Naomh Conaill and Killybegs come toe to toe this weekend with a spot in the last eight of the Donegal Senior Football Championship up for grabs.

The Glenties men are yet to reach the high standards which they have set for themselves over the years in this season’s championship, concluding the group stage with two wins and two defeats.

Naomh Conaill goalkeeper Stephen McGrath feels that they have performed in patches but stated that they are still searching for that full 60 minute performance.

“I think we’re still searching for that 60/65 minute performance yet in the championship. We’re playing in fits and starts and there have been plenty of changes in personnel in the team over the couple of games so we will be hoping we can start clicking sooner rather than later. Sometimes it can take the peril of knock out football to really light the fuse.”

The seven-time county champions will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to St Michael’s when they face Ardara in the preliminary quarter-final this Saturday.

It’s the pairs first meeting in the knockout stages in eight years and McGrath is anticipating another tough battle when they renew their rivalry this weekend.

“We played Killybegs in a quarter-final over in Ardara under lights a few years ago and it was a cagey enough affair. I think we only managed to hold out for a slender enough win that night.

“I’d be expecting Saturday night to be another tough battle with both teams going for it now with the safety net of the group stages behind us.”

The Fishermen have had a solid championship campaign, recording good wins over Termon and Aodh Ruadh.

The Naomh Conaill ‘keeper discussed that Killybegs have players who can hurt them if they’re not on it and therefore they’ll have to bring their A-game.

“We’re under no illusions, they have players that can hurt us if we’re not on the money come Saturday night. We will be doing our homework during the week to try and manage that as best we can and in turn bringing that complete performance that we are working towards.”

Boosted by the returns of Evan Broderick, Hugh McFadden and Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher with younger players like Ben Conneely, Edward McHugh and Gavin Doherty also hitting the ground running, the Fintra residents have performed well to secure themselves a ninth place finish in the group.

Killybegs manager Pauric Bonner is aware of the quality of opposition that they are coming up against in the last 12 and is expecting a tough task.

However, he feels that his side can play with no fear as they’re now entering ‘bonus territory’ so he’s hopeful of upsetting the odds this weekend.

“They’re a formidable outfit, I know they’re playing in fits and starts at the minute but I’d say that’s just through boys being injured and boys coming in with Ethan O’Donnell being away.”

“The quality that Naomh Conaill has is undoubted, it’s going to be a big task for us. The way we look at it, this year our whole thing was about being competitive and making sure we were as far up the table as possible. We got into the top nine so everything we’re working on now is bonus territory”, said Bonner.

He continued, “We can play with a degree of abandonment and no fear as it’s a shot to nothing for us. We’re going in as heavy underdogs and we’ll relish that.

“The same thing happened when we played Termon, I don’t think anyone gave us a chance and we surprised them so there might be a few surprises again this weekend too.”