‘I’m delighted for all of St Eunan’s’ says Kieran Donnelly

By Ryan Ferry

ST EUNAN’S are the kings of Donegal club football once again after they edged out Naomh Conaill in a titanic tussle at MacCumhaill Park on Sunday.

It looked like the Letterkenny men might have to settle for defeat late on but Niall O’Donnell levelled matters with a two-pointer before Ciaran Moore won it at the death.

St Eunan’s extend their lead at the top of the roll-of-honour and now have 17 official titles although many in the club count the 1997 final which they won on the field but lost in the boardroom.

Fermanagh man Kieran Donnelly was brought in this year to land the big prize and his team delivered.

“I’m delighted for the whole club,” said Donnelly.

“We put a big focus into getting this cup back to St Eunan’s.

“We have had such a good year with the ladies winning and the hurlers and the underage teams winning as well.

“I’m thrilled for the whole squad. It was calmness at the end which was so pleasing.

“There were some massive scores like Niall’s two-pointer and Ciaran Moore really stepped up.

“It’s the way you want to win finals.”

Naomh Conaill have made a habit out of winning tight games but it was St Eunan’s who found the edge when the game was in the melting pot.

“You knew the clock was starting to run out but I felt there were big scores in us.

“We talked about it all year funny enough that we needed to go down the stretch against teams like Glenties.

“We needed to show our quality and we did that.

He added: “We were confident. We felt we probably weren’t getting the credit we deserved for our past couple of performances.

“I just knew we needed to have that calmness against Glenties. They pride themselves on that last five minutes and we wanted to reverse that.

“Again, it was big players in big moments. I thought our defending was excellent at critical junctures and that gave us the platform to perform.”

Odhran Doherty dropped a shot short for Naomh Conaill in the final minute and St Eunan’s could have killed the game and settled for a replay but they were courageous.

Donnelly said: “We went for it.

“We saw that window and we were determined to win it today. Everyone was booked off for tomorrow which was one thing.

“But no, it fell to the right man.”

St Eunan’s have had some tough draws in Ulster in recent years but will now gear up for a clash away to Erne Gaels or Derrygonnelly Harps.

Donnelly is from Fermanagh and knows plenty about both.

“We feel we have a very good squad and it was all about winning the Donegal Championship.

“It’s so competitive and with the quality of teams, you can’t take your eye off the ball at all.

“We will settle down on Tuesday and get ready for the Fermanagh champions.

“Both Derrygonnelly and Belleek are two exceptional clubs and have been winning championships for the last few years so they will bring a level of experience.

“It’s a final I couldn’t call but I’m just glad that we will get a look at the winners next weekend and get ready then.”