Diver has change of heart and opts for Naomh Conaill to upset St Eunan’s

Damian Diver has backed St Eunan’s in this year’s Donegal SFC since before a ball was thrown into the air - but now believes that Naomh Conaill could spring a surprise in Sunday's Donegal SFC final in Ballybofey.

And while the former Ardara and Donegal great concedes that on form, Eunan's are fancied, he saw a few previously unforeseen perceived weaknesses in the formidable armoury that just might let his neighbours Naomh Conaill in for victory.

Diver previously stated that St Eunan's could make waves in Ulster, but now believes there is potential for Naomh Conaill to get goals against a full-backline that is vulnerable in his estimation.

Diver also pointed to Eunan's keeper Shaun Patton's hesitation under a high ball as another factor which could work in Naomh Conaill's favour. His change of heart is mostly based on what he saw in Letterkenny side's 1-13 to 1-11 victory over a Kilcar side who gave them some anxious moments before Eunan's came through.

“St Eunan's were coasting until Kilcar got that goal coming up to half time which changed things,” Diver said. “It was a shot of Paddy McBrearty's that dropped short and Jason Campbell was a big man on the edge of the square and he got his hand to it for a goal. And it is a wonder that they did not play in a few more balls like that into him - when he was inside but no ball came in.

“Kilcar got the first three scores in the second half and Eunan's were on the back foot then and it was a different game. But Eunan's re-asserted themselves and got the result”.

However, when it was suggested to Diver that Eunan's victory was really more than two points, he said he was surprised by some of their tactics.

“To me they tend to overdo all that intricate passing,” he said. “Yes they have men running off at different angles a bit like Arsenal in their heyday they overdo the short passing. They are nearly trying to walk the ball through and I nearly think they could cut out those three or four passes.

“Kilcar were much more direct - a few hand passes and they were straight over the bar. They did not need extra men coming on the loops.

“And if you are looking at Sunday's county final, there's goals in it for Glenties. St Eunan's looked very open at the back at times. And if you take that game on Saturday and pause the video at certain places you will see that Eunan's went man for man and they had plus one in their backline.

“But if you pause it in certain parts you will see there is a big gap between their full back-line and their goalkeeper. Kilcar got through for a goal and a few other times were through as well and I just think that there are some question marks over St Eunan's defence.

Diver admitted that Saturday night's game has made him reconsider his views on Eunan's.

“Yes there were times when Kilcar opened them up and Naomh Conaill might go a bit more for the jugular up front,” he said. “I think there could be two or three goals in it for Glenties.

“I think the high ball into St Eunan's square will work for them. They have the big men inside and they did not do it at all in last year's county final. Shaun Patton is still a bit tentative under the high ball and he could be tested on Sunday as he tends to punch the ball away as opposed to catching it.

“But, if the Kilcar keeper Kevin Campbell had done the same as Patton they would not have conceded that first goal-he should have tried to punch through the ball to get some distance away from his goals.

“There are some chinks in St Eunan's armour but sometimes you are better getting games like that out of your system in semi-finals.

Magic moment of Donegal's first Ulster in 1972 will be recalled on Sunday

Pauric McShea was part of the Donegal side who won their first ever provincial title in 1972 and the panel will meet up and be the guests of the county board for the half-time parade at this Sunday's Donegal SFC final

“They can be dour, and you can sometimes get two teams who don't want to lose rather than to go and win a semi-final. Maybe Eunan's will have got that game out of their system and come out in the final with no monkeys on their backs and go for it. But they are over-elaborating too much at the minute.”

Diver did say that three St Eunan’s players in particular caught his eye on Saturday in Ballybofey.

“Conor O'Donnell Snr was the one man I thought put some pace through that middle third and Darragh Mulgrew and Ciaran Moore were also noteworthy,” Diver added.

“They have men running towards them to take the ball from them and they end up in the same position as the fellow that had the ball in the first place. I just don't understand football like that.

“St Eunan's did not panic when under pressure and they kept playing the same way which shows a fair degree of confidence in their system. That won't change and that is what won them the county final last year.

“And I can guarantee you that no St Conaill's man will get a hand on a Eunan's man as they just don't allow it. The ball will be shifted when there is a Naomh Conaill man within three yards of a St Eunan's man.

“The only place where there will be big turnovers will be when the ball comes into the square and Eunan's will keep the ball until they get a space and then they will inject pace through the middle. But on Saturday night I thought they did not inject enough pace through that last third”.

With that in mind, Diver explains his change of heart, now opting for Martin Regan’s team, who are contesting their sixth final on the bounce and are eager to make up for last year’s 1-11 to 0-4 loss against St Eunan’s.

“I think there are at least two goals in it for Naomh Conaill and they did that against Glenswilly,” Diver added. “I think there are openings in the Eunan's full back line, and I think that line stood off McBrearty and allowed him to kick balls over the bar. You just can't do that with McBrearty and he needs to be closed.

“Ciaran Thompson is capable of doing this and Leo McLoone could be coming on the loop from corner forward which is different from Paddy McBrearty. There are gaps in St Eunan's defence and Saturday night showed that and they will need to put in some cement in that area for Sunday's game. The final will be much more competitive than last year. If Naomh Conaill can't get out of their own half they could be in trouble too. Shaun Patton's long kick-outs are also a great asset as well.

“I am a big underdog man and underdogs Naomh Conaill could pull it out of the bag. St Eunan's are going for two in a row and that is never easy. On form they are the favourites, but I just think there could be a shock. And from watching Eunan's on Saturday night I think there is definitely scope for Naomh Conaill to go at them and win the game”.