McColgan facing a race against time

By Shaun Casey

NAOMH Pádraig Uisce Chaoin are sweating on the fitness of star man Caolan McColgan ahead of their Ulster JFC semi-final with Collegeland this weekend, but boss Daniel McCauley hopes the Donegal defender will see some game time.

McColgan limped off the field in their four-point quarter-final victory over Naomh Comhghalls of Antrim before the halfway mark with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for Saturday’s showdown.

McColgan was a member of Jim McGuinness’ Donegal side that triumphed in Ulster this season and collected the Division Two league title as well.

He will be a huge miss for the Tir Chonaill champions if unavailable for this clash.

“He would be a doubt, he came off 20 minutes into the game in the quarter-final. It’s a hamstring issue so it’s touch and go thankfully, it’s not as bad as we first expected,” said manager McCauley.

“He’s going to try a late session now towards the end of the week to see how he comes through it. Hopefully we can get some minutes out of him come Saturday.”

Muff take on Armagh winners Collegeland, who accounted for Dromara with a one-point win after extra-time the last day out, and McCauley is hoping to have the inside track on their opponents.

“We watched them the last day out,” he added. “Lucky enough, I had a friend of mine, he was at the Armagh final, the replay game. He went in and he watched the game for me, and he did give me notes and he said he hoped we needed them. They’re coming to good use now this week.

“We know nothing about them and just learning the names. We’re reading the notes before the Ulster quarter-final and watching it and putting faces to the names and the way they play and the style of play.

“What you see out of one game is very hard to read into, but you have to work with what you have.”

The club has had a tough time of it over the last few months following the passing of senior player Evan Craig back in September. Football has been a natural release, and the club is enjoying their journey.

“It’s been a rollercoaster. We’ve had ups and downs. Once we face a hurdle, we go over it, and we take it one game at a time.

“Evan was a big part of our group. When he passed away, I just said to the boys, ‘football’s only 60 minutes of a game out of your week. There’s so much more that’s more important outside of that.’

“We just go out now and we’ll enjoy the rest of our championship and whatever happens, happens. At the end of the day, we must support Evan’s family and try and help them get through this bereavement.

“This year seems to have just seemed to have gelled the whole community together. Everybody’s rolled in behind us and long may it last.”