By Michael McMullan

IT has been a mixed season for Kilcar but manager Mark Sweeney is looking forward to the championship.

They travel to Division Two champions Ardara in the first of four round robin games.

The top four teams in the table advance to the quarter-finals with the next eight playing off in preliminary quarter-finals.

Sweeney is in his second year in charge and was part of their last winning team in 2017.

“I would have finished up playing in 2024 and took it all in the next year,” he said.

“Shortly after I got the manager’s job, I was down in the butchers in Killybegs.

“Someone was telling me that when you’re playing all you’ve got to do is worry about yourself.

“When you’re managing you’ve got to worry about everybody else. It’s definitely easier playing anyway.”

Kilcar began their season with five points out of the first eight up for grabs before losing three games in succession.

“We went into a county Gaeltacht campaign against Ardara and they gave us a good beating,” Sweeney said.

“That knocked us back and we went on a losing streak then against MacCumhaills, St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill. They would have been tough league games for us anyway.”

Having won the All-Ireland Gaeltacht Championship in Cork two years ago, Kilcar were beaten in the semi-final this season as hosts of the competition.

Precarious

With just five points from seven league games, their situation was precarious given the fact they had to battle to beat the drop last season.

“We got a good run and picked up nine out of the last 10,” Sweeney added.

“League football in Donegal, it’s competitive but it’s not treated as the be-all and end-all.”

Looking ahead to championship action, Sweeney outlines the task at hand – Division Two champions Ardara followed by a Four Masters team that landed the Division One title.

“They are two very good sides and I’m hoping that we’ll have to put up a good show and get something out of them but I’m looking forward now to get back into it.”

He also highlights the rivalry with Ardara who they’ve not met as much in recent seasons.

“They are only 20 minutes down the road from us. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve played each other a lot in very highly competitive games.

“This is definitely a good championship game for both locals and neutrals.”