Naomh Columba calling for more of the same

By Michael McMullan

RELIEF was the key emotion for Naomh Columba manager Brendan Doherty after ending their losing streak in Donegal finals.

Looking ahead to this Saturday’s Ulster Intermediate quarter-final date with Carrickmacross, he wants his side to replicate the form that landed the county title.

While Ulster is an unknown minefield for Doherty, he was present in Inniskeen to run his eye over Carrickmacross in their eight-point win against Killanny in the Oriel decider.

“We’re really looking forward to it and we’re relishing it,” he said of Saturday afternoon’s return to Inniskeen.

“I watched Carrickmacross play there and they’re going to definitely be a formidable position, but we’re going to enjoy it.

“I believe that if we play like we did in Donegal, I think we’re in with a really good chance.”

Ulster was the furthest thing from their minds weeks ago. After Naomh Columba lost the 2022 final to Dungloe and against Termon last season, beating Malin was the only show in town.

Coming into the Donegal final, performance was the key ingredient. That was the regret from their final defeats – not putting their best foot forward.

“Relief, without a doubt it was relief,” Doherty echoed of the days after seeing off Malin to land the silverware.

“I couldn’t understand these managers who say it’s relief. You’d always think it’s pure joy, but it’s not. It’s pure relief.

“That comes especially after what happened on losing the previous finals.

“Listen, there’s no getting away from it, our history in finals, going back a lot of years, has not been good. It’s a game that we had to win and thankfully we did.”

What was the secret to turning defeats into success? It was simple. In Doherty’s book, pressure didn’t come into it. There is always pressure when playing games.

Naomh Columba kept the build-up low key. The result would always look after itself.

“We knew in our previous finals we didn’t perform,” he said. “That’s what we should have been looking for, a performance.

“You only get one chance. If you don’t put in the shift, you don’t put in the performance, you don’t put in the work, then you don’t get the reward. So thankfully it all worked out for us this time.”

Another important ingredient is timing. In his second year as manager, Doherty reshuffled his selectors. There was also the factor of getting all their pieces for the puzzle.

“We got a few players who decided to come home and play in the championship,” he pointed out

“Ryan Gillespie and Fionn Gallagher came back from London and Australia respectively.

“Philip Doherty was in the county squad last year. He got an ACL injury and he came back as well so it was all about timing for us.

“Philip missed the county final last year and his first game back was the first game of the championship.”

They also had Aaron Doherty coming back from county senior duty, adding to the overall picture.

“The timing just couldn’t have been better for us,” Doherty said. “The two or three players that had a long-term injury came back. Along with the county players, along with players that were away abroad that had come home, the cards fell for us this time.”

Verdict: Naomh Columba