The league just isn’t on either of St Eunan’s or Naomh Conaill’s radars - McDaid

Gary McDaid doesn’t expect to see fireworks or any real kind of real needle when Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s clash in this Sunday’s Division 1 league decider. 

Last year’s county finalists are also fated to meet in Round 2 of the SFC group stages but despite the backdrop of last term’s controversial Dr Maguire decider still fresh in the memory McDaid, a three-time SFC winner with Glenswilly, believes the weekend's instalment of this rivalry will be tame. 

And he adds that the appetite for league football in general, within the county, is at an all time low. 

“It’s a funny dynamic,” he said. “Firstly, I think we have to highlight the fact that all the leagues are finished before championship starts. That’s good. If you look at our neighbours in Tyrone and perhaps Derry to a lesser extent, they die for league football. 

“But the interest is just not there here and that’s probably coming from a lot of the clubs. I won’t say all the clubs but the lower down you are in the divisions the more league football probably matters.

“At least you’re looking to avoid relegation, or you’re looking to get promoted. Since Covid, the general public has definitely lost interest in league football. Again, up in Tyrone, chatting to a friend and he was saying at a recent Division 3 league game where both sides were chasing promotion, there were over 400 at it. 

“I don’t think we’d get that at any league game out here. The fact is, for both Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s, the league is well down the pecking order or priority list”. 

The fact that both sides are shy some of their best talent right now means Martin Regan and Rory Kavanagh will simply view the weekend as another competitive chance to run the rule over their fringe options.

The Cathedral men have been without the three O’Donnell brothers, Shane, Conor and Niall who, along with Padraig McGettigan, are all currently Stateside while Naomh Cionaill have soldiered on minus both Eoghan McGettigan and Jeaic Mac Ceallbhuí.  

But Glenties have, to date, also been very careful with their experienced core of Anthony Thompson, Brendan McDyer, Leo McLoone and Eoin Waide. 

The real value or opportunity in  this one, McDaid says, exists for anyone looking to force their way into either side’s championship plans.  

“Definitely - that’s what the younger lads will feel here. Both sides have very competitive squads and they run their benches. Rory and Martin will have looked at the league, on the whole, as a chance to unearth two or three more options for championship.

“So lads will want to be a part of that. But there just won’t be that edge to this. There mightn’t even be that much of an edge to their championship meeting. 

“They are both going to have to weigh that up. With the squads both have, finishing second in the group mightn’t be that big of a deal. I believe it’s an open draw in the quarter finals anyways. 

“The reward for finishing top might simply be an extra week off as the remaining quarter final preliminary round games are tidied up. Both managers will just have to look at all of that a little closer to the time”.