'It's about the win at the end of the day, so we have few complaints' - Doogan

Donegal League manager John Francis Doogan praised his side’s effort to break away from the Leinster League team in the second-half to run out of Ballyare 4-2 winners and advance to the last four of the Oscar Traynor Cup. 

And while the Keadue man acknowledged that his team made it hard on themselves at times, he noted that his side has been the underdogs in all their matches so far, so to be in the position they are in is a testament to the players’ effort.  

“I think we were our own worst enemy, we kept getting sloppy and complacent at times, but that happened up in Inishowen as well where we turn off for a minute and gave away sloppy goals and we then had to work hard to get back into the game, but it’s cup football and we know that sort of stuff will happen,” said Doogan. 

“Look, it’s all about winning at the end of the day and we’re just happy that that’s us into the next round now, so, we don’t have many complaints, but it was a nervy game overall.” 

Doogan stated that the nerves before the match mostly stemmed from the question marks that were hanging over some of his player’s fitness. 

“We were worried about the fitness of some of the boys before the game, like Eddie O’Reilly was worried about his hamstring beforehand,” said the Donegal manager. “He had a few chances but with his fitness problems he was unfortunate to miss a lot of those efforts, whereas a sharp Eddie is putting them away all day.” 

Doogan also notes that the penalty save from goalkeeper Blake Forkan in the first half to keep the tie 0-0 was a massive let-off for his side and perhaps a turning point in the match. 

“I think the penalty save from Blake was massive because that would’ve boosted the opposition,” he said  

“Like, that Leinster League team is a top side, I watched them in Dublin two weeks ago and they had a very different team today and a far better team out today than the one I saw in Dublin, so that was a great result for us.” 

In analysing the match, Doogan praises the character of his side, stating that when the team needed leaders to drive the side to victory, his whole team stepped up, with particular praise for the older players. 

“The one thing this team has is character, when you need leaders, we have lads to step up. We saw it with Paul’s (Boyle) goal in the second half to put us 3-2 up, so we’re lucky to have match-winners all around the side. 

“And the lads never gave in, we probably could’ve had another goal and ran away with it in the last 10 minutes, so I’m very happy with the lads’ effort and a win at this level, we’ll take it. 

“You look at the older players, it’s great for all of us to be around lads who have been there and done it and are still holding their own at a top level. If you look at the older boys, they’re nearly the men that are flying into challenges more so than the younger lads, so, we’re lucky to have them.

"We have been the underdogs in all our games so far, so to be where we are currently, we can't have many complaints."