'This MacRory journey helps when you have a strong team with great players' - Murrin

Donegal South West manager Shay Murrin expressed delight for his side and satisfaction in their trajectory following his team’s 1-15 to 1-9 win over St Pat’s in the last 16 of the MacRory Cup in Breffni Park on Thursday.  

The South West side was superb all across the field in Cavan, especially in defence, and was only briefly put under the cosh midway through the second half when St Pat’s narrowed the gap to three points, despite trailing by nine at one stage. 

But with 11 different scorers, the amalgamated Donegal side were able to push on and see the game out for the win. 

They will now break for the Christmas holidays before returning to the field to play Omagh CBS in the quarter-final of the A competition in Ulster. 

“We’re delighted with the boys, I thought they played really well from start to finish,” Murrin said after his side’s win on Thursday.  

“Of course, there was a small blip in the second half when they got on top of us after the goal, but other than that, I thought we dominated most of the game.” 

The Cavan side’s goal came midway through the second-half when Charlie Fallon attempted a shot for a point that dropped short. With goalkeeper Padraig McBride coming out to claim it, substitute Paddy Brides leapt the highest to punch the ball into the net during a short period when St Pat’s had control of the game. 

“Their goal came at a key time for them,” Murrin admitted.  

“That was really a one-off moment, where a high ball came in and they flicked it into the net, but if we look around that 15-minute period, we probably did give the ball away very easy up the pitch, we kicked a lot into the ‘keeper’s hands, and I think we gave the ball away five times in five attacks at one stage. 

“We probably weren’t clinical enough at that point which was disappointing because they were coming up the pitch and scoring, and that’s where the swing happened and that’s when they got their goal.” 

Apart from that, it was a near-perfect performance from the South West side. Their introduction to the MacRory Cup was always going to draw a series of questions on whether the team would work or not from a playing point of view and a logistical point of view. 

Bur Murrin is satisfied with what his team has done so far in terms of enjoying the experience and competing with the best teams in Ulster. 

“They’re big athletes, and they are mad too for action,” he said regarding his players. “They love being here and being a part of this. They love this competition, and every bit of information we give them they just take it on board. 

“I think this competition with this team is great fun. We’re enjoying it as a management team as much as the players are. Now maybe if we are beating you, they’re not enjoying it, considering we are five schools, but we still have a lower number of players to a lot of other schools we’re playing against. 

“At the end of the year, we’ll look at the whole situation and see if we can do it better and what we can change, but at the minute we’re in a quarter-final and we’re just taking it one game at a time. 

“It helps when we have a strong team with great players. The test for this side will come in a few years when maybe the team isn’t as strong and we cannot get out of the group stages.  That will be a different test and the logistics will be harder for sure, but at the minute we’re really competitive moving forward.”