Regan feels Naomh Conaill 'can find another gear’ in Sunday's SFC final

Naomh Conaill had a chastening experience against St Eunan's in last year's Donegal SFC final - but Martin Regan is not writing off his side’s chances in this Sunday’s showpiece between the two sides.

The Naomh Conaill manager admitted that there were some lessons to be learned while firmly focusing on this year and also acknowledged that his side were below par as they head into their sixth final on the trot.

“The more you look back on last year's final, the more disappointing it is and we were well outclassed,” he said. “Eunan's were brilliant on the day, and they were really impressive.

“If anything, they have actually got better so we have a lot of improvement to do if we are going to be up to it on Sunday. But we feel we have come on a bit ourselves this year and we feel we made it easy for Eunan's last year.

“They kept the ball out of contact last year and they are very well coached in that regard not to take the ball into the tackle, and we did not have many turnovers. It is something they have worked on, but we were poor at the other end of the field. We did not threaten and hopefully we will be better this time”.

Regan has a few doubtful starters due to injuries he could do without, as well as long-term ACL absentees Eoghan McGettigan and Ultan Doherty, who have been out since late last year.

“Ciaran Brennan is out of the equation as he has gone travelling,” Regan added. “Kieran Gallagher is only back a short while and Ethan O'Donnell is going to be touch and go and he has damage done to the knee and out of all the boys he is vital to us so we will give him every chance to recover.

Last year Naomh Conaill, on the back of victory in the deferred 2020 final, came into the decider as favourites following impressive knock-out wins over Gaoth Dobhair and Kilcar against a St Eunan’s side who had yet to ignite. However, in the final, the Letterkenny side put on their best showing of the year to win 0-11 to 0-4. On Saturday, Rory Kavanagh’s team overcame Kilcar 1-13 to 1-11 to reach this year’s final.

“There are no weaknesses and if you look at the bench, they have players that would walk on to any senior team in the county,” Regan said of St Eunan’s. “Their forwards, the two O'Donnells, Eoin McGeehin and Padraig McGettigan are all top class and Ciaran Moore has been a huge addition to them this year. And you have Sean McGettigan, Conor O'Donnell Snr and Darragh Mulgrew all getting forward and all serious threats.

“They had nine different scorers in that semi-final so it is not a case of doing a job on one or two players-the threats are everywhere. Defensively they are very strong as well and I don't think there are any weaknesses in defence. Shaun Patton and Caolan Ward are both county players and if you kick enough high balls in you may get something out of them but more often than not they are coming out with the ball rather than it ending in the back of the net. They are strong all over. Patton's kick outs are a great weapon”.

Regan said he was pleased with the way his side played against Gaoth Dobhair the week before last in a 0-13 to 1-8 semi-final win but insists this will not be good enough to win the final.

“I feel there is an improvement in us, and we can find another gear,” he said. “We will not be too far away if we get a performance”.