

A result that was seen by most as one of the upsets of the weekend after a disappointing Division 2 campaign against a Division 1 team.   

“We were unfortunate in the league that we picked up a lot of injuries and we had boys out injured for long spells,” Curran admitted.  

“As a result, we did not get a right run at the league whereas for the championship we had four or five weeks of good training in the run into today’s game.”  

Glenfin won the toss and decided to play with the strong wind in their backs. However, Curran revealed that they had taken a decision before the game that if they won the toss, they were going to play against the elements.   

“Conor (O’Donnell) asked us in the huddle if we wanted to play with the wind or against it and I think the whole 15 agreed we should play against.    

“The aim was to keep the score down in the first half and then really go for it in the second half.  

“And the plan was if they scored a goal in that opening 30 minutes we were going to be on the back foot.  

“Typical Glenfin, they did score a goal and I think it put them five up, and that meant we had to work to try get one back, but thankfully we did.  

“But being only three down at half-time we felt that the game was still there to be won and it was a matter of going out in the second half and going for it.   

“We knew the third quarter was going to be crucial and thankfully we got the scores.   

“The lads kicked some great long-range points and we also remained tight at the back.   

“We kicked something like six points in the first ten minutes of the second half to go three up.  

“In fairness to Glenfin, they are dogged. They are good in the tackle and they never say die and really no one likes playing them on their own patch in a tight game.”    

Dungloe host Aodh Ruadh this weekend, and with county man Mark Curran and county U-20 player Karl Magee back, Dungloe will hope to kick on against a side that narrowly overcame Downings last weekend.   

“It will be a big boost to have the two boys back. It is always good for boys to come in,” Curran said.  

“It is good for the boys that are there and it is good for the boys that are coming in to try and push things on.   

“Listen, it’s only day one, we have another three rounds still to come and it is a matter of going out and doing our best in those games and see where it takes us.”