McIntyre slams 18-hour turnaround for dual players

St Eunan’s Under 21 manager John McIntyre has hit out at the fact that four of his key hurlers were being asked to line out for their footballers less than 24 hours after playing in a gruelling U-21 hurling county final in the Donegal GAA Centre on Friday night.

The O’Donnell Park side won the Under 21 ‘A’ Championship on Friday night when they defeated Sean MacCumhaills by 3-11 to 0-8. The match finished around 9pm.

They were delighted with that return but the celebrations will be cut short for some as St Eunan’s U21 footballers have a championship match against Naomh Conaill at 3pm today in Glenties.

John Kealy, Johnny Lambe, David Horgan and Shane Ellison are all involved.

“They talk about player welfare, and I feel for the Eunan’s football team management of Brian MacIntyre, Peter Devine, Conor O’Donnell and Johnny Scanlon who are also being penalised by this very tight schedule.

“How are these four young dual players to their game? It is just not fair on them.

“They have played a very intense game and Johnny Lambe had to come off with a cramp just before the end.

“And John Kealy looks exhausted, and they can’t even enjoy tonight.

“They are playing Naomh Conaill and Naomh Conaill areplaying Scotstown in the Ulster Club Championship (on Sunday) so their Under 21 players will be under pressure too.”