KILCAR goalkeeper Eamonn McGinley has found himself behind enemy lines this week but he has been enjoying the build-up to the massive clash with Gaoth Dobhair.
McGinley is a guard based down in Bunbeg Garda Station in Gaoth Dobhair.
He says there has been plenty of craic this week, and can expect some slagging if the Towney men are unsuccessful in their bid to reach the 2019 County Final.
“I have been behind enemy lines this week and for the last seven-and-a-half years.
“I was based down here in 2017 when we won the championship, and here last year when Gaoth Dobhair won it.
“I was watching on enviously as they went on that brilliant run in Ulster and were very unlucky against Corofin.
“There’s been plenty of craic this week with the locals and around the shops.
“They’re checking to make sure I’m eating correctly and not getting dehydrated.
“A few of the GAA heads have even popped up the station to try and get some information on Kilcar.
“It’s all good natured banter and everyone is just looking forward to the match.”
Kilcar have been in excellent form this season, and they appear to be a team that are hungry to win matches and titles.
They have already clinched the Donegal Gaeltacht and Division 1 league crowns, and will be hoping that they aren’t done yet.
“We have built up some momentum through the league and the championship.
“We got through the group ok, and we played well in the first half against Killybegs and came unstuck then for twenty minutes.
“We kicked a lot of wides in a short space of time, and there were aspects of the game that we weren’t happy with.
“I’m sure Gaoth Dobhair were in a similar position after their game with Bundoran and at this time of the year it’s just all about getting over the line.”
Kilcar were twiddling their thumbs during this week last year as their championship campaign and defence of the Dr Maguire Cup was at an end.
They failed to get past Naomh Conaill at the quarter-final stage, although the one caveat was that they were short two of the best footballers in the country in Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty.
That duo are now back fit, and while the unfortunate Pauric Carr will miss out this week, there is still a much stronger feel to the Kilcar side this season.
“We went in last year without two of our best players in Ryan and Patrick.
“We also lost Mark McHugh to a shoulder injury after ten minutes, and he is back flying now.
“Unfortunately we have now lost Pauric Carr and that’s a blow as he was a good ally to have in the full-back line there with Conor McShane and Barry McGinley.
“We’re probably lucky in the fact that we have blooded a lot of new players into the team this year, and those boys have fitted in no problem, and they will be up and ready for the match if needed.
“There will be no excuses if we don’t win.”