Manager O’Donnell looks to Carn’s next crusade

By Michael McMullan

IT has been a magical championship season in Carndonagh and the footballers are up next this weekend.

The hurlers and camogs have county silverware tucked away. There is a chance of making it a treble when they take on Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin in Sunday’s Intermediate football final.

It’s an all-Inishowen decider and manager Michael O’Donnell says there has been great progress made by both teams since their climb out of the junior rank.

“It has been a good few weeks,” he said of life inside the club. “There’s lots of excitement around the town but we’re just trying to focus on the football.”

Naomh Pádraig beat Carndonagh in the 2024 Junior final on their way to the All-Ireland final. Then Carndonagh made amends last year.

“We watched some of the intermediate (championship) games last year and the lads were looking forward to it,” O’Donnell added.

“We have played in Division Two for the last two years. A lot of the teams you play are intermediate teams with some senior teams in there as well.

“We were looking forward to getting a go at intermediate, we didn’t really want to hang about. It has gone well so far and we are delighted to be in the final.”

There will be two of Donegal’s county players going head-to-head, Caolan McColgan of Naomh Pádraig against Carndonagh’s Conor O’Donnell.

Progress

O’Donnell was injured in the earlier part of the championship but the strength of their panel ensured they made progress in his absence.

“He’s come back in the last few games and it’s been brilliant for us as well,” Michael said of Conor’s input.

“It’s that lightning speed he has, first and foremost. He puts in a huge effort for the team and he’s a brilliant footballer, combined with all of that.”

After one-point victories over Cloughaneely and Buncrana in the first two Qualifiers’ games, Carndonagh then lost while, it’s what everyone’s talking about.

The fourth game was a defeat to Malin before an extra-time quarter-final win over Buncrana. There was also familiarity in the semi-final with a Malin rematch that Carn won. It sets up an early awaited clash with their Inishowen rivals this weekend.

“It’s been really enjoyable to be part of that as well but you just want the players to have a full focus on football.

“When you get to a final, you’re completely focused but you enjoy it as well. The fact that we’ve been in a few finals over the last couple of years, probably helps as well.”