'To come out of here with a victory is a great boost': John Francis Doogan

John Francis Doogan believes the standard has raised considerably in the Donegal League this season.

The Donegal League manager saw his side edge a five-goal thriller at Maginn Park on Wednesday night, when an added-time header by Paul Boyle secured a first leg advantage in the Oscar Traynor Trophy opener against the Inishowen League.

The demise of the Ulster Senior League, ending intermediate football in the county, has seen the likes of Bonagee United, Cockhill Celtic and Letterkenny Rovers return to the junior ranks.

“Those are the best players in County Donegal going hell for leather against each other,” Doogan pointed out after a breathless encounter.

Donegal League hit late winner at Inishowen League in first leg of Oscar Traynor clash

Defender Paul Boyle headed a 92nd minute winner as the Donegal League drew first blood in the opening leg of their derby joust with the Inishowen League in the Oscar Traynor Trophy at Maginn Park

“We had two top teams on display out there. You could see the quality with the chances that were created; it could have been two or three-all by the tenth minute. It was frantic stuff.

“The standard has definitely raised in the Donegal League.”

Conor Tourish’s return to Finn Harps from Letterkenny Rovers and the recent departures of Ronan McKinley and Shane McGinty from Kildrum Tigers to Dergview and Institute hit Doogan’s selection, but the Keadue Rovers clubman was delighted to se his men carve out a dramatic win.

Kieran McDaid and Luke Rudden drew Inishowen level after Edward O’Reilly netted twice for Donegal, but Boyle rose to head home a last-gasp winner.

Doogan said: “It’s great to get the victory. To come out of here with a victory is a great boost. Even in the last couple of minutes were were talking whether or not to have a go. We would’ve been happy enough to take the draw back to Ballyare.

“A couple of boys transferred back to senior football who we would like to have, but for the first time since before the Ulster Senior League we now have the best players playing in Donegal on the one team.

“We spoke at half-time about just sitting in because they weren’t hurting us. We did, but they got two quick goals. The heads could’ve went down, but we regrouped and got a good goal near the end to win it.”

This is the first running of the inter-league competition since the 2019/20 season, when the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic brought it to a swift halt.

Doogan has drafted ex-Finn Harps players Mark Forker, Christy Connaghan and James Doherty onto his backroom team and will hope to have Doherty and goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley - both of whom sat out Wednesday’s opening leg through injury - available again for the second leg at the start of February.

He said: “We didn’t want to hammer the players because the clubs are busy. We had two friendlies and we haven’t got them in for sessions. It’s not about reinventing the wheel with these lads, it’s just getting them accustomed to each other. There isn’t much you can teach these players so it’s really about familiarity.”