BY MATTHEW WILSON
DONEGAL Junior League manager Eamonn Sheridan is expecting another fierce battle when his side face the Inishowen League in the second leg of their Oscar Traynor Cup clash.
The Donegal Junior League side will take a slender advantage into this weekend’s encounter, having prevailed in their opening contest at Ballyare a fortnight ago.
A trio of goals courtesy of Shane McNamee, Johnny Robb and Simon McGlynn gave Sheridan’s outfit a 3-0 interval lead.
However, Andrew Foley’s side hit back after the restart and goals from Jay Bradley and Damian Duffy left them just a goal adrift at the halfway stage of this tie.
The Donegal Junior League boss expressed that his outfit were fortunate to have come through the match with the advantage and hopes his side can put their best foot forward when the pair meet again.
“We were lucky to get through it at 3-2 to be honest with you. Inishowen had plenty of chances, I know we had a few ourselves but Inishowen will probably feel hard done by.
“Although, we were 3-0 up at half-time but we did expect them to come at us which they did and they got their couple of goals, maybe unlucky not to get another one or two.
“We’re under no illusions as to what’s ahead of us, it’s going to be a tough battle. I suppose, if you told me beforehand that we’d be a goal up then you’d have taken it. I just think that we didn’t play to our potential at all so I’m hoping we can turn up on Saturday.”
Since the first leg two weeks ago, the players have returned to club action in the Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division.
This has sprung a few issues for Sheridan, with a few members of his squad nursing injuries from last weekend’s games.
As well as this, they’re without one of their goalscorers from their last outing in the form of Johnny Robb who is tying the knot with his partner on Saturday.
The Rathmullan native discussed that Robb will be a loss to the group however, stated that it’s an opportunity for another player to step up to the plate in his absence.
“If you’d have asked me this yesterday then I would’ve said that everything is fine. There’s a few boys struggling with knocks and Johnny Robb isn’t about, he’s getting married so we knew that he wasn’t going to be about.
“He’ll be a big blow because Johnny has been very good for us since the day he came in last year. It gives other players an opportunity and that’s why you have these squads. We’ll play it by ear over the next few days and we’ll see where we are.”
Due to the players returning to club duties in the weeks since the first leg, Sheridan hasn’t gotten much time on the training field with them.
They got together last Friday and will gather for two sessions this week in preparation for the test that lies ahead against the Inishowen outfit this Saturday at Maginn Park.
The former Finn Harps forward is anticipating another fierce battle when the pair go toe-to-toe in Buncrana, with the Inishowen outfit expected to have a few fresh faces in the squad according to Sheridan.
“One hundred percent, it will be. Inishowen have a lot of quality players in their team and they’ve a few boys to come back. I know Harry Doherty is back, in saying that the goalkeeper that they had the last day was excellent for them, he did very well.
“I think they have a few more coming in but that means that others are dropping out. It’s a bit like ourselves, we’re missing a few and a few of the squad will be utilised this week now.
“It’ll be a battle, I don’t expect anything else. I just hope it’s a decent day for it, for the fans to come and watch it because there wasn’t a bad crowd there the last day for a horrendous day.”
Due to the withdrawal of Cavan and Monaghan from the competition, the winner of this two-legged encounter will go straight to the semi-final stage of the Oscar Traynor Cup where they’ll represent Donegal and Ulster.
This increases the stakes for the side that prevails this weekend and the Donegal Junior League manager expressed that it’s a massive incentive for either team but hopes that it’s his men that will be preparing for the next round.
“It’s a massive incentive, it really is for either side. Hopefully whichever one does can go on and finish it off. Obviously, I’m hoping it’s ourselves but I’m just looking at Saturday and no further.”
