St Eunan's Shane O’Donnell: ‘We just decided to stick to the game plan’

With football in the north-west sometimes having a reputation that supersedes itself for defensive football, the cynics had plenty to grip their teeth into when St Eunan’s welcomed Kilcar in the All-County Football League in June.

Played on the back pitch of O’Donnell Park, a pretty uneventful match on June Bank Holiday Sunday saw Conor Cunningham’s side head south with a 1-4 to 1-1 victory.

Of course the correlation between league and championship isn’t one too many read into, with both teams missing a host of players, although St Eunan’s forward Shane O’Donnell believes if you’re not winning you’re learning.

“I was there for a bit of it alright,” O’Donnell, who was a spectator that afternoon whilst still involved with Declan Bonner’s Donegal seniors, said. “I think we scored 1-1 and that was it. It was a bit of a messy one but it was never going to be like that tonight.

“The one thing we learned that day in the league is that Kilcar, even without their county players and a few more, can always put it up to you no matter what.”

On Saturday under the lights at MacCumhaill Park, it was different in the fact the scoreboard attendant was kept busier, while similar in the fact there wasn’t much between the sides. Kilcar, as O’Donnell said, certainly put it up to St Eunan’s.

The half-time St Eunan’s lead might’ve been more as, in first half injury time, O’Donnell seemed to be fouled in the left corner-forward position only to be penalised himself for overcarrying before Kilcar broke and scored a goal right before the interval through Jason Campbell.

As the kettle switch was switched on St Eunan’s were six in front but by the time it boiled that lead was down to three, 1-8 to 1-5, with plenty to play for in the second half.

“There wasn’t much in it,” O’Donnell added. “The goal Kilcar got right before half-time really helped them get back into the game. We didn’t really panic and at the same time we were still happy with how the first half went. Kilcar are a very good team and we didn’t expect anything less from them. They came out then with three-in-row to level it.

“You can see Kilcar can really bring their game to it and they’ll be back next year no doubt. We just decided to stick to the game plan and worry about ourselves and it worked out in the end.

St Eunan’s steadied though and sealed a place in the final courtesy of a 1-13 to 1-11 win and now the focus is on Naomh Conaill, again.

“Naomh Conaill always a good team and they’re always there or thereabouts,” O’Donnell said. “They are never easy to beat. We have a good squad and we’ll need it with just the week's rest but getting to the final is what we wanted so we’re there and we’re happy enough with that.”