Hughie Walsh savours Kerrykeel 71's dramatic Division 2 title win  

Hughie Walsh says Kerrykeel 71 dug in and dug out the result they needed against Convoy Arsenal as they lifted the Donegal League Division 2 league title on Sunday. 

It was all on the line on Sunday at Rab Park as the top two clashed in a contest where all the marbles were on the line. 

And the pressure was on the hosts as Convoy knew that even a draw would have been good enough to see them fall over the line. 

However, Kerrykeel went for it right away but matters remained deadlocked at the break. But the breakthrough came shortly after the restart thanks to Brendon McClafferty. 

Things got even better for the hosts as Brendan McGettigan bagged a second ten minutes out from the end. But Convoy left for a nervy final few moments when Jamie O’Donnell halved the deficit on 86 minutes. 

Still, Kerrykeel seen it out and, in the end, it was a victory their manager felt they deserved.  

Kerrykeel celebrate going two clear against Convoy on Sunday 

“It’s just a really special occasion for Kerrykeel,” said Walsh after. “We knew how big this game was. Convoy came here needing the points but I just felt we deserved it. 

“Just looking at the scenes, all the friends, family and club members just smiling in the sunshine. The support was just massive. 

“Man for man, I felt we were brilliant. It was a long few minutes there late on, it felt like an eternity. People might look in and say it’s Division 2 of the Sunday League but it means the world to us. 

“That’s all local lads out there today - we have no one from outside the area”.

It’s been a brilliant season for the new champions who finish on 44 points from 18 outings, two ahead of Convoy Arsenal in the final standings. 

“We just had the two losses all season, 14 wins and two draws. Our first five games last year we’d five points, this time around it was the full 15. 

“That start was crucial. I think we won our first seven games and then, early in the New Year, Whitestrand beat us.  But we bounced back. 

“To be fair, they have done everything we’ve asked of them on and off the pitch all year. They have been brilliant to work with at training. 

“We have 20 lads most nights, and we used Milford’s astro facility and that was a huge help.

“Down the stretch there, a few weeks back, it was very much in our own hands but we were beat by Letterbarrow. 

“Letterbarrow then went and, fair play to them, they beat Convoy the week after so it just showed how good they are as well. 

“Today… it’s the old cliche, but it really was a ‘winner takes all’.And it’s just lovely to have come out the right side of it”.