By Matthew Wilson
Setanta begin the defence of their Donegal Senior Hurling Championship title this Friday evening and manager Mark Marley is hoping they can start on a positive note.
Setanta were meant to get their Championship campaign underway last Friday night against Buncrana at the Scarvey but the match was postponed.
They’ll have to wait until this weekend to get things underway but Setanta boss Mark Marley stated that all is going well amongst the group in the lead-up.
“Things are going well, we’re looking forward to the Championship now. We didn’t have a great league, we had a lot of injuries there but things have settled down now so we’ll be glad to get up and running now on Friday night.”
During the Senior Hurling League, Setanta enjoyed good victories over Sean MacCumhaills and Aodh Ruadh while sharing the spoils with Buncrana and losing out to Burt.
It was a mixed campaign for the side but Marley expressed that they experienced challenges such as player unavailability over the course of their four outings.
“We were light in numbers during the league. We’d a few boys away down the country, ones that were working over in England and we’d a few injuries.
“It was tight to field in some of the games but we got it over and done with. Things have settled down now and hopefully we’ll be all good for the next couple of months.”
Being without a number of individuals for the league campaign would’ve allowed the Setanta boss to field some younger players that are putting their hand up in training.
This will have helped to add to the squad depth while the returning county team contingent will also provide a big boost to the group.
The men from the Cross had a large representation in Mickey McCann’s promotion winning Donegal panel and Marley stated that it’s great to have them back involved in the club scene.
“It’s great to get the county boys back. The training heats up and there’s a good vibe. With so many over there, you do miss them. They’re big players and they’ve a big presence so it’s good to have them back.”
The competition for the ultimate prize in the Donegal senior hurling has increased in recent seasons and this is likely to be no different this term.
Having lost their crown last year, Burt will be coming back to try to reclaim the cup while St Eunan’s will also be aiming to land the title following a run to the showpiece last season.
As well as this, Sean MacCumhaills have been progressing well and they’ll fancy their chances at a lengthy run in the Championship.
Speaking to the Donegal News, the Setanta hurling boss was in agreement that the competition for the silverware will be fierce this year.
“One hundred percent. Burt went on an Ulster Junior run last year, their tails will be up and they’ll be hungry.
“As will Eunan’s, they’ll be looking to overturn that final last year. These teams always have a bit more whenever you’re coming in as champions.
“They always seem to up their game a bit. MacCumhaills have a very young team but they’re very skillful so they’ll be looking to cause an upset and push on a bit as well.
“We know that these teams will be coming a lot harder this year and we’re up there to be taken down so we’ll need to be on the ball ourselves.”
Having seen their three in-a-row attempt ended by Burt in 2024, the Crossroads residents clinched the cup once again last year by beating St Eunan’s in the decider.
As mentioned by Marley, the Setanta men will have to be on their game if they want to get their hands on the cup for a second successive season but that is the goal of the group ahead of their Championship campaign.
“One hundred percent. Last year we came in through the back door, coming second or third in the group. People were sort of writing us off and we were beaten in the final the year before.
“It was good to get it back and it’s just a matter of trying to retain it now. I always find that the second year takes that bit more to defend the title.
“We’re going to need everyone on board and it’s going to be a big push to retain it but that’s the ultimate goal.”
Setanta will get their Senior Hurling Championship defence up and running this Friday night when they meet Carndonagh on home soil.
The pair have met already this term, with Marley’s charges running out ten-point winners during the league.
Despite this, the Setanta manager is expecting a tough test against the Inishowen outfit but is hoping his side can begin their campaign off to a winning start.
“It’s good to get it, Carndonagh will be coming hard. They had a couple of good results in the league. We’ll approach it the same way we’d approach any game, we’ll not underestimate them.
“The number one goal is to kick things off with a win and hopefully we can do that on Friday night.”
Elsewhere in the Donegal Senior Hurling Championship, Burt will host Sean MacCumhaills while Buncrana will face St Eunan’s in Group A this Friday.
Meanwhile, St Eunan’s B will meet Letterkenny Gaels at home, Aodh Ruadh face Dungloe and Four Masters take on Burt B at Hibernian Park in Group B.