By Michael McMullan

IT’S a first-ever Ulster Senior Hurling Championship game for Setanta this weekend, but it’s where they want to be and they’re there to compete.

The Donegal kingpins face Antrim kingpins St John’s on Saturday in Owenbeg a full 12 weeks after beating Burt to regain their county title.

As intermediate champions of Ulster in 2023, a ruling meant Setanta would play at senior level if they came out of Donegal.

After losing to Burt in last year’s county final, Setanta regrouped and are back as champions.

“It was back to basics,” said defender Mark Callaghan.

“We went back to the drawing board after the disappointment of last year.

“Our training leading up to the championship was very good, it’s going well, so we’re happy with it.”

Hurt was their not-so-secret sauce. Before a ball was struck in 2025, Setanta had one clear goal – get their county title back. Nothing else mattered.

Speaking ahead of their Ulster campaign, Callaghan reiterated the now annual question that irks the Donegal hurling fraternity.

Why does the hurling championship have to be run off early with the winners left with 12 weeks of kicking their heels ahead of Ulster?

“We had a week off and were straight back at it,” he said. “We’re nearly training harder than we were in the (Donegal) championship.”

Getting challenge games is an issue in itself but Setanta have been kept ticking over. It’s not the same as competitive action but those are the cards they’ve been dealt.

“What do you do,” he asks, “you have to do something, you have to have game time, you have to be playing.”

After their second Ulster junior success in 2022, Setanta stepped up to intermediate and were winners over Tyrone’s Éire Óg in a thrilling final. This weekend, they dine at the top table of club hurling against the Johnnies.

“That’s where everybody wants to be at the end of the day,” Callaghan said. “We’re not here to make up the numbers, we’re here to compete.

“From a few years ago, we’ve came all the way up and it’s hard to believe that we are there. That’s where we want to be and that’s where we are this year, so we’re here to have a good crack.”

Setanta are used to the underdogs’ tag but it’s a driving force within the group. Callaghan speaks of talent and work, fused with a togetherness that lasts. That’s where the consistency comes from.

There is a satisfaction of training in the cold evenings. Facing challenges brings a purpose. Another is the boost from success. It all helps.

“We lost out in our own county last year,” he adds.

“Previous to that, we were going well and everything’s going well this year again, so we’re happy the way things are.”

Under the hood, away from the senior team, the club is healthy. Thriving. The club grounds are improving year-on-year.

There is the underage aspect with senior players dipping back in to lend a hand in producing players to follow in their footsteps.

“We’re heading in the right direction, the club is under massive development at the minute,” Callaghan concluded.

The last time Setanta arrived in Owenbeg, having stepped up a grade, they left as intermediate champions.

The odds are stacked against them.

It’s been a long 12 weeks but Setanta won’t wake up on Sunday morning wondering how close they are.

They’ll want St John’s to know on Saturday.