'We're better than what we showed in the final' - O'Donnell

It may take a few weeks for Carndonagh manager Michael O’Donnell to come to terms with his side’s Donegal JFC loss to Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin, but he knows he will eventually be able to look back and reflect on a great season with the Inishowen club. 

It has been a fantastic first year for O’Donnell, having guided Carndonagh to Division 2 with the side only losing one game throughout the league campaign.  

But that didn’t soften the blow following his side’s 2-12 to 0-8 point defeat to Naomh Padraig on Saturday in O’Donnell Park in the Donegal Junior final. 

It was a superb team effort from Daniel McCauley’s side with two first-half goals from Kevin Lynch and Caolan McColgan leading the way for the men in blue and gold in what was their first Donegal JFC final since 2016. 

Analysing the match on the sideline in O’Donnell Park following his side’s defeat, O’Donnell admits that it was the two first-half goals that turned the tide in favor of the Naomh Padraig men, leaving Carn with a mountain to climb. 

“We are very disappointed, an early goal left us a bit shellshocked to be honest and we never really recovered after that,” O’Donnell said. 

“In fairness to Naomh Padraig, they played really well and they were the better team on the day and they deserved their win. 

“A goal early in the half and a goal just before half-time, like they’re key moments that can swing a game, but Naomh Padraig were probably better in the first 30 minutes while we never really got going. 

“Everything they hit just fell over the bar it seemed and we found it difficult to stay with them for long periods which is disappointing.” 

Having been the only junior team in Donegal to play Division 2 league this season, O’Donnell admits that may have given the Naomh Padraig side an advantage coming up against bigger sides, but still feels his team didn’t play to their full potential on the day but can eventually reflect on a positive season.  

“Naomh Padraig probably had a small advantage having played in Division 2 and having played solid teams all season, but in terms of our performance, we believe we’re better than what we showed on the day, but that can happen in football. Sometimes it just doesn’t fall your way and that’s just life,” he said. 

“We know this defeat is tough to take but maybe in a few weeks, we can look back and be proud of the season we had. We got promoted to Division 2, we won two league titles for the club, and we got to a final, so we’ll move on and hope to build on this year eventually.”