Letterkenny Gaels and Naomh Ultan clash for Junior B crown

Letterkenny Gaels are back and bidding for back to back Junior B championship titles when they face a Naomh Ultan side looking for their first win in the competition since 2013.

Charlie Creevy and Nicky McGarrigle are Gaels’ joint player-managers and Aaron Stewart is the team captain. Letterkenny Gaels had two points to spare in a 0-9 to 0-7 win at the end of last year’s final against Naomh Padraig, Lifford.

It has been an up and down campaign so far, Creevy said, “We received a walkover against Carndonagh which was not what we wanted because we wanted to be playing football. We beat Lifford in the second round and then lost to Naomh Padraig Muff. We were probably over-confident going into that game and Muff turned us over.

“It was the kick up the backside we needed and we played well and beat Robert Emmets in the quarter-final and Muff in the semi-final after extra-time.”

There was very little between the sides and it took extra-time to finally separate them, with Gaels squeezing through 1-10 to 0-11. The Letterkenny Gaels team and squad is much changed from last season.

“We are missing a lot of players but in fairness the young lads that have come in have stepped up to the mark,” said Stewart.
“They are young and have loads of pace and have been a huge addition. It is good to get back to the final for the second year in a row and now that we have achieved that it would be great to win it. But Naomh Ultan will have other ideas and they beat a fancied Lifford, in the semi-final and go into the final as favourites. ”

The Dunkineely based club last won the Junior B back nine years ago when they defeated Letterkenny Gaels, in the final on a 2-9 to 0-9 scoreline.

Naomh Ultan are managed by Dermot Brosnan, with John Boyle and Peter McParland members of the backroom team.

“We are naturally delighted to be in the final and looking forward to it,” says the Naomh Ultan manager. The Dunkineely side go into the final on the back of an epic extra-time semi-final win over Naomh Padraig, Lifford, 3-12 to 1-16.

“I think fitness got us over the line at the finish,” team captain Adrian Nesbitt said. “We rode their luck at the end of the game when Naomh Padraig missed a glorious opportunity to win the game.

“Football is about taking your chances but looking back on the championship we were lucky to beat Urris in the last group game too. Urris missed a lot of chances on the day.”

Naomh Ultan take an unbeaten run into the final with wins over Malin, Robert Emmets and Urris in the group stages and they certainly have been wracking up big scores in those games and in particular they have scored a big number of goals.
In all they have posted 12-41 points in four games - an average of 3-10 a game. The captain along with the Murran brothers Darragh and Paul make up a potent full-forward line.

“It is a typical reserve team made up of a mix of older and young players and we are fortunate to have a number of very good young players who are good enough for the senior team,” Nesbitt added. ”For one reason or another they have not given the commitment this season but I would be hopeful after this season and the run to the final they will play senior football next season," added the team manager.

The captain along with Martin Shovlin Jnr in the middle of the field and Aidan Fisher at cornerback bring a wealth of experience to the Naomh Ultan line-up.