BY RYAN FERRY
GAOTH Dobhair’s Aidan Breathnach says that the Under 21 ‘A’ Championship was the perfect tonic for his team after their disappointing showing in the Senior Final in October.
Breathnach and his teammates were underdogs heading into the SFC decider against a seasoned Naomh Conaill side, and while there was no shame in losing, they know that they didn’t perform to their capabilities.
It was a similar story for their reserve side who were beaten by Aodh Ruadh in the Senior ‘B’ Final.
The losing dressing room on county final day is not a pretty place to be but there was no great mourning period.
The Under 21 championship was starting the following week against old foes Termon, and that focused the minds for the likes of Breathnach, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Stephen McFadden, and Daithi Roberts.
They got over that first hurdle, and went unbeaten as they clinched the Under 21 ‘A’ crown last weekend.
“I think the Under 21s saved a lot of us boys,” Breathnach told the Donegal News.
“It was starting the next week so we had no time to think about it.
“The following Wednesday we were straight back to training, and straight back to hard running to be honest.
“It took our minds straight off it and that was a good thing.
“The County Final did hurt, and it probably pushed us along.
“We had the winning feeling in the Under 21 final last season and we were looking to try for that high again.
“The parish thrives on football – it’s the main thing. Everyone talks about it all the time.
“It’s nice to bring some silverware back to the parish considering we did lose the two finals.”
Gaoth Dobhair were favourites going into last Saturday’s final with Glenswilly but they were second best for much of the game.
They did have plenty of possession but weren’t able to use it as well as they would have liked.
However, they staged a late, late show to get the win.
“We were cutting it tight there at the end but we had it in the legs thankfully.
“I think that was the hard training that we did during the last two months.
“It was just constant running and I think it showed at the end because we were able to keep going and keep pushing.”
Gaoth Dobhair were three down with five minutes remaining but they didn’t panic and they struck five late points to claim the win.
Not any stage did Breathnach and his team accept that it wasn’t going to be their day.
“It was starting to look like that but in Gaoth Dobhair, it is always instilled into us that you always have to believe that you have a chance, and you never give up.
“You have to keep fighting until the last minute.
“That’s what happened (against Glenswilly). We kept going even when we were three points down with five minutes to go.
“To win by two points is brilliant but it doesn’t really show the full picture of the game because Glenswilly were top class and we can’t take anything away from them.
“To win the ‘B’ and push on and play like that in the ‘A’s – you couldn’t give them enough credit.”
The hero of the hour for Gaoth Dobhair was Cronan McFadden, who struck two points in injury-time to win the game.
Breathnach said: “It was great for Cronan. He had been showing very well in training.
“He’s one of the young fellas in the team. He showed that he is top class and he can finish.
“When we needed him, he came up with two great points for us. You would think a young lad coming in would feel a bit of pressure but no he took it in his stride and kicked the two points to win it for us.
“It’s nice to show that there are still some good young boys coming up in Gaoth Dobhair – the conveyor belt hasn’t stopped yet. We’re still going.”
Breathnach was one of his team’s best performers in the final and scored two points from play.
The Engineering Student at DCU wears the number four shirt, but is known for bombing up the field.
He had a great season for the seniors as well and is enjoying his football at present.
“I was fortunate enough to be given a kind of free role.
“I was able to get on the ball and show what I could do out on the pitch.
“Sometimes you have to mark the quick boys but if I had a choice in the matter, I would rather not do it.
“It’s easier when you’re able to just float about.
“I really enjoyed the season. Going the full way to the county final with the seniors was great.
“It has given us a lot of experience that we will look to push on for next year.”
Gaoth Dobhair can take plenty of positives from the 2023 season but Breathnach knows there is only one currency that matters in his locality and that is championship medals.
“I work in the shop (Gallagher’s Foodstore – Sipa Mhicí) at home and the auld fellas be in and they’re talking about football and they are expecting us to be winning championships.
“It’s not that they are looking for us to do it, they are expecting us to win the Dr Maguire.
“Hopefully we will get it to them within the next couple of years if not next year.
“We have the likes of Eoin (de Búrca) and Fionnan (Coyle) who were away in America in the summer and ended up with the reserves this year, but they have serious quality.
“You could nearly pick any man from our reserves to play for the seniors and it wouldn’t be a problem.
“The conveyor-belt is there. We’re happy enough looking ahead to next season and we want to push on.”
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