1. Four Masters ahead of schedule

It’s widely anticipated that Four Masters will become a leading force in the Donegal Senior Football Championship over the next decade such is the conveyor-belt of talent coming through.

They have cleaned up at minor level in both Donegal and Ulster in recent years.

It’s no great surprise they have hit the ground running at senior level and have reached a first semi-final in 13 years.

The future is certainly bright when you consider Lewis McCaughan, Conor McCahill, and Turlough Carr are in their first year of adult football, while Callum McCrea, Seanan Carr, David Monaghan, and Kevin Muldoon played for the county Under 20s this season, and Conor Reid is still Under 21.

They have already won the Under 16 County title so there are more players coming as well.

However, the focus is on the here and now, and whether or not they can land a big scalp against Naomh Conaill and reach the County Final?

It’s going to be a big challenge physically but the same was said ahead of the Dungloe quarter-final and they dealt with that threat.

And Barry Dunnion and his backroom team will have seen how Termon’s athleticism and energy caused problems for Naomh Conaill last week.

Reaching the final is a tall order but these young Masters players are ahead of schedule and have a great record in semi-finals.

2. Gaoth Dobhair players have bided their time

While Four Masters have flooded teenagers into their side, Gaoth Dobhair have taken a different approach.

Donegal Under 20 player Cathal Ó Gallchoir is an exciting defender but with minor and senior commitments, Rónán Mac Niallais is managing his workload.

Gaoth Dobhair are another club who have had underage success but a lot of their players have had to serve their time in the reserves.

Eoin de Búrca, Eamonn Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stephen ‘Donna’ McFadden, Fionnan Coyle, Adam Mac Íomhair, and Cathal Gillespie were all part of the Gaoth Dobhair side that lost the Senior ‘B’ Final to Aodh Ruadh two years ago.

However, they have continued to work at their game and are now integral players of the first team.

Gaoth Dobhair have needed those players to step up as well as few teams have been hit as hard by emigration as the Magheragallon club.

Cian Mulligan, Odhran McFadden-Ferry, Kieran Gillespie, and Micheal Carroll are all players who have represented Donegal at senior level who are not in the country at present, and you can add in Niall Friel and Naoise Ó Baoill as well. Gavin McBride and Cian McEntee are also out injured.

The likes of Ethan Harkin and Mícheal Roarty, who are in their mid-twenties, have stepped up to the plate as well.

Gaoth Dobhair only lost by a point to eventual champions St Eunan’s in the semi-final last season and they will fancy their chances from here on.

3. Termon have platform to build on

There was immense disappointment for Termon on Sunday evening.

They had Naomh Conaill on the ropes and looked like they were going to claim another famous win.

However, it didn’t go their way at the death and they were left stunned

It has been said that they lacked experience and while it is true that a senior quarter-final was fresh territory for most of the group, that assessment is a tad harsh.

Their captain Ricky Gallagher is a seasoned player who had a superb championship, and he really should have been awarded a free when his side were three points up in injury-time.

It would have been a chance for Daire McDaid to score a two-pointer and even if the ball didn’t go over the bar, it would surely have eaten away some crucial seconds.

The Burn Road club have a young side and it’s definitely been a season of progress when you consider they won the Division 1 League.

Donegal U20 player Cian McMemamin, who is arguably their most gifted player, was out injured for the full championship, while Bobby McGettigan was only able to play a bit-part in recent weeks.

If those two players are back and firing next term, they will be a more potent side, but a solid winter of gym work will be required first.

Cormac Gallagher on the ball for Termon against Naomh Conaill.

4. Can Langan’s x-factor lead St Michael’s to the final?

You could make a strong argument that Michael Langan is the most influential player in the Donegal Club Championship.

Oisin Gallen would have his backers and Sean MacCumhaills certainly missed him last week.

However in Langan, St Michael’s boast one of the finest players in the country, and they are a completely different side when he plays.

Granted, they defeated Kilcar in the quarter-finals last year without him, but the previous season when he was injured, the Creeslough/Dunfanaghy men ended up in the relegation play-offs and were thankful that Langan was fit enough to return and guide them to a narrow play-off win.

It would be unfair to say it’s a one-man effort. Carlos O’Reilly has had a fine championship, while defensively they are excellent.

Michael Langan is the man that provides the x-factor and his ability to kick two-pointers makes him particularly hard to stop at club level.

The county star was just back in the country after aborting his travels for last year’s semi-final against Dungloe and didn’t have his best game.

Gaoth Dobhair will be wary of him and it would be a surprise if Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde doesn’t follow him everywhere in O’Donnell Park.

However, Langan and St Michael’s will know with an ageing team, there might not be many more chances, and they have to make the most of Saturday’s opportunity.

5. League form irrelevant in Intermediate Championship

In the lead-up to the Intermediate Championship, league form is usually used as a gauge to see how things might play out.

However, it wasn’t a good guide this season.

Malin struggled in Division 1 and were relegated and had no momentum heading into August.

Naomh Columba were off the pace in Division 2 but have a much stronger team now than earlier in the season.

In contrast, Naomh Muire showed great consistency in winning promotion to the top tier but struggled to sustain that for the full season. That leave us with a Naomh Columba v Malin final and both teams have keen knocking on the door in recent years.

It was interesting that Malin used veterans John Gerard McLaughlin and Stephen McLaughlin for the first time this season in the semi-final, and in some clubs that would provide friction but there does appear to be a good culture at Connolly Park and a common goal to land the IFC crown.