BY RYAN FERRY
Dungloe defender Jason McBride is looking up the table in the Senior Championship heading into the final round of fixtures rather than sweating about avoiding the relegation play-offs.
The Rosses side only picked up two points in the group phase last season and squeezed through to the Preliminary quarter-finals in 11th position.
This time around they have four points and a plus seven score difference so they should have no bother advancing to the knock-out stages even if they are beaten by St Naul’s this Sunday.
However, McBride isn’t contemplating losing that tie, and a win could leave them in a strong position.
Six points with a healthy score difference could take the Rosses team straight through to the quarter-finals, or at least guarantee a preliminary quarter-final against a lower-ranked side, so there should be no lack of motivation.
“It’s in our hands now which is good.
“I remember when we lost to Gaoth Dobhair last year and you were coming off the pitch waiting to hear about your score difference.
“This year we have had three good games and two good performances but we don’t want to settle for that. We want to kick on now.”
Dungloe have defeated Glenfin and Aodh Ruadh before losing out by a point against St Michael’s in Round 3.
“Looking back at the league now we would have been disappointed with our performances.
“We didn’t get enough results and even in the games we did, we probably felt we didn’t play that well.
“But we have got stronger as the year has gone by. A lot of younger boys were playing in the league and they did well but they are still learning.
“When we were that age, ‘Eddie’ (Adrian Sweeney) and Ray (Sweeney) and those boys were playing and you played very little senior football but we didn’t have any choice this year and boys are probably playing too much before they are ready.
“I think the Ballyshannon game was the first time this season that we had our full panel available.
“Daniel Ward has been out for 18 months but is coming back now and Mark (Curran) is back from the county team.
“We had two good wins and then we were disappointed to lose against St Michael’s.
“The conditions were brutal but we got back level and didn’t kick on.
“if we were sitting on six points it would be ideal but unfortunately we aren’t.”
Dungloe’s panel has a stronger feel this season with goalkeeper Danny Rodgers and full-forward Conor Greene back in the mix.
“It’s definitely a big help to have Danny back. He’s a real leader in the squad.
“He’s kicking very well and he always does for us.
“When he was away for the year, it was a big loss for us.
“But it’s good to have him back and Conor Greene is home all the time now.
“He’s a good target man for us at full-forward and has that bit of experience which is a help when you have a youthful enough team.
“Conor is a handful even at training. There doesn’t be a day marking him when something isn’t ripped.”
St Naul’s have had a disappointing championship so far and have lost their first three outings, and currently sit bottom of the 16-team league.
Their cause hasn’t been helped by an injury to county defender Brendan McCole, but McBride won’t be taking them for granted.
“It’s not that long ago that we were in St Naul’s position.
“They haven’t got the results yet but they are a good team.
“It’s probably similar enough to the other three games we have played in that both teams go into it fancying their chances of coming away with the points.
“They are a good team and it will be all to play for.”
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