BY RYAN FERRY

NAOMH Columba manager Brendan Doherty believes there is an extra drive to his team this season that might not have been there in the past.

Doherty’s charges sailed through the group stages and were the better team against Buncrana in the quarter-final.

However, the Inishowen side hit a purple patch and Naomh Columba found themselves one point down heading into injury-time and staring at elimination.

When the pressure was on, they found the answers down the home straight and scored 1-2 much to the delight of their supporters.

“Maybe we would have crumbled in the past but I think there is a bit of drive to the team now.

“It was swinging away from us at one stage with a couple of minutes to go.

“They got their few two-pointers and were coming strong.

“But there was composure from the team. We never panicked.

“Fair play to Paddy (Byrne) for going for the goal. Most people would have went for the point and brought it to extra-time.

“We’re delighted to get through but we have nothing won yet.

“We’re just in the exact same position as the other three teams.”

Naomh Columba’s fitness stood out at the Burn Road as they were able to drive up the field in the closing exchanges and get the scores they needed and that pleased the manager.

“We have worked very hard on our fitness this year.

“The longer the game went on the more we seemed to have in our legs.

“I am delighted with the work the boys have put in and it showed.”

Next up for Naomh Columba is Red Hughs and Doherty and his team will respect the challenge that they present.

There were some struggles during the league for the Glencolmcille men but Shane O’Gara has since returned to the goals after a spell with Finn Harps.

Ryan Gillespie and Fionn Gallagher have come back from their travels to play while Philip McNern has also made a timely return from a cruciate injury suffered in last year’s quarter-final.

Alex Cunnea is enjoying a fine first year of adult football, while in Aaron Doherty they have a hard-working half-forward who will dictate affairs even when closely marked.

“Listen to be fair, it’s a completely different team now than from the league,” said Doherty.

“We got men back and that’s made a difference.

“There’s a couple of men who were away and didn’t play at all in the league and of course Aaron is there now as well after the county and Philip Doherty is back from injury.

“It is a completely different team. The way I see it is momentum is everything.

“Termon went through the group stages last year unbeaten and that brought them forward.

“We have that at the moment, but every game is different and you just don’t know.

“One thing we have learned from last year is if you don’t get the performance, you don’t get the victory.”