Naomh Padraig run is bringing people and the parish together - Johnny Toye 

Johnny Toye says it’s a very special feeling being part of Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin’s emotional and historic 2024 championship run. 

The centre half-back has been central to that success as the club landed a first-ever Junior A title in Donegal. 

Injuries to two other crucial cogs Caolan McColgan and Kevin Lynch hasn’t impacted their Ulster aspirations and they were very comfortable semi-final winners over Armagh’s Collegeland last Saturday in Omagh on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-4. 

The sad passing of teammate Evan Craig in September left the club and local community heartbroken. But the team found solace and motivation in their attempts to really honour Evan’s memory. 

Just a few short weeks later they paid their teammate the ultimate tribute when they steamrolled over Carndonagh in the Junior decider by 2-12 to 0-8. 

Long after the final whistle and as the lights dimmed to darkness in Healy Park late on last weekend, the joyful laughing and circling of youngsters around the talismanic No. 6 was impossible to ignore.  

“The scenes here - and it was the exact same after the county final in Letterkenny, it’s just united the parish and brought people out. 

“We’ve had some rough times this year, particularly in the last few months. But this is something to really cherish and admire.

“It’s hard to describe really. After the county final you were looking at Ulster as bonus territory. But the momentum has just kept going. 

“It hasn’t been perfect, we’ve been really good in spells and, at times, maybe not as fluid as we’d like. So we have a lot to get right, to click, really before the final. 

“That’s a good thing maybe as we know we have to improve.”

Boss Daniel McCauley admits he spent as much time as he could looking on at Craigbane’s other semi-final win over Drumhowan. That clash ended all square at 1-11 apiece after extra-time and needed penalties to eventually settle. 

Now, Naomh Padraig are looking forward to an Ulster decider tangle with their Derry counterparts in Celtic Park this coming Saturday (throw-in, 1.30pm).

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Toye acknowledges the Oak Leafers will have had a ringside seat of their last-four encounter but, at this stage, it’s hard to gauge just how much that actually stands for. 

“Being on second, it’ll mean they’ve had the clear look at us. They went into deep waters, extra-time and penalties. 

“At this stage, it doesn’t really matter. We’re on the go a year. And we’re all gearing towards the weekend now”.