Diver: St Eunan’s have their eyes on not only Donegal, but Ulster

St Eunan’s have their eyes on a much bigger prize than the Dr Maguire Cup this season according to Damien Diver.

Last Sunday they hammered Bundoran away on a score of 1-21 to 1-6 in an awesome display of power and panache.
This Saturday, they entertain Cloughaneely, who have just one point and who were well beaten at home by a rampant Kilcar side in Páirc Naomh Fionnán on a score of 0-19 to 0-7.

Diver, who had a 100 per cent record in his predictions last week, said: “It should be easy for Eunan’s, and they are even stronger than they were last year. I would say that Eunan’s are quietly looking past Donegal this year and looking to Ulster, and they certainly put it up to Derry champions Glen last year in O’Donnell Park. That is the mentality, and they want to go a step further”.

Meanwhile Aodh Ruadh who are on four points, struggled to get past Diver’s pointless Ardara on a score of 0-9 to 0-7- and are the fancy to get the better of St Naul’s at home in Ballyshannon.

St Naul’s showed a bit of spirit in their 0-13 to 2-12 loss at home to Glenswilly and they have Stephen Griffin and Brendan McCole back on their team. “I would have to fancy Aodh Ruadh and home advantage and the fact that they are more set up is another plus for them,” Griffin added.

“This is their second year in senior championship football and John McNulty is bringing something extra to them. Ballyshannon have some fine young players and they just need to get a bit of belief in themselves while St Naul’s are having a difficult season”.

Down the road in Tir Chonaill Park, Diver gives a slight nod to home side Four Masters who face Bundoran. Masters have one point but lost to Sean MacCumhaill’s by 1-14 to 0-10-but it is definitely do or die for Peter McIntyre’s Bundoran who badly need a win to survive after two defeats - to Aodh Ruadh and St Eunan’s.

“That could be a very hard one to call but the loss of Paul Brennan is a big blow to them,” Diver said. “Home advantage could be crucial, and Four Masters could nick it by a point. They have a good young pacey team and might just shade it”.

And he believes that enigmatic Gaoth Dobhair should have far too much nous at home to a resurgent Sean MacCumhaill’s. The Gaeltacht men edged out Glenfin by 1-8 to 1-7 to put them on four points while MacCumhaill’s are on three points after a fine seven points win over Four Masters.

“Gaoth Dobhair are unpredictable as they were missing nine against Ardara and still had a fine win,” Diver said. “And then they could go out the next day with a much stronger team and still lose.

“Oisin Gallen is a huge asset to MacCumahaill’s will have confidence after that big win at the weekend, but it is always hard to win in Magheragallon. They have some fine forwards, but you would have to fancy Gaoth Dobhair”.

Meanwhile, the visit of Diver’s own Ardara to Kilcar in Towney could be a painful one. These neighbours are going in opposite directions.“That’s a tough one and when we are away from home it makes it even tougher and Kilcar should take this match with something to spare,” he said. “Kilcar beat Milford well and are brimming with confidence with their marquee forwards and they seem to be sorting out their back line and are on full points and they have already taken the SFL by beating Naomh Conaill which should boost their confidence even further.

“We are in transition and have a lot of players missing and are struggling for numbers-the underage is promising but that will take time”.

But matters could be a lot closer as St Michael’s entertain Naomh Conaill at The Bridge. St Michael’s had an easy away win over Milford while Naomh Conaill beat Killybegs by 1-12 to 0-9 at home and have full points.

“I would fancy Naomh Conaill but St Michael’s can always put it up to anyone at The Bridge,” Diver added. “Naomh Conaill have got over that first draw with Glenswilly. Had St Michael’s got over the line against Glenswilly a few years ago - they might have gone on and won a few championships. But that did not happen, and time seems to have run out on them. On paper they should have won championships, but they just came up short”.

Hugh McFadden has made a successful transition to full-forward for Killybegs and Diver fancies them to have too much for visiting Milford.

“Hugh and Eoghan Ban are vital, and they also have serious pace while Milford are struggling this year,” Diver added. “Having Hugh on the edge of the square is a big option and Killybegs have two points and will be keen to get into the quarter finals. It is difficult for Milford to keep coming through every year”.

Finally, the Michael Murphy factor could be key as Glenswilly have a derby tie with neighbours Glenfin. It is do or die for Glenfin after two defeats and they will bring a huge battle.

“Glenswilly have three points and Michael Murphy is unmarkable at club level once he puts his mind to it,” Diver added. “Glenfin are great battlers, but I just don’t think they have enough to beat Glenswilly. And Glenswilly will not be taking their foot off the pedal”.