Regan slams Under 21 scheduling

BY RYAN FERRY

NAOMH Conaill manager Martin Regan offered no excuses for his side’s Ulster Club defeat to Scotstown on Sunday but did slam the decision to schedule an Under 21 Championship match on Saturday as ‘absolutely disgraceful’.
The Davy Brennan Memorial Park team bowed out of the provincial competition when they were beaten by a ruthless Scotstown side by 2-16 to 0-16 and Regan admitted that they were second best.
However, he did take exception to the fact that his club were asked to play St Eunan’s in the Under 21 Championship on Saturday, less than 24 hours before the match with Scotstown.
Naomh Conaill opted not to field Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell, and Shea Malone to keep them fresh for Sunday and still defeated St Eunan’s by 1-12 to 1-5.
The fact that the game took place at all irked Regan and members of the Naomh Conaill club, and St Eunan’s weren’t happy with the fixture either as some of their dual players had featured in the Under 21 Hurling decider on Friday night.
Regan feels that the group phase of the Under 21 Championship is not working and he feels his club have been ‘poorly treated’.
“It was absolutely disgraceful that we were asked to play in the Under 21 Championship yesterday, missing three of our better players with the senior game today.
“It was absolutely disgraceful.
“And in our first game, we had to line out without Finnbarr Roarty because he was on holidays with the county team who he represented all year.
“I thought we were really, really poorly treated in terms of the Under 21 Championship.
“I don’t think there’s any need (for group games) – there was nothing wrong with the old format of straight knock-out.
“You’re playing on poor pitches, and there are too many games.
“Carndonagh were able to get their game (with Milford) put off last week on account of the Ulster (Junior) Championship but we were not permitted that.
“I thought it was disgraceful. Really, really poor form.”
Two years ago, Naomh Conaill lost out to Watty Grahams in the Ulster semi-final by a point and they had high hopes for the provincial championship this time around but it wasn’t to be on Sunday.
Some of Naomh Conaill’s seasoned campaigners have been on the go for two decades now, but there is talent coming through and Regan believes they will bounce back strongly in 2026.
“They will come back from this.
“The boys are going nowhere.
“If you look at the core of that group, they are all young lads in their mid-to-young twenties.
“Of course they will be back. It doesn’t guarantee you anything but they will be back working hard again next year.”
It was a disappointing weekend for Donegal football teams in Ulster as Naomh Columba’s men’s team lost in the Intermediate, and Dungloe’s minor ladies were beaten by Magheracloone.
There was better luck for Burt’s hurling team as they advanced to the Ulster Junior Hurling Final.