Plenty of learnings for Bonner’s men

By Katrina Brennan

“WE only scored one point in the second half which, as I said to them, is not going to win too many championship matches,” was how Erne Gaels manager, Declan Bonner, summarised his side’s sucker-punch defeat at the hands of Derrygonnelly.

The result means that the Belleek-based side face a quarter-final with Teemore this weekend at home after finishing second in the group.

Former Donegal manager Declan Bonner said “there was plenty of learnings to take from it, that’s for sure” after a 66th minute Ronan McHugh palmed goal stole the game for the Harps and booked their place in the Senior Football Championship semi-final.

“We were always three or four points ahead but ultimately Derrygonnelly being Derrygonnelly and the never say die attitude, they kept at it and ultimately, we scored one point in the second half which is not going to be good enough to win a championship game and we got undone at the very end, five or six minutes into overtime and Derrygonnelly they have been champions for a reason.”

The fitness of Aogan Kelm remains very much in doubt after he aggravated a pelvic injury he carried into Saturday’s game.

Tommy McCaffrey was taken off with just under five minutes of normal time remaining and getting that length out of McCaffrey was more than Bonner had hoped, following his return from injury;

“Tommy is only back, he hasn’t played all year. Tommy came off, we thought maybe on the 40 (minute mark) but we got 50-odd minutes out of him.”

Bonner hasn’t watched Teemore in person but knows what to expect from Tony Collins’ side;

“They’re decent, no doubt about it. We need to be on our guard and bring a performance, not just for 35-40 minutes, it will have to be for 60 minutes plus, that’s the challenge ahead for us and the players.

“We’re looking forward to it, it’s into the business end of it now. Naturally enough we were disappointed that we didn’t get over the line on Saturday which would’ve given us the week off but we now have the challenge of Teemore to contend with.”