BY GERRY MCLAUGHLIN
Donegal will aim to park last week’s Conor McGurk Cup Final as they head to Garvaghy this Sunday to face a physical Tyrone side in Division 3 of the National Hurling League.
Mickey McCann’s men looked on course to win the pre-season competition but lost out against Derry when they conceded a last-gasp goal.
If any man didn’t deserve to lose the riveting final, it was surely Donegal marksman Gerry Gilmore.
For the Setanta star hit nine points including two monster 90 metre frees, and another from the sideline in a man of the match performance.
Ever the perfectionist, Gilmore rued two frees that he missed but this does not diminish a great display in the slightest.
Donegal were the better team for long periods but once again Derry came with a late surge and in this case, it was grand larceny.
It was a recurring theme for Gilmore and co on a day when both sides served up some splendid fare.
“When you come to a final you want to win, but most of all you want to perform,” Gilmore told the Donegal News.
“We were looking for a performance and that is what we got in this game especially after the Tyrone game where we were a bit rusty stick wise.
“But the hard few weeks training that we did over Christmas really stood to us and both teams gave it a real good go today.
“We were very unlucky to be pipped at the end.”
There was another key moment in the first half when Liam McKinney was clean through on goals and his shot was brilliantly saved.
So instead of a six-point cushion, Donegal only led by two points as Derry responded with a swift score. And Donegal were 0-14 to 0-11 up when Gilmore missed a rare free towards the end of a memorable battle.
“We were in front by a few points a number of times in the game, but we could not see it out and we just need to be ruthless.
“Derry was very ruthless but it was ideal preparation for Donegal’s opening tussle with Tyrone away next Sunday.
“You always get a big battle with Tyrone as they are a big physical side, and we had quite a tussle with them last week (in the McGurk Cup).
“They are in your face, and we know what to expect from them and we need to match that and more and get the first two points of the League and push on.”
Division 3 is very competitive as Donegal have Tyrone, Wicklow, Armagh, Roscommon, Louth and Fermanagh for company and they entertain the Ernesiders In their second game.
Gilmore and co will be hoping for full points from these opening games as Donegal plan to get back up to Division Two after narrowly losing out last year.
“It’s a very competitive League and in winter hurling any team can beat any other team on any given day.
“It is a hard division to get out of but we were very unlucky to go down last year as it came down to ourselves and Derry in Celtic Park.
“But once again we were leading the whole way and then they end up beating us by four points.
“This is a bit of a pattern with us and Derry as we can be on top for 55 minutes or so and then they kick on and there is never too much between us.”
Donegal will be buoyed by two great tests in the McGurk Cup as they contemplate Tyrone on Sunday in Garvaghy.
“We have had great preparation for the League, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
