We were better tonight than against Tyrone: Francie Martin

“It was a difficult evening for football with the slippery conditions but I think we are improving as we go along. We were well improved from the game in Letterkenny (against Tyrone) and in the second half tonight, if we had taken our scores. We had 10 wides and on average if you had taken half of them, that would have left just a point between the teams,” was the reaction of Donegal Masters manager, Francie Martin, after watching his side lose out to Derry in Convoy on Wednesday evening.

“We also gave away a soft goal. When you count that up, we were as good a team as Derry. There wasn’t much in it and hopefully we will keep improving for the next game.

“Conor McShane was a big loss. He is a born leader and would have made a big difference in there,” said Martin.

The Donegal Masters panel prior to Wednesday night's game

The Glenfin man wasn’t happy with the start that Donegal made in the opening half. “We seemed to be very fidgety and getting rid of the ball very quickly. The result of that was we gave it away too easily.

“When we went into tackles then, the frees seemed to go against us and some of them would have been 50-50 in my eyes. It’s hard to know and it’s not easy for a referee on a slippy evening like that too with boys sliding in,” said Martin, who said it could be dangerous on a night like that.

Martin commended Eamon Ward for the marking job he did on Paddy Bradley, who must have picked up an injury as he did not come out for the second half. “Eamon is a fine footballer and he would be well used to marking people like that.

“They had a couple of players who were sharp, they moved the ball very well. They would be one of the better teams in the competition,” said Martin.

“We’re improving and we’re getting a great turnout at training and everybody seemed to be still interested. We will keep going forward. We have Antrim next in Antrim. There is a game every fortnight and they are fixed for a weekend but the sides can arrange a date.”

The Donegal side travel to London for a tilt with the London Masters side on 22nd June and Martin says that over 30 players have booked their flight for that already.

“They are a great bunch of fellas. Probably with new management coming in and some new players, it will take a wee while to get things going. You would probably need a few high profile players like Neil Gallagher,” said Martin.

“It is very enjoyable. We also have Eddie Crawford and John Joe O’Shea has joined us on the backroom team. The boys are very appreciative of us taking on the job and everything is good. When we get that couple of wins everything will be perfect,” concluded Martin.