Naomh Conaill U-21s coming good at just the right time - James 'Plumber' Boyle 

James Boyle’s Naomh Conaill are coming good at just the right time ahead of Sunday's semi-final clash with Four Masters in Ballyshannon (throw-in, 12 noon). 

Boyle and Naomh Conaill, beaten semi-finalists last season, are back in the last four once again off the back of a win over Aodh Ruadh and a share of the points with Termon. They also suffered a first round defeat by Buncrana, in the first of their three group games.

However, Naomh Conaill turned the tables on Buncrana in the quarter-finals with a 1-5 to 2-6 victory in the Scarvey.  

Full forward Shea Malone and Tiernan Ward scored the goals while Ward, Danny Brown 0-4, and Max Campbell scored the points in Inishowen.

“I think we finally clicked at the weekend against Buncrana,” said the man nicknamed ‘Plumber’. “They beat us by eight points the first day we played them. But we learned a lot from that game and the games against Aodh Ruadh and Termon.

“We were short a few players that first day against Buncrana but in the games against Aodh Ruadh and Termon, we had played well.

“We were well organised defensively and had a good deal of possession but the problem was we struggled for scores. 

“We played well against Aodh Ruadh and scraped through by a point in a game we should have won much more comfortably.

“It was a similar story against Termon, again we played well but struggled to score and we had to be happy with a draw in a game we should again have got over the line.  

“We have worked on correcting that in the last few weeks - our scores and sot selection. John O’Malley has joined myself and Eoin Waide in the management this year and he has really worked hard with the forwards. 

“Last weekend was the first time when John’s efforts paid off and we clicked up front for the first time. And hopefully it will continue this weekend against Four Masters.

“We have a very young team, Just two of the lads Robbie McDonnell and Daniel Gildea are overage next year all the rest are just out of minor or 17-year-olds.

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“Daniel is injured at the moment after picking up a knock  in the first game and is out for the rest of the season.  So effectively Robbie is the only 21-year-old on the team at present.” 

The Naomh Conaill boss believes it is a very open championship this season and any of the teams left in the last four are more than capable of winning the competition outright. 

Gaoth Dobhair are probably the favourities. But you’re splitting hairs really at this stage as the margins are wafer thin. 

“We are looking no further than this weekend. Gaoth Dobhair beat us in the semi-final last year so hopefully we can go one better this time around.”