BY CHRIS ASHMORE
The incentive of going straight through to the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor Cup is a big one for both the Donegal League and Inishowen League – that’s the view of Donegal League captain Gareth Harkin after a hugely entertaining first leg yesterday at Diamond Park, Ballyare.
With the Donegal League winning 3-2, it is very much still in the balance as the side must meet again next month in what will be an eagerly awaited second leg.
Harkin, pictured right, now 37, knows well that either of the leagues from the county have a good chance in this top competition which features the best of junior soccer in the country.
And certainly yesterday’s serving was a credit to all and shows the high standard here in the county and just why both camps have good grounds for optimism that they could even go all the way.
The pity is that only one team from Ulster will progress, and yet again the Donegal League and Inishowen League are pitted together.
“We are under no illusions that this two-legged game can go either way, in the last couple of years there has only been a goal in it, and we had penalties last year.
“We know it is going to be tough down there, but to get to a semi-final is a great carrot, and you never know you might get a home draw in that as well. It’s a great opportunity but there is another game to go before we think about those things,” he said.
Reflecting on the game, and the fact that the Donegal League had a 3-0 lead at half-time, he said: “We definitely got the break of the ball in the first half and I think the weather conditions made that, in fairness. But we took our chances in the first half and they took theirs in the second. Overall, it was probably a fair result.”
The former Finn Harps, Derry City and Coleraine man agreed that both teams had tried to play good football in what were very tough, wet, windy and cold conditions.
“It was a fast paced game, both teams were trying to get the ball down in difficult conditions. It was a good game to play in, and it suited us with the attacking players we have. We have a lot of pace up top. I don’t think we utilised it as much as we should, but we will worry about it another day.”
