Duddy’s delight at Naomh Ultan’s young guns

With both sides already through to the knock out stage, there was the feeling that table toppers Urris were not going to be at full tilt when they arrived in Dunkineely on Saturday evening.

That does not detract from a fine victory for Naomh Ultan who played some sparkling attractive football and hit some fine long-range scores in a 1-10 to 0-5 win.

Naomh Ultan’s 41-year-old player manager Aiden Duddy is out with a hamstring injury and was watching from the line-but he paid tribute to his young guns who really came of age.

Duddy was well aware that Urris, who beat St Eunan’s in a fine match last week, could be a different proposition at the business end of things.

Erskine goal secures impressive win for Naomh Ultan over Urris

Naomh Ultan claimed an eight-point win against table-topping Urris in Dunkineely on Saturday evening

“I have a hamstring injury but when you have young lads like that there is no point in an old man like me getting involved,” he quipped.

“We have a group of players who want to play, and they are training hard, and we are sticking with them but we are still only at the quarter final stage and we still have a lot to do.

“We know that Urris were not going at full pelt. They were coming down here with full points and knew they had a quarter final and we were well aware of that.

“We wanted and needed to win and give the people who come here week after week something to look and I feel we did that tonight”.

When told about his side’s remarkable pace from defence, he paid a particular tribute to youthful full-back Jack Boyle who was switched to mark Dean Kelly of Urris.

Duffy said: “He had a good shift, but we had a fair bit of pace in the side and Dermot Gallier is a good option up front.

“He is very experienced and a great leader for the young lads.  We were more concerned about our game, and we brought that game to the match today.

“Evenings like these are great for our small club.

“I coach the under-9s and it is very encouraging for them to see victories like these in their own ground.

“We struggle at times for numbers here and there are players on the boundaries who could maybe play for us, but you play with what you have got. A win like this gives everyone a lift."