Charlie Cannon
Letterkenny Gaels’ league campaign proved to be underwhelming, but their manager Charlie Cannon is hoping for better luck in the Junior ‘A’ Championship.
Gaels dropped down from Division 3 last year, and were among the favourites to secure promotion at the start of the club season.
However, things didn’t go to plan, and a string of injuries to key players saw them finish mid-table with just six wins from 14 games.
Cannon’s side won’t be at full strength for today’s championship opener with Na Rossa at Pairc na nGael (throw-in, 7pm), but he says they might get stronger as the weeks pass by.
“Our squad is very thin on numbers at the moment,” said Cannon, who is in his first season in charge.
“We have had a lot of long-term injuries and that has really had a big impact.
“Conor McBrearty has only played two games, and my own son Cormac came on for five minutes in our last match with Pettigo and that’s all he has played.
“Brian Diver did his cruciate before the season even started when playing for St Eunan’s College.
“Ciaran Lynch was out at the start of the year, and then got injured again against Urris, while our goalkeeper, Shane Graham had knee surgery in May.
“We may get a few of those back as the championship goes on, but we’re just a bit short now.
“We’ve had to blood youngsters this year, and we will probably start with four minors on Saturday.”
Gaels have had some near misses in the Junior Championship over the last five years, and were beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners Naomh Colmcille last season.
Cannon said: “The Junior Championship is like any other championship – it is very hard to win.
“But you have to consider that the team that won it last year went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-final.
“Newtown were worthy winners, but they didn’t get an easy run to it.
“We didn’t have a great league campaign, but we were in against the Ulster champions, and the runaway winners were Downings, who are All-Ireland Gaeltacht champions, so that was a big barrier.
“Those two teams are in the Intermediate Championship, but you have four clubs coming from Division 3 in the Junior. It’s going to be very, very competitive.”
While the season hasn’t gone to plan for the Letterkenny side, the same could be said of their opponents this week.
Na Rossa have already been relegated from Division 3, despite having four games still to play.
They have lost every match they have played, and have shipped some heavy beatings along the way.
Pat Caulfield has stepped down as Na Rossa manager in recent times with Christian Bonner now calling the shots, but Cannon believes they will still be a tough side to defeat in the championship.
“Na Rossa have had a season like we had last year when we struggled in Division 3.
“But we came back to give a good account of ourselves in the championship, and I’m sure they will be looking at it like that as well.
“It’s not easy up in Division 3 when you’re coming up against teams that are in the Senior Championship, and that’s a big ask. They might think they will be playing teams that are more at their level now.
“Na Rossa teams are always well prepared and they will be up for it. We have had some great games with them in the past.
“We only have one home match in the group, so it’s a game that we really need to be winning.”