BY RYAN FERRY
HUGH Harkin believes it will be a ‘pretty wide open’ Senior Football Championship this season but makes Four Masters favourites to clinch the Dr Maguire Cup.
Former Termon manager Harkin has been a keen observer of the rise of the Donegal Town club and is impressed with what he has seen.
Last year, Masters took the championship by storm only to lose to eventual winners Naomh Conaill in extra-time.
Since then they have added an Under 21 crown as well as Division 1 and 1B titles to the trophy collection, and Harkin feels they are hungry to land the big prize.
“I think no more than the All-Ireland Senior Championship this year, it’s pretty wide open.
“With these new rules, all it takes is a bit of momentum.
“Naomh Conaill weren’t caught last year but Four Masters, Termon and Gaoth Dobhair all would look back on their knock-out games and say they should have won them.
“I would say Four Masters are the team to beat. The depth of panel that they have and the sheer number of two-point threats they have, their athleticism.
“Paul Fisher is looking after their S&C so you have serious people involved with Barry Dunnion as well.
“They would be slight favourites for me. They have two Under 21 titles, they have a league title and a reserve title so there’s only one thing they are gunning for now, and I’m sure no stone will be left unturned so I would have Four Masters just ahead of Naomh Conaill.
“After that, there are five or six clubs thinking if things fall our way we can get to a semi-final or final and as Mayo showed at the weekend, you just never know.”
The Championship buzz is gradually building but there’s unlikely to be a blockbuster start to the action when it begins on August 8.
A host of quality players have spent the summer in America and it will be a round or two before they appear.
Some clubs might be able to ease their way into the championship and peak for the knock-out stages but others can’t afford to write off a match.
Harkin said: “I would say the likes of St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill have a longer-term picture but everybody else – even the likes of Four Masters, Termon and Glenswilly – they will have to be at it from day one because they don’t have that pedigree that they can assume that they will start winning matches when it really matters.
“There’s been a great break from the end of the league so I think most clubs will be ready.
“Even though there are a lot of good players still in America, I think there are going to be some serious battles on the opening weekend.”
Division 1 of the All-County League was quite competitive this year with Four Masters, Dungloe, St Eunan’s, Termon and Naomh Conaill all in the mix.
It was rare that any side was anywhere near full tilt but Harkin still feels solid foundations will have been laid.
“I think teams are using the league to dry run everything and to have all their processes and plans in place.
“While personnel might change, their style of football and their flow will all be stuff that they have run through in the league.
“They might not have shown it every week, but I can’t see teams changing massively in terms of how they approach the game.
“Mayo’s win on Sunday might make some teams look at a high press more.
“Michael Murphy was pushing that at underage with Glenswilly over the last few years and with Darren (McGinley) now in charge they could go with a high press because they have a young team with legs and energy to do it and it could be a game changer for them.
“I would say everyone else will be playing with the style they showed during the league.”
The opening weekend does serve up some interesting battles with Four Masters taking on Killybegs, and new boys Naomh Columba travelling to Glenfin, while St Eunan’s will entertain Aodh Ruadh.
Dungloe and MacCumhaills has the makings of a good tussle in Rosses Park, and Ardara will entertain Kilcar, and Naomh Conaill begin their defence at home to Downings.
Harkin will have a keen interest on Termon’s clash with Glenswilly at Páirc Naomh Columba, while Gaoth Dobhair will have a point to prove against St Michael’s after losing a big relegation tussle in the league.
“That Gaoth Dobhair – St Michael’s game, you’d imagine there will be a great edge to that.
“Glenswilly against Termon is a good game as well.
“Termon will be going up there hoping for the best, but it’s your home games that you absolutely have to win.
“Day two against Glenfin is probably more important for Termon in a way.
“Last year, Termon lost their first and third games away from home against Killybegs and St Michael’s and just struggled against seasoned teams.
“So it’s a big challenge this year to go up to Glenswilly and see if they can be in the game with five minutes to go. I think that’s set up to be a clinker on that Saturday evening.”
It isn’t all about the Senior Championship and Harkin thinks the Intermediate Championship could be a cracker this year. It’s not an easy task to pick out who might win the Cathal McLaughlin Cup.
“The Intermediate is nearly ridiculous in terms of just how many teams will think they have a chance of winning it.
“Naomh Muire have done a serious body of work under Danny (O’Donnell) over the last couple of years.
“St Naul’s will have their county men, Muff are a team making progress and Buncrana are a side who have probably underachieved in the Intermediate.
“Even the likes of Fanad, Carndonagh and Milford would fancy their chances of beating any other team in the competition on their day.
“Malin have been in two finals over the last few years and they probably start as favourites but it’s going to be very competitive.
“It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of shape the county men are in. If Peadar Mogan is playing at 11 for Naul’s or Conor O’Donnell is 11 for Carn, they are going to have a serious shout of winning big games.
“I think the Intermediate will be a brilliant competition.”
Letterkenny Gaels lost the Junior ‘A’ Final to Carndonagh last year, and while the likes of Naomh Ultan, Naomh Brid, Urris and Convoy will all fancy their chances, Harkin is in no doubt who will carry the favourite’s tag.
“It’s so important for Gaels as a club that they can’t even countenance not winning it.
“They have done the work and have underage players coming into the team every year.
“Aidy (Glackin) has a good set-up around him and they are working with Antoin McFadden as well.
“I think they have to get to Intermediate and hang in there for a few years.”