BY RYAN FERRY

IT has been a disastrous lead in to the championship for Milford manager James McGinley as three important players have picked up season-ending injuries.

McGinley was planning without Conor McHugh but then lost brothers Conor and Finn Coll after the league campaign finished.

That has weakened his hand considerably heading into the championship.

“We have been crucified with cruciates over the last seven weeks.

“We lost Conor McHugh against St Naul’s and then Conor and Finn Coll two weeks apart.

“It’s a bad blow to us. They have all played county under 20s and we really can’t afford to be missing players like that.

“We just wish them the best with their recovery and hope they are able to play in next year’s championship.”

Shane Black and Paul Ryan were playing in Philadelphia over the summer but should be back at some stage in the coming weeks, while towering midfielder Rory O’Donnell is nearing a return to competitive action.

“Rory’s back in training but he hasn’t played much football over the last two and-a-half years.

“He’s been back on the pitch
since mid-July but it’s a slow
gradual process and we have to be careful.

“He’s a huge player for us and we just hope he can get back up to the level he was at.

“He’s played bits and pieces in two challenge games but hasn’t played properly since last July.

“We didn’t have him at all in the league and we had a young team out in a lot of matches but they were competitive in every game, apart from the Dungloe one really.”

Milford were disappointed to fall at the quarter-final stage last season to Naomh Muire after picking up three wins and a draw from the group phase.

McGinley feels his team will have to be on form early in the championship once again.

“We will attack every game.

“There’s no easy matches in our draw anyway.

“People might look at league positions and think that’s a banker or this one’s a banker but it doesn’t work like that.

“I don’t know when the last time a team went to Killygordon in the championship and got anything less than a tough match against Red Hughs.

“Na Rossa were strong in last year’s championship, Glen are one of the favourites and have been in two of the last three finals.

“Cloughaneely have just come down from senior and will be looking to go back up straight away.

“It’s a good draw but it’s a challenging one. We will have to be on it or else we will be looking over our shoulders.”

Bainisteoir: James McGinley

Captain: Rory O’Donnell and Peter Curran

Last Year: IFC Quarter-finalists

Star Man: Cathal McGettigan

One to Watch: Gavin Riney