Kilcar boss reveals hope for 2020 final

KILCAR boss John McNulty does not envisage a repeat of the 2020 season with that season’s championship final yet to be played.

Kilcar and Naomh Conaill are still waiting to complete their 2020 campaign as they did not to get to decide the county championship due to the final being postponed.

Last year the club season was halted early in the year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it started up in the summer and played off until the Autumn, but that was not enough time for Donegal to complete their championship.

He says the situation this year is different.

“The vaccine makes a difference. I would be more confident that when we reopen properly that we will be able to stay open. Early indications on the vaccine results are very promising. If the positive trend in admissions to hospitals continues, and the numbers stay small then we will be fine. The vaccine has been a big reason for that.”

At the moment, they won’t know when that county final will be played until they get news of the return to action.

They are waiting to hear about what dates the GAA have planned for their league and championship fixtures. When they know that then the Donegal  County Board can set the championship final.

McNulty said: “Both teams will need a lead in to the game, but that can be worked out. We won’t know that until the CCC announce their fixtures.”

At the moment the Kilcar players are working on their own.

Kilcar manager McNulty said that he cannot do any collective work with his team and all their preparations are individually done.

“We work online with a Zoom class. That’s all we can do. It is frustrating. There is nothing better than having everyone training together, and seeing things and going through things.

“It is very frustrating that you can’t do things.”

There might be an effect upon the development of his team because they have not been able to come together collectively for some period of time.

McNulty said: “The development of the team is something that you can look at when the season reopens. I guess for the younger guys coming through, those who are around 18 or 19, there is development time that might concern me.

“They have lost out on game-time to make it through to breakthrough at senior level. That would be a concern, but given the time when we get back then we can work to getting them back to to that level.”

When they do come back to training collectively, and getting games played then it will be a big boost for the community.

“Last year when the games came back you could see how much it meant.

“We had 200 in Towney, the atmosphere and the lift it gave to people was huge. It gave people something to look forward to. We were so happy to get that back.”