IT was a difficult few days as the wake and funeral of James and Noreen McHugh took place but you saw the strength of the GAA in the midst of it all.
I think the Kilcar club deserves huge credit for how they stepped up last week and made everything run smoothly.
I had no doubt that they would help in any way that they could but there were a lot of people and logistics to contend with.
Volunteers came forward to play their part and do what they could for the McHugh and O’Donnell families.
It’s championship time now and people get worked up about results and then there are trips to Croke Park at various stages of the year.
But it is the people that make the association so strong and the community ethos is something that we should cherish and protect.
GAA folk came from all over the country which shows the impact that the McHugh family have made.
It will have been a challenging week for everyone but particularly Eoin and Emma, who are heartbroken at the loss of their parents. Their strength was remarkable and they certainly did James and Noreen proud.
I mentioned last week that with so much going on, there really aren’t that many opportunities for the 1992 team to meet up.
James is the first player to go and the sudden nature of his death stung a lot of people, there’s no doubt about that.
It was nice to meet the boys and talk about some of the days from yesteryear and some of the great wins we had.
I was speaking to Charlie Redmond from Dublin who I hadn’t seen in many years, and he talked of what a great player James was, and some of those big battles from the nineties.
I know there will be tough days for the family ahead but they have good people and a good community around them and that will help.
Championship
Round 2 of the Championship took place last week and Naomh Conaill’s second half showing against Aodh Ruadh showed that they are probably getting things together.
Ciaran Thompson is getting back into the swing of things and Max Campbell and Odhran Doherty came on in the second half.
They will gradually build from here and I still think they are the team to beat.
St Eunan’s weren’t overly impressive against MacCumhaills last week and it took a great score from Eoin McGeehin to get a draw.
Oisin Gallen didn’t feature in that match but MacCumhaills asked plenty of questions.
Dungloe have won their opening two games and they have shown a lot of consistency over the last three years.
Gaoth Dobhair also has maximum points and they will start to feel better about themselves now.
We aren’t really seeing the cut and thrust of the championship yet but there are some good games down for decision this week.
Termon had Naomh Conaill on the ropes last year in the quarter-final and they will meet in Davy Brennan Memorial Park on Saturday evening.
Termon’s record in Glenties is poor but they will be looking forward to this match.
I expect Naomh Conaill to be considerably stronger than what they were for their last home game with Downings with Finnbarr Roarty and Shea Malone back in the mix, and I fancy them to see off Termon.
Glenswilly have been going about their business impressively and they host Killybegs this time out.
Michael Murphy is kicking two-pointers for fun and they have Daithi Gildea and Donal Gallagher back at home now and Glenswilly are a team to keep an eye on.
Killybegs will feel they could have got something from the Dungloe match but came up short.
They will need a huge performance on Saturday but Glenswilly should take the points.
It will be an emotional evening in Páirc Taobhoige on Saturday as Kilcar take to the field to play Glenfin.
Kilcar’s focus wasn’t on football last week and it can be difficult to pick things up again although I am sure they will want to do James proud.
Glenfin lost out to Termon last week despite another strong showing from Shaun Ward.
It could be close but Kilcar could shade it in my opinion.
On Sunday, Downings travel to Rosses Park to face Dungloe and it was feisty when these teams met last year.
Cian McBride caused Dungloe problems in that game and it will be a challenge for Noel McBride and his side this week as they don’t have that big unit in the middle of the field.
But when you look at the overall balance of both teams, Dungloe are stronger in a number of different lines and they should make it three wins on the spin.
St Eunan’s will be hoping that Niall O’Donnell comes back from Chicago to face Naomh Columba this week.
When you look at the team that faced MacCumhaills last Sunday, it definitely wasn’t the strongest ‘Eunan’s 15 I’ve seen.
Shane O’Donnell was brilliant and it was good to see him taking on more shots, but he will need more help.
Naomh Columba have found the step up from Intermediate a steep one so far and I can’t see them getting a result in O’Donnell Park.
Ardara beat Aodh Ruadh last year and they square off in a big game in Kentucky on Sunday.
Even at this stage, it feels like a key game to see who might be able to avoid the relegation play-offs.
Ballyshannon started well against Naomh Conaill but couldn’t keep it going.
I expect Ardara to get their first win in Round 3.
It’s youth against experience as Four Masters host St Michael’s in Donegal Town on Sunday.
St Michael’s saw off Ardara in Round 2 but this is a tough match for them.
Masters have men to come back in this weekend and I still think they are one of the top three. They should have too much for a seasoned St Michael’s team.
Gaoth Dobhair and MacCumhaills know each other well and they had a good game in Convoy last year.
Will Oisin Gallen be back this week? He could make the difference.
Gaoth Dobhair aren’t firing on all cylinders yet but they could come through a tight match in Magheragallon.
Intermediate
In the Intermediate, St Naul’s have stepped it up with two wins and Carn and Fanad will also be delighted with their form.
Naomh Muire don’t seem to be the same animal away from home and they lost to Burt.
Bundoran appear to be struggling and they shipped goals very early against Buncrana as they went down tamely last time out.
Muff and Malin played out a thrilling draw last week and both of those teams will think they can do something in this championship.
Malin have got Bundoran this week and I can only see a win for the Inishowen side in that.
Fanad have had a really good two months and the Gaeltacht success seems to have really galvanised them.
They have Naomh Muire this week and in Portsalon, I fancy Fanad to win that match.
Milford have been missing some important players but they will be very disappointed with their first two outings.
They have a must-win game against Red Hughs now. I don’t know if Stephen McMenamin will be back or not but Milford should have enough to win that match.
St Naul’s had a turbulent league in the third tier but the three county players have lifted things massively by all accounts.
They are now being talked about as real contenders and should beat Burt on Saturday.
Buncrana should see off Cloughaneely at home and if Conor O’Donnell is playing, I think Carn will take Naomh Pádraig, but if not then it could be a defeat for the Foden side.
Junior
My own club Na Rossa are going well in the Junior Championship and have two wins.
We have good numbers back out at training and the boys are looking forward to the Robert Emmets match.
Emmets put it right up to Naomh Ultan so it won’t be easy.
Letterkenny Gaels aren’t playing this week and even though they drew with Naomh Brid, they are still the team to beat for me.
Convoy and Urris are playing this weekend and it looks like the loser might miss out on the knock-out stages.
You’d have thought Naomh Colmcille, no more than Na Rossa, had no hope based on league form but now both sides have two championship wins.
It looks like Newtown are getting their act together once again and it will be interesting to see how things play out for them.
It’s a long season and gym sessions back in December and January are largely forgotten about now.
For smaller clubs, it’s hard to be at it all year around when you don’t have the numbers.
But whether you’re senior, intermediate, or junior, this is the time now where you really have to find your best form or else your season could be over prematurely.