BY RYAN FERRY

ST EUNAN’S third team are intent on retaining the Senior ‘C’ title this Saturday but are anticipating a good test against Sean MacCumhaills.

The O’Donnell Park club are the defending champions and have a strong panel.

The Division 4 league campaign didn’t quite go to plan this season but the aim was always to peak in the autumn.

“It’s good to get there,” said Brandon Jordan, who manages the team along with Gavin Maguire.

“It’s been a long year but at the start of the season when you start training in February and March you’re always looking for a Championship Final.

“It’s where you always want to be and where the club should be and we’re happy to be here and looking forward to Saturday all things going well.”

St Eunan’s thirds were able to call upon Rory Kavanagh and Conall Dunne last season but so far the former county footballers haven’t been used this term.

However, they do have a strong squad with a decent mix.

Dualtach Molloy, Conal McGinley, Paddy McGowan and Kieran Sharkey provide experience, while Harry Blake, Bryan Drumm and Mark Galvin are all decent young players.

“We have a good size panel, a good size of experience with Conal McGinley captain and a few older fellows and a few minors coming through so it’s a good mix with 33-34 boys.

“There’s experience with youth there and it’s coming together nicely.”

St Eunan’s defeated Naomh Conaill after extra-time in last year’s final.

That decider took place under lights on the Friday night of County Final weekend and set the tone for a memorable few days for St Eunan’s.

The Letterkenny club came up short in the Senior ‘A’ and ‘B’ competitions this season but their third team are in no mood to relinquish their title.

“Looking back at last year, it was great – I was in the stand myself.

“It’s all about the club and the talent, and the boys just really focus on the Senior C championship as if it’s any other championship and it doesn’t matter which team your representing, you’re representing the club.

“It would be great to retain the title and when it comes Saturday hopefully we’ll get the business done but MacCumhaills won’t be an easy opponent.”

St Eunan’s have had many battles with MacCumhaills down through the years and Jordan knows his team will have to deliver a strong performance.

“In a final, it could be anyone’s day, Doug there the manager of MacCumhaills has been at them for a few years and he’s got a great panel and you know we played them earlier on in the league but we missed them in Championship (so far).

“They have a big, strong, competitive team, it’s any man’s day on Saturday that’s the way we have to look at it hopefully we come out the better half.”