TERMON senior men’s team manager Caolan McDaid says he is expecting a battle when he takes his side to Healy Park to face Derrylaughan today.
After two years of semi-final heartache, Termon finally got over the line in the Donegal Intermediate Championship at the start of October.
In truth, they cruised to the title in the final, as they outmuscled Naomh Columba by 0-14 to 0-8.
With a young age profile, they are a club that can really look to build in the Senior Club Championship in the years to come.
However, that’s next year’s issue, and it’s all about the here and now at this stage of the season.
An away tie in the Preliminary Round of Ulster is far from ideal but McDaid says things have gone well for his team over the last four weeks.
“First of all, we enjoyed ourselves and we had some celebrations for a couple of days.
“After that, we sat down as a group and just re-focused as much as anything and set out our stall for Ulster and going forward.
“Obviously we had the luxury that our final was played before the Tyrone final.
“Myself and Kevin (McDaid) were able to get in and get a look at Derrylaughan.
“They are a good side as you would expect from Tyrone. They are a strong, physical team so we will be expecting a battle.”
Derrylaughan defeated Moy by 1-10 to 0-11 in the Tyrone final.
They were under big pressure in the final twenty minutes as the Cavanagh brothers – Sean and Colm – tried to inspire the Moy, who kicked a host of wides, but it was Derrylaughan who prevailed.
McDaid said: “When you look at the last quarter, Moy were maybe the better team but before that Derrylaughlan were on top.
“They had a serious, serious start, and were 1-3 to 0-1 ahead after ten minutes, and Tomas Carney got a great goal.
“What I noticed about them was that they are fairly direct and fast with the ball.
“And we will definitely be trying to nullify their fast start.”
There’s no doubt over who Derrylaughan’s star man is as they boast Tyrone midfielder and 2021 All-Star, Brian Kennedy in the middle of the field.
That is a great starting point for the Tyrone side, but Termon have former Donegal Under 20 players Bobby McGettigan and Ryan McFadden in midfield, and they won’t just be looking to spoil in Healy Park, but also to bring their own skills to the tussle.
“Kennedy is unbelievable. He’s a big man about the middle of the park and he can throw himself about.
“We’re looking at Derrylaughan of course, but we’re confident in our own boys.
“We will back ourselves, and we have plenty of bodies that they will be looking at as well I’m sure.
“You have Ryan (McFadden), Bobby (McGettigan) and Kevin (McGettigan) and they are all over six foot. They are big men and athletic as well.
“Look, we will be trying to play to our strengths as well.”
Termon have had great numbers at training all year and some of their Intermediate ‘B’ winning team are pushing for minutes too.
However, they have also had players involved in minor and Under 21 games in recent weeks, while colleges football has also started up.
McDaid said: “It’s definitely difficult to manage it.
“But that’s the challenges you’re faced with.
“You don’t mind them playing football to be honest with you but you just have to try and manage the bodies at training. It’s all part and parcel of it.
“We have a panel of 25 to 30 men there and it’s great to have those numbers to work on things in training.
“Everybody is pushing each other on and it’s great to have competition for places.”
Donegal Under 20 player Cian McMenamin has had an injury-ravaged season and hasn’t featured for his club’s Under 21s over the last fortnight.
However, McDaid is hopeful that he can play some part this week.
“Cian has been missing for the Under 21s.
“He came on for the seniors in the last ten minutes of the Intermediate final.
“We’re hoping that we will get game time out of Cian. He’s working hard and pushing to get back.
“With the kind of hamstring injury he has, it hasn’t been easy.
“But Cian is a great fella. He trained with us on Sunday morning and the signs are good.”
Today should be a good occasion with a big double-header in Healy Park and McDaid hopes the Donegal folk get behind their county’s representatives.
“I said after the Intermediate Final, for ourselves and ‘Eunan’s and Muff in the Junior as well, that I’d hope we can get a good Donegal support all round.
“It’s a great incentive with a double-header before the St Eunan’s match.
“I would urge Termon people to sit around and support ‘Eunan’s after us and hopefully ‘Eunan’s people will come in early and back the Termon folk.
“It would be unbelievable to see both clubs win on Saturday and push on in Ulster.”
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