Martin Doherty: 'Sean MacCumhaill’s and Four Masters are on the up'

Donegal’s opening round games in the senior football championship, with the exception of one or two mild surprises, went along predictable lines, according to Naomh Conaill’s Martin Doherty. 

Four Masters’ 3-9 to 1-7 win over Gaoth Dobhair, last year’s beaten finalists, in Tir Chonaill Park, did not register on the Doherty Richter scale.  

“The big two with the bookies, Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s, came through without any bother against Cloughaneely and Kilcar,” says the 2005 championship winner. 

“There may have been a little surprise at the size of St Eunan’s win. But when you look through the Kilcar starting team with no Ryan McHugh, Ciaran McGinley, the McCleans and Conor Doherty, it puts a different complexion on the outcome. 

“I know Ryan McHugh was away on his honeymoon. But I suspect Michael Hegarty was holding back lads that may have been carrying knocks and did not want to risk them from aggravating those injuries. 

“I feel Michael was thinking down the road and I would not read too much into last week’s result as far as Kilcar are concerned. They will still be there when it comes to the business end,” says Doherty. 

“There has been a lot of shock and surprise expressed at the Four Masters win over Gaoth Dobhair.  

“But it came as no surprise to me. Four Masters had a good league and were promoted back to Division 1 and they have a good crop of young players that have come through in the last year or so. 

“Kevin Sinclair (Four Masters manager) was at the league final between ourselves and Gaoth Dobhair. He obviously went away from that game and did his homework and it worked on the day. Fair play to him.  

“Four Masters are a coming young side and probably have moved into the top four or five in the county. But are they capable of challenging Naomh Conaill or St Eunan’s? It remains to be seen. 

“We will know better this weekend after they play Downings, away in Downings. 

“There is no reason why they cannot go on and win the championship. But it would be a tall order.  

“They remind me of ourselves in 2005. We won the Division 2 league the year before and were promoted and went on to win our first championship. Is that possible 20 years later given the way the game has evolved in recent seasons?”  

The other two results which have been entered in Martin Doherty’s black book were Sean MacCumhaills 3-15 to 0-13 win over Ardara in MacCumhaill Park and Glenswilly’s equally impressive 2-15 to 0-8 win over St Naul’s in Mountcharles.  

“MacCumhaill’s put up a big score against Ardara and that was with losing Oisin Gallen after a few minutes with an injury. 

“Going by reports Joel Bradley Walsh took up the challenge and led his side to a comfortable win.  

“MacCumhaill’s are definitely a top four or five team along with Glenswilly, Kilcar behind St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill.  

“They had a good league campaign and they beat Naomh Conaill in the league and they did it without Oisin Gallen. 

“I know Naomh Conaill were missing their county men too but they showed that evening they are not a one man team. 

“Oisin Gallen is a fabulous footballer and his fitness will be crucial if they are to challenge St Eunan’s or Naomh Conaill.  

“Glenswilly, with Michael Murphy playing well, had too much for St Naul’s and were big winners. 

“Gary McDaid is back as manager and Gary must feel he has something to work with and they are capable of challenging for honours. 

“They have Michael Murphy and they have a number of good young players coming through from underage like Jack Gallagher at centre half-back and Daithi Gildea in the forwards is an exciting prospect. They are definitely worthy challengers. 

“St Michael’s, Dungloe and Aodh Ruadh had good wins over Killybegs, Glenfin and Downings. 

“St Michael’s have Daniel McLaughlin and Andrew Kelly back and of course they have Michael Langan who is a huge man for them. They are away to Ardara this weekend.  

“It is an important game for Ardara after losing last weekend against MacCumhaill’s. They are at home but it may not be enough against a St Michael’s side that seem to have all their players back and had a good finish to the league.”  

Dungloe and Aodh Ruadh, two of the winners from last weekend, meet in Rosses Park.  

“Dungloe did well to beat Glenfin in Pairc Taobhoige and Aodh Ruadh got a morale boosting win over Downings in Fr Tierney Park.  

“This has the potential to be a close game but home advantage may tip the scale in favour of Dungloe. 

“I expect Kilcar, with a few men back, will have too much for St Naul’s in Towney.  

“I expect MacCumhaill’s will be too strong for Killybegs, in Fintra. I’m not sure what the situation is with Oisin Gallen’s injury. Even without Oisin I still back MacCumhaills.  

“Eoghan Ban Gallagher is a huge loss for Killybegs and they will also be without Jack McSharry, who picked up a straight red card against St Michael’s. 

“I’m sure Maxi Curran will have some plan for Four Masters. The form says Four Masters, but don’t rule out Downings upsetting the odds.  

“Gaoth Dobhair and Glenfin, two of the losing sides from day one, meet in Magheragallon. It is a big game for both but I fancy Gaoth Dobhair to bounce back from last Sunday’s defeat in Tirconaill Park with a win.  

“That brings us to the meeting of Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s in Davy Brennan Memorial Park. It is being billed as the battle of the big two. 

“There is very little that Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s don't know about each other.  

“And given the possibility of meeting later down the road I believe there will be a fair bit of cat and mouse in this game.  

“For that reason, I’m not expecting a free-flowing attacking classic. 

“And I don’t think Martin Regan or Barry Meehan, the respective managers will lose any sleep on Sunday night regardless how the game pans out. 

“Don’t be surprised if it is a boring low-scoring draw.”