Marley and Setanta set for maiden Ulster senior clash

BY MATTHEW WILSON

SETANTA senior hurling manager Mark Marley is hoping that his side can put their best foot forward this Saturday and get over the line when they meet Naomh Eoin in the Ulster Senior Club Hurling Championship.

It’s been a superb season so far for the Cross residents, regaining their Donegal Senior Hurling Championship crown that they lost to Burt last term.

Setanta defeated St Eunan’s by five points in the decider back at the end of August to land their 19th Donegal senior title.

Following a break from competitive action, the group have been back preparing for a big clash this Saturday as their attention turns to the provincial title.

The Setanta boss expressed that preparations are going well amongst the camp and they’re looking forward to taking to the field this weekend.

“We’re preparing well there, training is going well. It’s been a long ten or eleven weeks there so we’re into our final week now so we’re just putting the last preparations together and getting ourselves ready for Saturday, we’re looking forward to it.”

With a lengthy gap between the conclusion of the county campaign and the start of the Ulster Club Championship, Marley discussed that it’s difficult to get back into the swing of things.

Their opponents this Saturday were last in competitive action four weeks ago in comparison to Setanta’s 11 weeks but he said that it’s the hand that they’re dealt so they will try to make the most of it.”

“It is difficult, 11 weeks out is a long time without competitive games. It is what it is, we just have to try and make the most of it but the boys have been training hard so hopefully we can get up to speed come Saturday.”

“I had a talk with Enda McDermott from Burt and Chris McAuley from St Eunan’s and we’re all on the same page.”

“These other clubs are coming off a two or three week break, maybe four weeks at the most and they’re peaking at the right time, they’re getting the bodies right and ready for action again.”

“Whereas we’re stopping, having a break and trying to get back up to speed again. It’s hard but it’s the way it is and we just have to try and make the most of it.”

This Saturday, Setanta will face Antrim champions Naomh Eoin in the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final.

The Belfast club ended a 52-year wait for a county crown last month, defeating Loughgiel Shamrocks by a point to lift the Volunteer Cup.

The positive about the significant break between the county and provincial competitions is that it allows players to recover and regroup and Marley is expecting to have a full panel to select from this weekend.

The Setanta boss understands the difficulty of the task that lies ahead of his outfit this weekend but stated that it’s a meeting that they’re looking forward to.

“It’ll be a tough tie, they came through Antrim so they’re not a bad team. They probably came through it as underdogs as well. They beat the big boys, they’re here and they’ll be hungry as well.

“We know the challenge that we’re faced with but we’re looking forward to it now.”

It’ll be a memorable occasion when the Cross residents take to the field at Owenbeg this Saturday evening, with them competing at senior level in Ulster for the very first time.

Speaking to the Donegal News, Marley expressed that it’s created a great buzz around the parish and stated that it’s great for the club and county to have a team competing at this level.

“There’s a great buzz around the community and around the club, it’s going to be a special day.”

“To be up here at senior competing, it’s fantastic and it’s only good for the club and good for the county to have a team at senior level at Ulster level in hurling. There’s great positives from it.”

Setanta have enjoyed success at provincial level previously, lifting the Ulster Intermediate Hurling title in 2023 courtesy of a two-point win over Eire Og Carrickmore.

They’ll be keen to keep their season going as long as possible to make the winter months shorter and Marley is hoping that they can get over the line against the Antrim men this weekend.

“You never know on the day, we’ll go out and we’ll give it everything we’ve got. Hopefully we can get over the line, keep the ball rolling and keep continuing hurling for another while.”