Dungloe were on the button and we weren’t - Naomh Columba manager McGinley

Naomh Columba manager Paddy J McGinley was gracious in defeat following their Donegal IFC final but disappointed that his team simply did not perform on the day. 

He was particularly disappointed for the massive Naomh Columba support packed into the O’Donnell Park stand, who saw their seniors lose out 1-8 to 0-4 against Dungloe, following on from their defeat to St Mary’s Convoy in the reserve final.

“We played second fiddle all day,” MCGinley said. “Dungloe were the better team by a distance. They were on the button, we weren't. Everything we did was laboured. We won the toss but we didn’t get out of the blocks at all. We were chasing the game from very early. When you go three or four points behind you playing with the wind it is a tough task in the second half.” 

McGinley also acknowledged that three points down at half-time, 0-4 to 0-1, was not insurmountable in the second half. 

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“We had six opportunities at the beginning of the second half and a couple of turnovers before Dungloe registered another score,” he said. “But we failed to score. “Maybe if we had got closer we may have clawed it back to one or two points. We might have had a chance. 

“But I still think Dungloe probably would have pulled away again. They were on the button and we weren’t for whatever reason. I’m not saying the lads did not put in an effort but I’m not sure any of us were top notch today.” 

The Naomh Columba boss was impressed with Dungloe, their setup and physicality, as the Rosses club made up for the disappointment of losing last year’s final to Cloughaneely. 

“They are a well set up team,” he added. “They are a physically imposing team and they must have turned us over 14 or 15 times. They are well put together and they have 15 fine specimens of men.” 

McGinley felt the Dungloe goal from Darren Curran was the game’s defining score, which was always on the cards once Naomh Columba were forced to come out and chase the game. 

“I’m not sure if we would have got back even if they did not score the goal. But the goal definitely finished it,” McGinley said. “We had a massive crowd here today and that is disappointing but that is sport.  We enjoyed the journey and we enjoyed getting to the final and whoever is involved in six weeks, two months time you just have to brush yourself down and start all over again.”