Oscar Traynor Cup clash remains on a real knife edge says Shane O’Gara 

Shane O’Gara expects Sunday’s Oscar Traynor Cup second-leg clash to go right to the wire. 

The Donegal League custodian and his teammates travelled to Maginn Park back in mid-December and came away with an encouraging 2-2 draw against Diarmuid O’Brien’s Inishowen charges. 

Both outfits have had to contend with the Christmas break since and with the weather wreaking havoc in recent days, it’s been difficult for either side to really reconvene and reset. 

The Donegal and Inishowen Leagues were also affected by sleet and snow at the weekend although some games did go ahead. 

Still, it leaves both O’Brien and Donegal League boss Eamonn Sheridan operating a little off the cuff approaching Sunday’s crucial clash. 

Reflecting back on their original meeting, O’Gara says it was a good result for the visitors but explains that Inishowen will be just as dangerous on the road as they were on their own patch. 

“I don’t think it counts for all that much,” he said on home advantage. “But there is that familiarity there now and both sides know a little more about themselves and each other.  

“We wanted to give ourselves a real chance in the second leg back in Ballyare. So it was important at the time, before Christmas, to go up there and take something back down the road. 

“Like, they are a really good side. They keep the ball well and they’re really good technically. To be fair I think we did well in that game too. We kept a good shape and limited them to a small number of chances. 

“But they grabbed two goals, one was a penalty but the other was a piece of real class from Luke Rudden”.

READ NEXT: Gardai probe attempted arson at Kildrum Tigers ground 

The Glencolmcille native, who also mans the sticks for Stephen McConnell’s Letterkenny Rovers, says the current cold spell means Sunday could be all about rolling up sleeves and digging out a win. 

“Conditions were terrible in the first leg and judging by what we’re experiencing this week, it’s going to be more of the same. But December and January, that’s par for the course. 

“As a goalkeeper it’s even more trickier. With two sides like this, whoever makes the least mistakes at the weekend will win the game. The margins are that thin”.