McShea's Say: Defeat will sting for Dungloe but the must stay united as a club

St Eunan’s prevailed in Sunday’s Donegal SFC County final against a Dungloe side contesting their first final since 1964. 

It was once said that “sport is peace of mind in knowing you did your best”, but it is a comment that I never agreed with, and I don’t believe that the Dungloe players will agree with such thinking after their narrow defeat in this final. 

No team knows better than Dungloe how difficult it is to get to a championship final, and there is no guarantee for any side that a place in next year’s championship final is guaranteed. 

So, this week the Dungloe squad will feel disappointed in the extreme, as the euphoria of winning, preparing for the Ulster Club Championship, heading to their ground for training, having fun with their pals, and creating their own history are on hold, as the void created by a final loss hit home.  

Nothing beats a county final. The hope, the tension, the sense of impending doom, and the astonishing loyalty of the supporters.  

Over the coming weeks, Dungloe needs to analyse the stats, inspect the performance against St Eunan’s, coldly put it down to experience, not trigger panic stations, and scramble the life rafts.  

Sometimes after a final defeat, there is this tendency for players, managers, and administrators to respond with emotion rather than thought, lashing out rather than working things out. This cannot be the Dungloe way, they acquitted themselves well last Sunday in a final not lacking controversy.  

This was a novel final, with many pundits of the belief that Eunan’s would have it their own way and win it with a degree of comfort. To their credit, Dungloe did not in any way fear their opponents, and in the first half they won an abundance of possession, but their Achilles Heel when in the ascendency was their inaccuracy.  

They squandered several gilt-edged scoring chances because of anxiety and pulling the trigger when off-balance. At half time the teams headed for the break level at 0-4 each. As they made for the tunnel, the Dungloe followers were on their feet applauding their team for their impressive first-half display.  

In the dressing room, they collectively must have believed the same thing. The game was there for them as no doubt they thought it would be. Neutrals in attendance had a different opinion, with St Eunan’s far from impressive in that first half, because of Dungloe’s tenacity, fitness, and desire, which did catch their opponents by surprise.  

What is indisputable however is the quality of some of this Dungloe side. Mark Curran showed this year in the county jersey that he is a very talented defender, and he brought his undoubted talent to his club jersey in this game.   

Danny Rodgers is a goalkeeper of exceptional talent, Jason Mc Bride and Aaron Ward were rock solid especially in the first half, while Conor Greene was a constant threat to the opposing defence, and it was a major surprise to see him withdrawn.  

In all matches, there is a defining moment, and Eunan’s got the lucky break after 36 minutes when Niall O Donnell’s effort for a point hit the post, Pauric Boyle won the break and threaded an intelligent ball to Conor Donnell Jnr, who hit the net for the game’s defining score. 

It was appropriate that O’Donnell hit that goal as he was excellent throughout and when his side struggled in that first half, he was their most influential performer.  

Shane O’Donnell also upped the ante when he was most needed in that second half, while Ciaran Moore had his best game for his club on the most important day of the year.  

The penalty awarded to Dungloe in the dying moments of this final seemed to be a bigger shock to the Dungloe players than it was to the winners. I have no idea why the penalty was awarded but I do know that pulling and dragging is an integral part of goalmouth action and I never remember seeing a penalty awarded in such circumstances in watching a lifetime of GAA.  

Eunan’s now head for the Ulster Club Championship where they will play the winners of the Tyrone final where Trillick meets Errigal Ciarán. One worry for this St Eunan’s side is their tendency to take time out in many of their encounters.  

In their second-half games against Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair, the Letterkenny men only scored three points, while only scoring four points against Dungloe in the first 30 minutes is not the kind of numbers that will see them prevail in Ulster.  

To their credit St Eunan’s are now clear leaders in terms of winning Donegal’s premier football competition, and for that, they deserve congratulations, while defeat will be palpable in Dungloe, their year was an impressive one for the men from the Rosses.