There's a busy day in store for Naomh Columba's Colin McNelis

Today is going to be a busy day for Naomh Columba reserve manager, Colin McNelis, who is also on the backroom team of the club’s senior team in the Intermediate final.

McNelis has plenty of pedigree, having played for the club and his dad, Michael was a former player and manager for many years.

The last time Naomh Columba had both teams in a final was back in 1998 when they lost out in both finals to Aodh Ruadh. They did get back to a final in 2011 but for Colin McNelis, he feels that Naomh Columba would like to be back in senior football.

“It is probably too long for a club like us, we want to be back at the top table. We are working really hard at underage. It’s far too long for the tradition of the club. I suppose the last few years we have been building something to get to days like this and hopefully we can get a couple of good performances.”

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It is not easy for a rural club but McNelis says the players are always willing to give the commitment.

“I  think between the two squads, we have an excellent group of players and they have great pride in the area, great pride in the club,” he said. “They are dedicated to their club, dedicated to where they are from and that’s probably the backbone of it. I would say they are excellent ambassadors for Glen. Some of them are travelling from Dublin, some are coming from London.  They just want to play for their club.”

He also feels that the reserves have benefited greatly from training with the senior panel.

“Absolutely. For the reserve panel,  we would have a very young side. And to be able to train with the older lads, to be able to learn from them, to pick up their skill, their good habits, has been a massive help for the reserve squad.

“It makes training a better standard. When the reserves go out to play then themselves, they are used to training at a good level so they get used to playing at a good level.”

As for his role today, McNelis says it will be no different to any other day.

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“It is busy. You are constantly looking at the watch. You’re so focussed on the reserves and trying to get a result there. I have a very good management team with me. You want to get some time with the players afterwards, no matter how it goes. 

“It’s been like that all year; I can’t complain, it has worked well so far this year and hopefully it works well on county final day. I’m just delighted to be involved at senior and reserve and any wee bit you can do for your club, that’s what it's all about.”

He agrees that they have had a good run so far in the championship.“We have I suppose. The very first game we played up in Ballintra. Ballintra were a very physically strong team but we had a comfortable enough victory. We took a bit of belief from that and we have built through the championship since that. We had a couple of comfortable results.

“Convoy were probably our toughest opponents. We played them in the championship here in Glen and it ended in a draw; we played them in the league and it ended in a draw. We are expecting the same in the county final, it is going to be very tough.

“I think we built momentum through the championship and we seemed to get better game by game.

“They are a good side, much like ourselves with some young lads and some older lads who are physically very strong. I think it is going to be a good final and hopefully we can come out on the right side,” said McNelis.

A busy man is Colin McNelis - who also got married right in the middle of the championship!