McFadden says Termon learned lessons to stave off Naomh Muire comeback

Termon might’ve lost a six-point lead to only draw their IFC opener last Saturday but midfielder Ryan McFadden and his team used that to get over the line against Naomh Muire on Friday.

Francie Friel and Johnny McGinley’s side had to be content with a point following a 0-14 to 1-11 draw leaving Portsalon when it looked for long spells that they’d be leaving as winners.

But as they say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and McFadden said in retrospect it wasn’t the worst of results and Termon followed it up with a 2-13 to 0-11 victory at the Burn Road over Danny O’Donnell’s team.

“It was our first win of the season so it was good to get it,” McFadden said on Friday. “There was a big four or five weeks put in at training there too.

“It was a decent result last week, which means we’re up to three points so you’d think another win now should be enough to get us through. It was disappointing in ways to draw last week but when we sat down we said we’ve a point on the road and three more games - two of them at home - to give ourselves a chance.”

McDaid's late brace sees Termon shake off Naomh Muire in Donegal IFC

Termon were nine points ahead before a second half Naomh Muire charge put only three in it, only for Daire McDaid to put the thing to bed late on

With the water break introduced on a thus far temporary basis - it’s only definitely in this weekend - due to the warm weather, it brought a change in the ebb and flow of the contest and Termon dominated the second quarter to go in at the break with a decent 0-10 to 0-3 lead.

Well aware of what went down in Fanad, Termon stressed composure and although Naomh Muire certainly made a fist of it after the break and coming back to just three behind at a stage, Daire McDaid hit 2-1 in the closing stages to give the hosts their first win of 2022.

Another one now against either Burt or Malin - who meet this evening at Connolly Park - in their last two group games will be enough for a quarter-final berth for Termon.

“We pressed up on the kick-outs and that put us seven points ahead going into half-time then,” McFadden said. 

“Half-time came at a bad time for us and then in the second half Naomh Muire got their purple patch and they brought it back to three. We didn’t panic and we learned from last week I think. We tried to just calm it down and just get a few scores. 

“We were taking potshots in that second half but we did settle down and when Daire got the first goal. We’re away to Burt next, which will give us a chance to get through. They’re playing Malin who we also have to play so we’ll see what happens with that first.”