“We can’t give Glenties that many chances” - Ryan McHugh

The win takes Kilcar into the top four in the table and they have the chance to remain there if they can get the result against Naomh Conaill in the final group game on Sunday when all games will throw-in at the same time (3 pm)

On Saturday at an emotional home game for the Kilcar club after the tragic loss of James and Noreen McHugh in a car accident, the team responded with a magnificent performance, especially in the second half, and by the final whistle of Mark Dorrian they were worthy winners by three points (2-17 to 1-17).

It was one of the best games of football witnessed at the venue and central to the win was the performance of Ryan McHugh, who said it was difficult to know what sort of game it was when you are fully involved in it.

“The two Marks (Mark McHugh and Mark Sweeney) on the line said it was a wile game of football, so we’ll watch it back and we’ll enjoy watching it back.

“But we’re just delighted to get over the line. Listen, it’s a cliche, but we came here to win and thankfully we’ve done that. We were up against one of the best up and coming teams in the county and they have a lot of good players all over the pitch.

“They probably would have been disappointed they didn’t go in, maybe more up at half-time. There was a wee bit of a breeze and they probably kicked a lot of wides in that first half and I suppose they will be a wee bit disappointed with that,” said McHugh, who felt his side will need to be tighter when they face Naomh Conaill on Sunday.

“I suppose it’s something for us to work on going into the Glenties game, that we can’t give them as many chances.

“But listen, we’re delighted to get over the line. It’s another two points on the board and hopefully that sees us through to the next round.”

The first half saw Kilcar hit two goals which kept them in the contest, the first set up by Ryan McHugh for Ryan McShane to finish while the second was a great individual effort from Eoin McHugh.

“I suppose Eoin’s goal, to be fair to him, it was unbelievable the way he took off. He got the ball around the half-way line and it was a huge score at the time because we were under a bit of pressure to be fair. We had got off to a marvellous start with the first goal and we were two up

“But then to be fair to them, they put a lot of pressure on us, on the kick-outs and stuff and got a lot of possession. We struggled to get up to the pitch and even though a couple of times we did get it, they were turning us over.

“They'll be disappointed in themselves, they kicked a lot of wides in the first half, but we can only concentrate on ourselves.”

Going into the second half a point down, it was Eoin and Ryan McHugh who set the standard for Kilcar with a brace of two pointers each, which really put them on their way.

“They're such big scores in this new modern game, you know, and thankfully we got them in the second half.”

McHugh agreed that it was a difficult day for the Kilcar club, being the first home game after the loss of James and Noreen McHugh.

“To be fair to the Kilcar club and the whole community, they came together when James and Noreen passed away and really gave the McHugh and O’Donnell families huge support.

“I know it was a very tough time; it is going to be tough times, you know, especially for Eoin and Emma and the whole family. But to be fair to the whole community, we came together. And I think that's the way we've played this year, to be fair. We've really played as a team and got together and backed each other up.

“Yeah, of course you're going to make mistakes here, but we've really backed each other up and I think we showed that out there today,” said Ryan McHugh.