Gaoth Dobhair park relegation to hone in championship

By Michael McMullan

GAOTH Dobhair parked league relegation very quickly and now eye a third championship victory this weekend.

After wins over St Michael’s and Naomh Columba, a victory over Mac Cumhaill’s on Sunday would give them an excellent chance of booking an automatic quarter-final spot.

Gaoth Dobhair got off to a poor start in the league but still put a focus on winning the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta.

While they took the title, it came at a cost with injuries going into the latter end of the league.

Add in players being away on holidays and they were eventfully relegated.

“It hit us hard the first day or two,” Mac Niallais said of relegation.

“It’s definitely not where Gaoth Dobhair would want to be and not where Gaoth Dobhair should be.”

By the time they reported for training on the Tuesday, they’d flicked the switch. It was championship time.

“For Gaoth Dobhair, with the tradition and the history we have, it’s just two completely different competitions- league and championship,” Mac Niallais added.

“We knew we had to get everyone in championship training mode. It’s just totally different and that’s the way the boys looked at it. To be fair, they just put their head down and moved on.”

When they scratch the surface on the league, Gaoth Dobhair lost four games by a point and another two by two points. Fine margins. The kick of a ball.

That’s why digging deep in their championship opener pleased Mac Niallais most.

“Against St Michael’s was that we were five down with 10 to go and we came out the right side of it by a point,” he said.

“To come out the right side of one of those was a big lift for us and a big positive for us.

“We probably were the better team but at the same time, St Michael’s should have beaten us,” he added of a strange game.

“It just shows a bit of character and that was a big one. Then with Naomh Columba at the weekend, the first half was good

“In the second half, it wasn’t as good but, again, every time they asked questions of us we had the answers.”

.Gaoth Dobhair manager Rónán Mac Niallais

It was enough to place them alongside Glenswilly and Dungloe as the teams with two wins from two games.

While Gaoth Dobhair have room for improvement, winning tight games matters.

“We went into this championship and normally you’d be looking at trying to make top four,” he added.

“We suffered relegation in the league so we had to just bounce back from that, make sure we’re not in any relegation bother in the championship. We’ve done that now so we’re very happy with the two games so far.”

In terms of this weekend, Gaoth Dobhair take on Mac Cumhaill’s who, despite missing talisman Oisín Gallen, salvaged a draw with a fancied St Eunan’s side.

“This is my fourth year and we’ve played them every single year in the championship, “he said.

“I’d say they’re sick looking at us and we’re sick looking at them. It’s at home so that’ll help us obviously in Magheragallon.

“For them to get a point there (against St Eunan’s) was a brilliant result for them.

“They’ve come back from an opening day defeat too so I’m sure their tails will be up.”