Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin set for Ulster Championship debut against St Comgall’s
Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin will represent Donegal this weekend in their first-ever Ulster Junior Football Championship quarter-final, facing a formidable St Comgall’s side from Antrim in O'Donnell Park
Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin will flying the Donegal flag this weekend when they face St Comgall’s from Antrim, in the Ulster Junior football championship.
The game in O’Donnell Park is a quarter-final tie in what is the Inishowen club’s first foray into the Ulster championship having won the Donegal junior crown over a month ago, and speaking to the Naomh Padraig manager Daniel McCauley, it’s something he and his side are looking forward to.
“It is all new to us,” McCauley said. “The club has never played in Ulster before, so, the Ulster championship is a whole new ball game for us, a whole new challenge, but it is a challenge we are really looking forward to and it is a challenge we have prepared well for and we are ready to go.”
The side largely led by the likes of Caolan McColgan, Jonny Tinney, Conor McColgan, and Kevin Lynch go into Saturday’s clash following on from their comprehensive win over a highly fancied Carndonagh side in the Donegal junior final.
Caolan McColgan and Kevin Lynch scored the goals and also chipped in with two points each in their 2-12 to 0-8 final win over their Inishowen rivals.
After finishing second in Group B of the championship by virtue of their second-round defeat to Naomh Ultan - the only game they lost in the group stages - Naomh Padraig proved their metal in the knockout stages with wins over, Naomh Brid, St Mary’s, Convoy, and Naomh Ultan.
“We are going into the game on the back of good form and that big win over a strong Carn side, and before that, good wins over Naomh Brid, St Mary’s, Convoy, and Naomh Ultan, who are all top junior teams,” McCauley said.
“The mood among the squad is good and preparations have gone well over the last three weeks since we got back training after the county final.
“It was good to get the four-week break and to have the time to refocus after finally winning the championship for the first time.
“The good thing is that up to nine of the squad are on the U-21 club team, so, they have been getting football and the extra couple of weeks has given loads of time to shake off any knocks they might have picked up in the latter stages of the championship.
“The extra time has also given Drew McKinney time to get back into shape after being out injured for a number of weeks. Drew is really flying in training and is chomping at the bit to get back playing.”
At the end of a long season, it is only natural that Naomh Padraig have a number of injury concerns over a number of key players which they are hoping to sort out quick.
“Kevin Lynch, Oran McCauley, and Eunan Mullan are our main concern at the minute,” the Naomh Padraig manager said. “Kevin is wearing a boot to help speed up his recovery and he is our biggest concern.
“We are lucky we have a strong bench as we saw in the county final. Drew McKinney, Dermot Keavaney, and Ronan Hoy came on and they all played well, and unless the lads are 100 percent good to go we will not risk them, and run the risk of setting them back even further.
“We have the ready-made replacement raring to step in.”
McCauley watched St Comgall’s in the Antrim final a few weeks back, and he was impressed with what he witnessed in terrible weather conditions.
“It was a terrible day with wind and rain, and I don’t think the game should have been played because it was so bad,” McCauley said.
“But St Comgall’s coped well with the conditions. They are physically strong and skillful. They are unbeaten in league and championship this season which is a fair achievement, and we are under no illusion about the challenge they will pose.
“But the mood is good in the squad and we hope home advantage in O’Donnell Park and a big home support will help drive us to the win.”