Gaoth Dobhair's Friel back in contention when it matters most

For the second week in-a-row Niall Friel got game time with the Gaoth Dobhair senior team, after being out injured for the last three months.

Friel came in just before half-time and hit two second half points as his side went down to Naomh Conaill in Davy Brennan Park, Glenties.

The Magheragallon men travelled south, safe in the knowledge that they had already secured a quarter-final slot and they were able to rest a few players with slight knocks.  But Friel was still a little disappointed at the five point defeat.

"We still came up here to win the game, there is no point in saying otherwise,” he said. “Just on the day Naomh Conaill were the better side. I suppose in the back of our heads we did know that we were qualified. The likes of Cian Mulligan had a knock, Ethan Harkin had a knock, so we were down two men.

"But we still came up; at the start of the week we were confident that we were going to take on Naomh Conaill, but as everyone knows, it's very hard to get a win up here and fair play to them, it was a good performance out there today from them."

Gaoth Dobhair had won their opening three games against Ardara, Glenfin and MacCumhaill's and Friel felt there were positives for his side.

"From a personal point of view for myself and Odhrán Mac Niallais, it has been three months. Last week I got a bit of game time but it was three months since my last outing. So I suppose this game did give me and Odhrán a bit of game time, seeing that we were already qualified.

"But again it's very hard to get up to speed there with the Naomh Conaill boys, and even our own  boys out there, the 15 that have been playing every week have been putting on a good performance so me and Odhrán are going to find it hard to get back into the first 15."

When put to him that he might be challenging for a place in the forwards after hitting two points, he laughs: "I think I was put up there because the legs weren't there to track back. No I don't think that's my natural position but any day you get two points you're happy enough." After the game it was learned that Gaoth Dobhair would be pitted against Aodh Ruadh in the quarter-final.

"We played Ballyshannon in the league. They are a team that are coming. They have had a lot of underage success and they have finally kind of found that togetherness. They are four from four in the championship and any team that has that momentum; and then they have a lot of good young fellas and experienced heads about.  They have won the intermediate championship and it's hard to beat winning games.

"Success breeds more success so it's going to be a very difficult game. We played with a lot of them lads in underage squads.  They are a lot like ourselves and they always have three or four up around the underage squads. We know exactly what's the task ahead of us. Aodh Ruadh seem to have got their ship in order and it's going to be a massive test in two weeks' time."

As for the year so far, Friel thinks it has been a positive one for the Gaeltacht men, even though they were not in contention for the Division 1 league.

"Yeah, I  suppose you could look at it (league) as a disappointment but I think we found a lot of players in the league. With all the injuries we had,  the positives are that we blooded a lot of young players, young Dáire Ferry has come in; Aodhan Breathnach, Fionnan Coyle. Micheal Roarty has been a great find. And them young fellows have to step up. They're probably the ones that have been carrying us through the championship.

"Somebody pointed out that there is only three or four from the Ulster winning team so it is good to see them young fellows standing up. Maybe if the likes of Odhrán (Mac Niallais) were playing all the leagues, them young fellows mightn't have got the chance but they are really putting their hand up and as I said, it's going to be hard to get back into the first 15."

And while they might have avoided the two big guns in the last eight, Friel feels they will have a tough task.
"On paper St Eunan's and Kilcar, they are a bit out there. They seem to be the two form teams in the county. But that Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon team are winning games and they are gaining confidence  and it's hard to beat having confidence. Yeah, on paper we avoided the big boys but I think Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon will be rubbing their hands too. They will think they can get the victory against us," said Friel.