McShea's Say: 'It's St Eunan's now to lose as we enter the semi-final stages'

‘If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking’ - Benjamin Franklin. 

The four quarter-finals of the Donegal senior football championship last Saturday and Sunday saw one game finish 0-7 to 0-9, a second match finished 0-10 to 0-9, while the other matches had similar scores 2-8 to 0-13. 

Yet again, defensive football was the order of the day. As we look forward to next weekend’s senior football semi-finals, few, if any would have predicted the four teams that will be in action on Saturday and Sunday. 

St Michael’s and Dungloe tore the form book to shreds with their victories over Kilcar and Glenswilly, and both sides will no doubt head to Ballybofey with their confidence sky high in anticipation of getting to a county final.  

In Kilcar, no doubt they are still trying to come to terms with their defeat to St Michael’s after blowing an eight-point lead. In contrast, Dungloe impressed in beating Glenswilly and were worthy winners of a close encounter.  

I was in Ballybofey on Saturday evening for the clash of St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill and I was more than a little surprised that in some quarters, this match was described as a classic encounter.  

I was anxious to see one or two players in this game with the quality to make Donegal manager Jim McGuinness sit up and take notice, but people’s perception of players who are in any way different is often an unforgiving one.  

The day our team wins it is because of them. The day we lose it is because they wore white boots. There is nothing new in this dynamic. When things are not going well, the player with flair can be perceived as the disruptor.  

I believe that the lack of faith in players who are different is negative thinking, but on Saturday evening there were few players who exhibited the flair that can make a difference at any level of football, but especially in the top bracket of county football. 

The one player who once again showed that he has the ability to cut it at the top level was on the losing team. Finnbarr Roarty played with real vision and lots of skill for Naomh Conaill, and on this performance, it was easy to understand why Jim McGuinness was anxious to include him for Donegal many months ago before technical issues ruled the idea illegal. 

The veteran Anthony Thompson yet again battled all the way for his team, but in a first half when Naomh Conaill simply did not turn up, St Eunan’s led 0-7 to 0-3 at the break and seemed to have the answers all over the park, as Naomh Conaill had to wait until the 24th minute to get their first score from play.  

Whatever Martin Regan told his team at half time they came out of their slumber in the second half and were totally dominant for the first 20 minutes, scoring five points without reply, and a John O’Malley point actually saw the county champions take the lead for the first time in the game. 

Eunan’s only scored three points in that 34-minute second half and again displayed a vulnerability that has cost them dearly in previous years. But with Naomh Conaill struggling in many areas, they just held out for a victory by the narrowest of margins.  

For the winners Conor O’Donnell Snr had an excellent first half, Shane O’Donnell showed class and leadership, while Eamonn Doherty also impressed.  

But St Eunan’s are a side that tends to take time out consistently in vital matches and they were fortunate that some of the Naomh Conaill side had a poor day at the office. 

Shaun Patton showed in the first half, with two wonderful catches, that he is good in the air, while his goal-kicking yet again was of the highest order. 

The close finish made for a degree of excitement but the number of turnovers by both sides was of poor quality, with Naomh Conaill kicking several wides from good positions, and this inaccurate play was a major reason for their surrendering of the Dr Maguire Cup. 

I believe that there is more in the tank from the Letterkenny men and while they did not look like world beaters last Saturday, they seem to have more potential in attack than this Gaoth Dobhair outfit, but in championship football any side that meets Gaoth Dobhair can be assured of a very difficult examination.  

St Eunan’s should prevail, but they cannot afford to disappear as they did for 20 minutes against Naomh Conaill. 

The second semi-final is certainly a novel pairing and when these teams met earlier in the campaign St Michael’s won by the narrowest of margins. 

Dungloe has improved this year and with Michael Langan out of the country, it is impossible to quantify his loss for his side. 

I am not sure where Langan is at this time but if I were a St Michael’s man I would do everything in my power to have him back for this weekend.  

In what looks like a close encounter I would not rule out a draw this Sunday between two well-matched teams in Dungloe and St Michael’s. 

Sympathy 

I was deeply shocked to hear of the death of Anne Buggy on Sunday. 

Knowing how close Anne and her husband PJ were this is an irreparable loss to PJ, their two boys Donal and Pauric, and the girls Grainne, Sinead, Aishling, Ciara, and Aoife.  

Aware as I am of the scant solace that words can bring at such a sad time, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy at the loss of Anne, who was a lady and who earned the respect of all who were lucky enough to know her.