ST EUNAN’S minor star Evan Hickey hopes his team’s success on Wednesday night can be the springboard for more silverware at underage level.
The O’Donnell Park club led the way at juvenile level for many years but have been a bit off the pace at minor grade in recent years.
Hickey and his teammates are well aware of the expectations for those wearing black and amber, and they are hungry for more titles.
“It was mentioned in the dressing room before the game that we are a big club.
“You see at senior level that we are getting titles but nothing has been coming through at minors.
“It was definitely our goal to get a few titles and hopefully this will be a springboard for a couple of good years of success for the club.”
St Eunan’s have had a consistent run from the start of the year and will hope to push on in the championship.
However, things will pick up a notch when all the county minors are back in the swing of things.
There were MacCumhaills and Four Masters players watching on from the stand at Páirc Naomh Columba but Hickey welcomes the competition.
“You want to win every game that you play in and that’s what we set out to do at the beginning of the year.
“We went hard at the Northern Board League and won that and now we have the All-County.
“We have the Championship to look forward to and there will be a big push now.”
There’s rarely much between the teams when Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s clash and Hickey’s side had to work hard for their victory.
“It was a tight game to play in and that wind wasn’t easy.
“As you could see, there were a few handling errors.
“But in the second half against the breeze, we nearly played our own game and we weren’t forcing shots or anything.
“We moved the ball well and I think we held our shape well in defence so we would be pleased with that.
“It’s a credit to the lads in the end that even with tired legs, we kept our discipline and managed to hold them out.
“We got a black card but still managed to push on.”
Hickey is juggling his minor commitments with senior football and has been given his debut by former Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly.
“I’m playing a wee bit of seniors. I made my debut about two weeks ago.
“It’s a great experience. The training is class and Kieran is great.
“I’m enjoying it and if we have minor matches or training, Kieran understands and lets us batter on.”