Stephen Griffin pays tribute to county men in relegation win over Bundoran

After securing their senior championship status with a win over Bundoran in Tirconaill Park, veteran St Naul's man, Stephen Griffin, was happy for the club after a difficult year.

He also revealed that they had challenged their two county players, Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan, to lead them out of the Last Chance Saloon and paid a huge tribute to them for the part they played in the win.

"It's been a really, really tough year and we didn't really deserve anything else but to be  here today. We knew we were going to have to dig it out. That's what we kinda emphasised on.

"The first 10 or 15 minutes things were very scrappy and poor and that was nerves, nobody wants to go down. We eventually got into the game and got our scores and got ahead. That was the main one, getting ahead. We've been behind in most games and chasing games; our big aim was to get ahead today."

But after the nervy opening both Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan really showed their worth, McCole moving onto Bundoran dangerman Jamie Brennan and Mogan coming alive around the middle, creating and taking chances.

"The two of them really stood up.  And to be honest we really put it on them this week. We really kinda said, they are the men to lead us. To be fair the boys stood up and answered it. What more can you ask of them, they are two county men and everybody in the club looks up to them.

"We needed big performances from them today, both of them. We put it on them this week that we needed two big performances and in fairness they answered it in spades," said Griffin, who agreed that others like Stuart Johnston, John Rose and Barry Griffin also played a leading role in the win, saying "them boys have been around the block".

And talking of having experience, Stephen Griffin also came up with the scores, especially at the start of the second half which put St Naul's into a comfortable position.

"I've been around the block a few times, aye. We needed to get that space, because Bundoran are a dangerous team and can get goals. We were very wary of that because we hadn't been putting up big scores. We knew that if we conceded goals we were going to be in big trouble. To be fair we kept them out. The one time that they got through, we relied on Gavin (Mulreany) and he made a big, big save.

"But that is the type of 'keeper he is. Gavin is one of the best in the county. We have missed him big time this year. We were lucky to have him back today."

St Naul's secure senior championship status over injury-ravaged Bundoran

The Griffins, Stuart Johnston, John Rose and especially county men Brendan McCole and Peadar Mogan were to the fore as St Naul's had a comfortable win in the senior championship relegation battle with Bundoran

The win leaves St Naul's in the senior championship draw next year which Griffin thinks is very important for the club.

"We've been up since we won the intermediate, which is not long, 2019. It would have been a real backward step to go back so quickly. We didn't turn into a bad team overnight, but we got what we deserved this year, which was a scrap. And then it came down to today, which was a lottery. 

"Now we have to decide are we going to go like last year or are we going to go like this year. I would rather be in the senior championship than trying to win the intermediate, which is a dog fight," said Griffin.