KILCAR man Ryan McShane is hoping they can make home advantage count today when they take on St Naul’s.
Michael Hegarty’s depleted side got off to a disappointing start in the championship as they were beaten by 2-12 to 0-9 against St Eunan’s in O’Donnell Park.
County star Ryan McHugh is on his honeymoon so he was missing, while injuries to Ciaran McGinley, Conor Doherty, Jason Campbell and Matthew McClean to name a few didn’t help their cause.
“We knew ourselves that ‘Eunan’s were going to be strong and we were down a few but we still felt we had enough to put it up to them, maybe more than we did,” McShane told the Donegal News.
“Even then because of that we have to take boys up from the reserves which then has a knock on effect there so hopefully can get those lads back sooner rather than later.
“We’ll know better closer to the time but most of them are just back doing bits of running at this stage, Ciaran was togged but there was never any hope he’d come on unless we were badly stuck.
“We were going well in the league and were pushing for a final spot up until the last few weeks but we were down a lot of men for those games and still are.
“But we will have to put it right this weekend and the next few weekends.”
Kilcar will be looking to bounce back this weekend with a win as St Naul’s come to town.
The Mountcharles men also had their own injury problems coming into their opening game with county star Brendan McCole missing, along with captain Ian Campbell and Stuart Johnston also missing.
Glenswilly came away with a 2-14 to 0-8 win as Michael Murphy starred again, so both teams go into this game in search of a first win.
But McShane is hoping to make that Towney advantage count, like they did last year when the pair met, with the game level coming into the final third before Kilcar finished strong to win by seven points.
And despite the opening day defeat, expectations are still high with the 2017 champions.
“It was close when we played last year and we kind of pulled away at the end.
“We know the likes of Peadar Mogan will be a man that’ll need stopping but it should be a close game.
“It’s really important, you only have two home games left and for the rest of the campaign you’re on the road at neutral grounds.
“But it is really important when you do have the home advantage to make use of it, Eunan’s made use out of it against us and we’ll have to do the same this week.
“We always have a good support in Towney which does help and we have a solid enough record there so hopefully we can continue it.
“Last year’s draw was tough when we got Glenties who went on to win the thing but this year we’ll be looking to win it (the championship) just like every other year.
“We know it’ll not be easy with the teams that are there and obviously Eunan’s and Glenties are going very well, then Gaoth Dobhair made the final last year and MacCumhaill’s are up-and-coming so it is a very tough championship but we’ll always have high hopes of going the whole way.
“But again at the moment it is just trying to get through the group stage and take it from there.”
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