SFC still looks like a race between the ‘big two’ - Bernard McGeehan

Four Masters have breathed some exciting life into the early SFC exchanges but Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s remain the benchmark says former MacCumhaills player and boss, Bernard McGeehan.

He says it’ll be interesting to see just how the young Donegal Town side progress following opening wins over the Gaoth Dobhair and Downings.

The Twin Towns native added that the margin of St Eunan’s win over champions and main rivals Naomh Conaill was also a noteworthy result.

Dungloe and St Michael’s have also pinned maximum points to the board headed into the third round and McGeehan says that certainly eases any relegation concerns.

“We are all aware of Four Masters’ potential, given the underage success at minor level in the last few years,” says McGeehan.

“But to beat Gaoth Dobhair, still a top four team and Division 1 league finalist, by eight points; that was a big statement from those lads first day out.

“And they followed it up with an 11-point win over Downings in the second round last Saturday night, away from home.

“They were two massive results, especially the winning margins. I’m not saying they are going to win the championship or anything like that.

“It’s still very early days for them, as a group. But they have certainly stepped up this season with their win over Buncrana in the Division 2 league final also a standout moment.

“The opening two games have told us a little more about the teams who, besides maybe the obvious few, have stood out a little from the rest of the pack.

“Four Masters, like I said, as well as Dungloe and St Michael's, two teams who meet this weekend, are the other two that are now sitting pretty on four points after two rounds.

“Nobody was talking about Dungloe before the championship and, to be fair, that was understandable.

“They had a poor league campaign in Division 2 and showed no great form. But they produced two good solid results in their opening two games.

“They had a four-point win over Glenfin, in Glenfin, in their first game. They came back from being five down in that game at a stage which says a lot about them.

“And they followed that win up with another four point victory over Aodh Ruadh at home. So they are in a very good situation going into the last two rounds.

“They are on four points and are guaranteed one of the preliminary quarter-final rounds.

“And if they were to beat St Michael’s this weekend, they would be more or less guaranteed a top four position and automatic quarter-final place.

“If they were to lose to St Michael’s they have a home game in the fourth round”.

Like Dungloe, St Michael’s are also sitting pretty on four points from their opening wins over Killybegs and Ardara respectively.

And like Dungloe, there was no great talk about them after an indifferent league campaign in Division 1.

But they have got Michael Langan back from county duty and they have a number of others back from injury and they would appear to be in good shape.

“Like this weekend’s opponents, they go into their last two games with a preliminary quarter-final place in the bag and looking to nail down an automatic quarter-final place, this weekend,” added McGeehan.

But St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill are still the big two for the current Aghyaran boss.

“I know some people are re-assessing Naomh Conaill following St Eunan’s six-point win over the champions on Sunday.

“No doubt Eunan’s manager Barry Meehan will see the win as a big positive. But equally, I don’t think Naomh Conaill boss Martin Regan will lose too much sleep over the defeat.

“Martin will look at the situation and with the prospect of getting a few more players back, Naomh Conaill will still have a big say in the championship.

“For me, St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill are the big two now with Four Masters joining Gaoth Dobhair, MacCumhaills, Glenswilly and Kilcar in that next group of contenders. And opinions vary on the pecking order of those teams.

“I must say I’m watching Glenswilly closely and I think they are a side worth looking out for.

“Gary McDaid is back as manager and we are all well aware of Gary’s attention to detail in preparing teams and getting them right for the championship.

“They have a lot of good young footballers coming through. They were in the U-21 championship final last year and they still have Michael Murphy who as we all know can turn a game on his own.

“Gary ‘Copper’ McFadden and Caolan Kelly are still two very influential players and have a wealth of championship experience.

“They play Four Masters this weekend in Tír Conaill Park in what for me is the match of the weekend.

“With the two teams on four points, it is a game that is going to tell us a lot about both Glenswilly and Four Masters and where they are at.”

Six teams - Four Masters, Glenswilly, MacCumhaills, St Michael’s, St Eunan’s and Dungloe are on four points.

Naomh Conaill, Kilcar, Gaoth Dobhair and Aodh Ruadh are the four teams on two points with one win each.

And there are six teams, Glenfin, Cloughaneely, Downings, Ardara, St Naul’s and Killybegs that are still to pick up points of any description going into the third group stage round of fixtures.

This weekend’s round of games is a big round for all 16 teams, those chasing the top four places, those bidding to make the top eight and those hoping to avoid the dreaded relegation scrap.

It could be described as the ‘last chance saloon’ this weekend for the six teams still looking for that first win, if they are to keep their championship hopes alive and avoid being dragged into relegation dogfight.

McGeehan gives the nod to Glenswilly, Kilcar, Naomh Conaill, Cloughaneely, Aodh Ruadh, St Michael’s and St Naul’s in their respective clashes with Four Masters, Glenfin, Sean MacCumhaills, Downings, Ardara, Dungloe and Killybegs.

Fixtures
Saturday, August 24

SFC

Four Masters v Glenswilly 4pm
St Eunan’s v Gaoth Dobhair 4pm
Glenfin v Kilcar 6pm
Sean MacCumhaill’s v Naomh Conaill 8pm

Sunday, August 25

SFC

St Naul’s v Killybegs 2pm
Cloughaneely v Downings 2pm
Aodh Ruadh v Ardara 4pm
St Michael’s v Dungloe 2:30pm