O’Donnell hopeful a full St Eunan’s pack can embrace the new rules

ST EUNAN’S are out of contention for the league title ahead of their final game, a visit to Naomh Conaill.

The championship draw has yet to be made but captain Conor O’Donnell senior is hopeful they have the squad to suit the new rule enhancements.

There is still the question mark with not having played with a full deck. As well as his brothers Niall and Shane, St Eunan’s have had Caolan Ward, Ciarán Moore and Shaun Patton on county duty.

“The age profile of the team would be fairly good and you’d be thinking a fast-paced game would suit us,” O’Donnell said, also pointing to many teams loving the space in attack.

“It’s suiting the forwards; I think it will suit us but I suppose it’s hard to tell until we get our full 15 out.”

St Eunan’s lost by a point away to Glenfin and Downings. Their other defeat in the league game against neighbours Glenswilly, a result that turned in an instant.

Blown for too long as they chased an equaliser, challenging the decision resulted in a 50-metre penalty, a two-point score. When Glenswilly won the kick-out, the margin was out to four points.

Going into the league, St Eunan’s focused on winning their home games and getting as much familiarity to the new rules as possible.

“We wouldn’t have many numbers of training during the week, so the league games were the only opportunity that we were having to explore the rules,” O’Donnell said.

Between “eight or nine” players based in Dublin, their county footballers and hurlers, their own club hurling commitments, they’d often have just a dozen players at training.

“I remember the first couple of games, we were getting done for the three v three breaches and you might focus on that then for a couple of weeks.”

There was time needed to get used to the kick-out arc. With goalkeeper Ronan McGeehin away travelling and Fintan Doherty also called up to the county squad, they’d be without a recognised number one.

“People might think we’re a big club in the town but we still might only have 12, 13 or 14 at training,” O’Donnell pointed out, adding how they’ve brought in players who’ve graduated from the underage ranks.

“Philip Doherty’s in there, he has played a few league games for us and he scored three points the weekend (against MacCumhaills).

“Oisin Scanlon’s there and then you have a few minors in that may be training with us during the week but just playing reserve at the weekends.”

It changes in summer with everyone returning from college and teachers finished up for the holidays. That’s where they’re at now.

Saturday week’s game in Glenties will finish up the league and then it’s time to prepare for a championship defence.

At the minute, it’s pencilled in for the weekend August 10 but that could be pushed back of Donegal can navigate Meath and book an All-Ireland final spot.