A big day for Dungloe - and it's just as big for St Eunan’s too

The bigger buzz this week is probably in Dungloe because they are appearing in the first final in 60 years but there is expectation in Letterkenny which makes today’s decider something special to look forward to.

Having a new face in the final makes this year’s county final more intriguing and the fact that these sides are meeting for the first time adds to the occasion.

The build-up had another twist on Monday when St Eunan’s mentor, Brendan Devenney, took his Highland Radio show, the DV Debate, into the Dungloe clubhouse in Rosses Park. It would seem that this final is a very friendly affair. I can’t imagine that it will be that friendly come 4pm.

Imagine this happening at intercounty level. Could you see Jim McGuinness allowing one of his backroom team to host a debate in enemy territory in the week leading up to a championship game?

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If you were to look at the bookies’ odds for the final then you would think that Dungloe are going to MacCumhaill Park to just make up the numbers. St Eunan’s are being quoted at 1/10 with odds of 5/1 for Dungloe.

But we have seen in the past that odds-on shots don’t always get over the line. You can be sure that those odds on St Eunan’s will be mentioned at training in Dungloe this week and again in any huddles that are held on today whether in the dressing room or on the field.

On all known form St Eunan’s deserve the strong favourites’ tag. They have been among the top few teams in the county now for close on 30 years - their consistency has been impressive. Since the 1997 final, today will see them in 14 finals since then, winning eight of those.

That record, put alongside Dungloe, appearing in their first final since 1964, is probably the main reason why St Eunan’s are such short odds.

Dungloe are the new kids on the block, winning the Intermediate Championship just two years ago but their progression has been upward. They were knocked out in the quarter-final last year, but only after extra-time, by Gaoth Dobhair down in Falcarragh.

Their only defeat in the 2024 championship was a one point reversal against St Michael’s at the Bridge on a wet and windy day. They avenged that defeat in the county semi-final, again with just  a point separating them.

St Eunan’s only defeat came in round 3 of the group stages at home to Gaoth Dobhair, but they also gained revenge in the semi-final, with a point the margin in that game also.

Neither side were impressive in their semi-final wins and in some respects both managers, Barry Meehan and Dessie Gallagher will be happy with that. St Eunan’s form has been better against the bigger teams. They were up for their contests against Naomh Conaill this year, accounting for them in Glenties in the group stages and again in the Co quarter-final in MacCumhaill Park.

Dungloe’s big challenge was against Glenswilly in the quarter-final and they came through that contest with flying colours. They played well at times in the semi-final against St Michael’s but they did ride their luck with the Dunfanaghy residents having an off day in the shooting stakes. There is no doubt that Dungloe’s strength is in defence and midfield with great players from ‘keeper Danny Rodgers along with the three Curran brothers, Karl Magee, captain Conor O’Donnell and Ryan Connors at midfield.

Fingers will be crossed this week that big full-forward Conor Greene is injury-free and able to take his place. His physique could pose a problem for St Eunan’s and it also provides a platform for their young nippy forwards to feed off.

For Barry Meehan and St Eunan’s, the perennial problem is getting their best 15 on the field. Such is the array of talent at Meehan’s disposal, the biggest problem is getting the right mix. From Shaun Patton in goals to Eoin McGeehin at corner-forward, you can be sure there will be places for the three O’Donnell brothers, captain Kieran Tobin and the find of the year for Donegal, Ciaran Moore. Conor Morrison and Caolan Ward provide experience in defence while Conor O’Donnell jnr has been one of their top scorers.

And speaking of scorers, it is interesting to note from the statistics provided by Edward Molloy from the championship so far that there is just a point in the difference between the sides in the scoring stakes. St Eunan’s have amassed 6-73 while Dungloe have notched 7-69.

Before a ball was kicked, the pundits in the county were looking at a St Eunan’s-Naomh Conaill decider. They got half of it right.  Can Dungloe now upset the odds? There is no doubt that they will have the backing of many neutrals in what is a novel final pairing.