Southwest MacRory Cup tussle with Abbey VS something to savour - Shay Murrin 

Shay Murrin says an All-Donegal MacRory Cup semi-final clash with Abbey Vocational School is something that will really capture the imagination in the lead-in.

Murrin, who mans the managerial reins at Donegal Southwest with Gary Boyle and Niall Friel, saluted the bravery of the group as they sealed a last-four spot with a 2-7 to 1-7 victory over Hogan Cup champions Omagh CBS.

The Donegal outfit - drawn from Colaiste Na Carraige, St Catherine's VS, Killybegs, St Columba's Comprehensive, Glenties, Pobalscoil Na Rosann, and Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair - just don’t do panic when behind.

Having had to battle and come from behind twice, in the end, it took a dramatic late goal from Patrick O’Donnell to finally seal matters in Omagh. 

“There have been loads of games where we have not been in control but we just keep it together,” admitted Murrin after. 

“They have great spirit and resilience and they just never give in. We never see any deficit as something other than just saying we go for 65 minutes.

“As you can see for yourself that is what they have just done here and there was never any real panic - they just don’t do panic.”

Murrin admitted that his team were a bit flat in the first half as his side trailed 1-4 to 1-3 at the changeover. 

“Maybe it was the occasion getting to them and Omagh were controlling things.

“But I thought we were a lot better in the second half. Our attacking play was poor but our work was top-class in that half.”

Aked to describe the frenetic finish that sealed Southwest’s progression, he said: “It was smart play from our backs in the lead-up to that goal. It was real fairytale stuff but our lads have just so much heart.”

Murrin also paid tribute to Omagh who he said have set the standard in the competition in recent times. 

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"I have great respect for them and watched them for the past two years. This is a different team but they were very good tonight too.”

Southwest’s next mission is a mouth-watering joust with Abbey VS for a place in the decider.

“It guarantees a Donegal team in the final, that’s the first thing I’ll say on it,” Murrin explained. 

“The MacRory Cup has always been something that we have looked at from a distance.

“It was almost mythical to us all on the outside looking in. But here we are in a semi-final now and we are just delighted. Us and the Abbey, it will be brilliant next week.”