ST Eunan’s star Conor O’Donnell Jnr was thrilled on Sunday afternoon as they got their hands back on the Dr Maguire Cup.
St Eunan’s secured a dramatic one-point win over reigning champions Naomh Conaill in Sunday’s showpiece at MacCumhaill Park.
The match was all-square as we entered the closing minute, but Ciaran Moore popped up with a late winner for the Letterkenny men, which O’Donnell Jnr was delighted with.
“It was unreal. We started pretty well, we probably controlled the game in the first half and we deservedly went in at half-time two points up.
“We knew that Naomh Conaill would come out and have their purple patch which they did.
“In the second half, we took our chances when they came. When you’ve the callibre of Niall O’Donnell and Ciaran Moore heading down the home straight, it’s unbelievable to see the ball going over the bar.”
St Eunan’s led this contest for the first 42 minutes until Shea Malone fired over a fantastic two-pointer, with Ethan O’Donnell netting just prior to it.
It could’ve served as a real momentum shifting moment in favour of the Glenties men, but St Eunan’s always found a response for whatever was thrown at them.
It displays the character that’s within the group and it certainly stood to them on Sunday afternoon.
“It was brilliant. With that three-point lead that we had, the game wasn’t over and we knew that going down the stretch.
“When the ball fell to Ethan (O’Donnell), it was back to a level game, we just tried to stay composed.
“In the last couple of seasons, we probably would’ve hit the panic button too early. But we went up and got the goal, set ourselves nicely into the game and got the scores in the end.”
It’s been a remarkable couple of weeks for the St Eunan’s club, with their senior sides enjoying success across all codes.
The hurlers and ladies outfits secured silverware in recent weeks, and the reserve and senior footballers added another pair of cups to the O’Donnell Park trophy cabinet on Sunday.
Everyone within the community has gotten behind each of these triumphs and O’Donnell Jnr expressed that the club is on the rise.
“It’s huge, the club backed everyone this year. A huge amount of credit has to go to Eugene Duffy and the backroom team within the executive board.
“Nothing was ever a problem, it wasn’t always a yes but there were discussions going on.
“For St Eunan’s as a club, you want to go to the next level. Challenging for titles is one thing, but you want to win them and retain them.
“You want to get a foothold in Donegal, win a county title and see where Ulster takes us as well.
“For the club as a whole, it’s massive. The reserves won today, as well as the ladies and the hurlers. St Eunan’s is going in the right direction, that’s for sure.”