BY RYAN FERRY
IT’S a big few weeks ahead for the Cill Cartha GAA club as they prepare to host the National Finals of Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta and they will get a trial run this weekend when the Donegal finals are held in Towney.
The club have spent the last few years gearing up for the June Bank Holiday weekend when clubs from Gaeltacht areas all over the country will make their way to the locality for a big weekend of football and culture.
Preparations are going well behind the scenes and the Cill Cartha club will have a semi-final in the national competition as the host club.
However, they would like to go into it as Donegal Gaeltacht champions and are eyeing up success this weekend.
They will have to see off Ard an Rátha on Saturday evening (throw-in, 6pm) first of all to progress through to the decider.
“There’s a couple of very big weeks coming up for the club in general and definitely for the senior team,” said Cill Cartha manager Mark Sweeney.
“We have the county Gaeltacht this weekend and Ardara this weekend so that will be a tough, tough battle for us.
“We have four league games played at the minute and we have done alright. We have picked up five points from eight so we are content with that anyway and it’s been a good enough start to the league.
“We can turn our focus to the County Gaeltacht this weekend and really go for it when it’s in Towney and it will be good preparation for everyone for the June Bank Holiday.”
Sweeney is in his second year in charge of his home club and they had a tough start to 2025.
They had to wait until mid-June for their first league win but still managed to stay up and then reached the quarter-finals of the Donegal SFC.
Cill Cartha did win the Under 21 ‘C’ Championship late in the year and that has helped with young players like Liam McLaughlin, Michael Gallagher and Jack Hegarty showing well.
“At this time last year we have probably lost four games on the trot.
“It was really tough with a new-look team and young players coming in.
“Looking back, it was a challenging time but we probably gained a lot from it and those young players have improved.
“We got a crop of minor players through this year that are fit to play adult football and they are a massive help and a new boost of energy for us.
“That Under 21 success last year definitely gave us a good boost as well.
“They came forward in good shape and were ready for action early in the year and that left us better prepared.”
One man who hasn’t featured yet this season for Cill Cartha is Patrick McBrearty.
The former Donegal captain stepped away from inter-county football late last year, citing ongoing issues with a knee injury.
The attacker is still working his way back and this weekend’s games will come too early for him.
“Paddy is still a bit unsure on what the exact story is.
“But I’m confident that we will have Paddy over the next four to six weeks and then definitely for the later stages of the league and championship. That’s the plan.”
Another man that Cill Cartha will be without this week is Mark McHugh who is managing Westmeath and they have a big Leinster Championship semi-final on Sunday.
“At the moment with Westmeath he is very busy.
“He is still about the club and is putting a lot of work in with coaching and we are hopeful that we will have him for later in the year.”
Sweeney says there is a good buzz around the local community as the June Bank Holiday edges ever closer and upgrade works at Towney are sure to be a hit.
“There’s a lot of good work going on.
“We have new dressing rooms built and we have a new stand that is almost completed.
“There will be a full pathway and a brand new fence around the main field and we had to raise the bank to put in that fence.
“So from a spectator point of view, you’re going to have very good viewpoints around Towney pitch now and not just on the Grandstand, but right round it.
“There’s a new club executive in since 2025 and they have done a massive, massive amount of work throughout the whole club. They have developed a gym for underage right up to the senior team.
“They have run fundraisers and are just bringing it all together to make sure things fit in place for June.
“When you have good people involved, you’re a big step forward.”
Traditionally the county semi-finals would be held on the Sunday before the finals on Monday but they have been moved to the Saturday this week which should suit players from all teams.
Gaoth Dobhair and An Clochán Liath will renew acquaintances in the first semi-final and the games will be difficult to call.
“It will be a good weekend of football.
“From the senior competition, you have four good teams left in it and any of them could win it.
“You’re definitely going to have close games.
“Ardara won’t be coming to Towney to be pushed about anyway.
“We have had many battles with them over the years and we expect nothing different.
“They won’t fear us or any of the teams that are left. It should be a good battle.”