BY MATTHEW WILSON

Buncrana are entering this weekend’s Intermediate ‘B’ decider aiming to replicate the success that they enjoyed a decade ago, back in 2015.

The Scarvey residents have had a decent campaign to date, beginning the season with a fourth place finish in a competitive Division 1B of the league.

As one of only two Intermediate sides playing top tier league football, alongside their Inishowen neighbours Malin, Ryan Bradley stated that it was something which has certainly stood to the group this year.

“We’re going alright now. Division One did really help the team this year, it kept them fit and it probably stood to the boys a lot.

“It’s massive. You’re playing at the highest level of reserve football and that’s where you want to be, you want to be playing the best all of the time and it definitely stood to us.”

The Buncrana men had a good run in the Championship in 2024, reaching the last four before falling to eventual champions Termon.

The Scarvey residents have managed to go one further this year and Bradley discussed the great work that Paul McGonigle has conducted within the club over the last two years in order to be able to construct these deep runs.

“We’ve had great numbers over the last couple of years. Paul McGonigle has done a great job there getting numbers down to training, there’s been a big effort these last two years. Our squad has been good and we should be alright for Sunday.”

The 2015 Intermediate ‘B’ Champions were triumphant in two out of their four group outings, including a fine win over Sunday’s opponents on home soil in the early rounds.

They went on to book their place in this weekend’s showpiece with convincing victories over Red Hughs and Naomh Columba in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

However, Bradley is expecting a huge test this Sunday when they meet Burt in a Inishowen derby and expressed that the group are looking forward to it.

“We drew to Malin in the first game, we won the rest and then we were beaten by Fanad in the last game of the Championship which was probably a dead rubber game.

“They’ve been moving well in the last three games but come Sunday, it’s a local derby so past results don’t mean a whole lot when it comes to the final.”

“It’ll be a tough game on Sunday, local derby’s always are. Hopefully it’ll be a good game but it’s definitely going to be tough and we’re looking forward to it.”