Roache pleased to get off to winning ways

BY MATTHEW WILSON

ST Eunan’s forward Thomas Roache was pleased to have gotten their Under 21 campaign off to a positive start last weekend but is expecting a tough battle when they face Gaoth Dobhair this Sunday.

The Letterkenny outfit ran out two-point winners over Aodh Ruadh in their own backyard last Sunday, with Roache landing five points from play for his side in the encounter.

With the wind and rain providing testing conditions, the St Eunan’s forward insisted that they had to battle hard to earn the win over the Ballyshannon men.

“It was a tough day for football there. That’s Under 21s, that’s what you’re going to get at this time of the year, they’re wet pitches.”

“In fairness to O’Donnell Park, it’s in unreal condition but we had to fight hard there against Aodh Ruadh.”

With the three St Eunan’s senior sides missing out on silverware this term, Roache expressed that their goal on Sunday was to go out and instill a bit of pride in the club by getting over the line.

“Look, there’s not much silverware in St Eunan’s this year to be honest with you. We had one aim today and that was to go out and put a bit of pride back into the club.”

“The seniors were knocked out early, the reserves too and then the C’s lost in the Final so it’s good to get the Under 21s up and running and get two points on the board.”

The two sides Under 21 opener was finely balanced for the most part however, six points without reply at the end of Act One left the O’Donnell Park residents in the driving seat.

Aodh Ruadh battled back after the restart but they were unable to overturn the lead that St Eunan’s had built up which saw them earn the win.

“Conditions were tough out there, there was a big wind. We knew that we had to go in at half-time at least six or seven points up.”

“I think we went in six points up at half-time. Aodh Ruadh came out and started the second-half with a few two-pointers and the next thing the game’s back in the melting pot.”

“I think the lads did very well there near the end to keep the ball and just hold on.”

The Letterkenny men will be delighted to have gotten off to winning ways on Sunday, with tough tests against Naomh Conaill and Gaoth Dobhair approaching in the near horizon.

They face Gaoth Dobhair this weekend, with the Magheragallon men also getting two points on the board in a local derby with Dungloe.

With the hurt that Gaoth Dobhair will be feeling from their Minor and Senior Championship defeats, Roache is expecting them to be hungry and is anticipating a battle when they meet this Sunday.

“It definitely is. We’ve Gaoth Dobhair away next and then Naomh Conaill so that’s never going to be easy going down there and looking for a result. But look, it’s a good way to start it.”

“Gaoth Dobhair will be hungry, especially after their minors got beat there last week in the semi-final.”

“Of course as everybody knows, in the senior final too they were disappointed. Gaoth Dobhair will have their tails at their back and they’ll be wanting to do well in this competition.”