Joyce McMullan (Four Masters): The two best teams in the county will face off in Sunday's final. St Eunan’s have been putting up big scores throughout but have struggled to finish teams off. They will need to be up for it from the word go against a Naomh Conaill team who simply do not entertain second place. They struggled at midfield without Kieran Gallagher against Glenswilly and had no answer to Michael Murphy, yet they got over the line. They have added some youth and pace, and they also have tons of know-how.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill
Eamonn McGrath (Aodh Ruadh): Naomh Conaill have a good mix of youth and experience, along with the know-how to win, but the loss of quality players like Kieran Gallagher and Eoghan McGettigan has to have an impact. With the addition of Niall O’Donnell and Ciaran Moore since the quarter-finals, St Eunan’s have a massive boost. Based on the quarter-final and semi-final evidence, if they can put together a full 60-minute performance, they’ll be hard to stop.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Owenie McGarvey (Ráidió na Gaeltachta): The big two are back in the final again, on the back of some good and not so good performances during the championship. No other club could put up with losing Eoghan McGettigan and Kieran Gallagher and still probably be favourites on Sunday. However I feel if Eunan’s play like they did v Dungloe/Gweedore for a longer period of time, they should prevail in a titanic struggle.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Mauric McLaughlin (Ocean FM): The resilience of this particular Naomh Conaill group is something which will be difficult to match; how they have done this is testimony to a group who are worthy champions. St Eunans have been a bit of an enigma this season playing champagne football on occasions and mixing this with the mediocre however I do feel if Eunan’s can deliver a 60 minute performance they may just shade a very tight encounter.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Daire Gallagher (Dungloe): I think we’re in for a very high-quality game between two different teams. St Eunan’s are very good starters, while Naomh Conaill are excellent at closing out games. The match-ups will be crucial, and whichever team gets them right could ultimately come out on top. Eunan’s are clinical up front while Naomh Conaill have pace and power on counter-attack. I think St Eunan’s will have learned from their last two games.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Stephen McFadden (Gaoth Dobhair): I think St Eunan’s were electric how they came out all guns blazing against Dungloe and ourselves and it will be big if they can maintain that momentum with explosive players like Shane and Conor Jnr (O’Donnell). You can’t ever write Naomh Conaill off, but with Kieran Gallagher out, they may struggle with an out ball.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Darren McGinley (Glenswilly): I don’t see anyone running away with it. It’s going to be a brilliant game. To win the championship, you have to beat Naomh Conaill. But they are never out of it. St Eunan’s will probably look at some of the trouble we caused them at times and I wouldn’t rule them out. It’s going to be very close. But with the bench they have, late on, I just see Glenties pipping it.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill
Damian Devaney (MacCumhaills): After watching both semi-finals, I can’t wait to see this game on Sunday. A lot is being made of Eunan’s coughing up leads but they also pulled them back, like against ourselves, when they were eight adrift. The likes of Finnbarr and Shane O’Donnell going head to head is one of a number of great match-ups. I’m going to call a draw and hopefully another day out.
Verdict: Draw
Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s): Eunans have had a strong championship to date, but Glenties, after giving Termon a trimming, you thought nobody would beat them. Losing Kieran Gallagher and McGettigan, they’ve lost a bit of dominance and scoring power, which brings them closer again. I just think that ‘Eunan’s have a bit of a younger and newer team and some of them are going for their first championship, whereas Naomh Conaill have the know-how, and the big day won’t affect them.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill
Eoghan Ban McNelis (Ardara): Naomh Conaill are so strong all over the pitch. Even without Eoghan McGettigan and Kieran Gallagher, they got the job done against Glenswilly. If this goes down the stretch, and Glenties are there or thereabouts, they will have that know-how. Eunan’s have the talent but I don’t think they will have the experience Naomh Conaill have in that decisive last quarter.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill
Brendan Kilcoyne (Highland Radio): Naomh Conaill have been the SFC favourites from the start and they’ve overcome two difficult recent tests while St Eunan’s have mixed the sublime with the not-so-good. I do think the defensive frailties on show, if they can be rectified, they have the firepower to get the job done. I just feel the loss of McGettigan and Gallagher levels it out and I see Eunan’s just about getting across the line.
Verdict: St Eunan’s
Jack McSharry (Killybegs): St Eunan’s have struggled towards the end of games but have been excellent in spells. Naomh Conaill have done what they do better than anyone and that’s get over the line. If Eunan’s can put a 60-minute performance together, they’re in with a great chance. Glenties still have a massive performance in and I see them just getting over the line.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill