Mark Forde, Joe Kennedy, Sean Dunnion, Patrick McBrearty, and Eoin Waide
AN exciting Michael Murphy Sports & Senior Senior Football Championship Final lies in wait this Sunday as Kilcar and Naomh Conaill go head-to-head in MacCumhaill Park.
Kilcar are desperate to get their hands on the Dr Maguire Cup as they haven’t won it since 1993.
Naomh Conaill have won three titles since 2005, and are determined to add to that tally this weekend.
Kilcar reached the final last year, but suffered the pain of defeat. Glenswilly were as far out as 6/1 when they shocked the Towney men in the decider.
Naomh Conaill are priced as underdogs this week at 11/4, with Barry Doherty’s Kilcar tipped to do the business at 4/11.
However, the Kilcar manager played that down in the lead-up to the final.
“The favourites tag really means nothing to us,” said Doherty, who is in his first season in charge.
“It’s an experience the lads felt last year (in defeat to Glenswilly) and it didn’t go well for them. This year, we’re just taking a certain approach.
“Things like that are out of our control so we just turn a blind eye to it all.
“We certainly won’t be complacent. Where are the grounds for us to have that mindset? I mean, we’re desperate to get over the line here.
“We are determined to give the best possible account of ourselves and we’ll see where that leaves us when it’s all over.”
Naomh Conaill are back in the final for the first time since 2015 when they got the better of St Eunan’s.
The team has been tweaked since then, but their main men such as Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson, Brendan McDyer, and Marty Boyle are still all to the fore.
They are chasing their fourth county medal this week and team manager, Martin Regan feels his club’s golden generation would be good value for their collection if they see off Kilcar.
“I think so. When you see what they have given to the team, a lot of them are playing 13, 14, 15 years,” said Regan, who has a slight doubt over Ethan O’Donnell going into the match.
“You get what you deserve in football. They have three championship medals, and if we win on Sunday, we’ll deserve it and if Kilcar win, then you certainly couldn’t begrudge them it.
“We’ll be giving it our best shot and hopefully we’ll be getting a fourth championship medal for some players, and a first for others.”
FOR FULL PREVIEW OF THE COUNTY FINAL, DON’T MISS TODAY’S DONEGAL NEWS
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