No complaints from Buncrana boss Tommy O’Neill following Ulster JHC exit 

Tommy O’Neill admits that his side never really got going in the first-half as Ballela of Down earned an emphatic 2-13 to 0-9 Ulster JHC victory in Letterkenny. 

The Donegal champions just didn’t get out of the starting blocks in a lopsided opening period and found themselves 2-9 to 0-4 off the pace at the midpoint. 

Buncrana did improve after the restart and managed to outscore the visitors to O’Donnell Park by 0-6 to 0-4. 

But with so much damage absorbed in the first half hour, Ballela were in no danger of being pegged back. 

O’Neill admitted that a nine-week gap since their historic first-ever county title win over Carndonagh left his team a little undercooked headed into the weekend. 

Bellela on the other hand secured their own domestic title just two weeks ago and that added sharpness was very evident inside that dominant first-half. 

“The goals pulled the life out of us and it was hard to come back,” he said. “They were so clinical in the first-half and while we did improve after the break the damage was done. 

“Take nothing away from Ballela, they were full value for their win”.

Pressed on how the longer gap in between this and their last outing hampered efforts, he explained: “We found it really hard to source opposition for challenge games as everyone is finished up.

“And just the magnitude of the achievement, it just left us a little in limbo. We were fortunate to get one game against Kevin Lynch’s.

“Nine weeks, it’s just too long between the end of Donegal and the start of Ulster. It’s something that needs to really be looked at. Again, no excuses but you’d much prefer for it to be back to back or a little closer together”.

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When the dust finally settles in the next few days O’Neill agrees that the squad can look back with real pride on a fantastic 2024. 

And they’ll soon begin to turn attention towards next term after a first ever IHC win inside the county.

“It was a brilliant feat and it’s brought the lads on so well. It was a first ever Intermediate championship and it just means we’ve momentum in our backs going into 2025.”