Letterkenny Gaels chasing most famous day

By Matthew Wilson

LETTERKENNY Gaels manager Sean Mills is looking forward to the club’s maiden senior decider this weekend when they face Burt in the Intermediate/Junior Hurling Championship final on Saturday.

Letterkenny Gaels’ senior hurling side is only six years old having taken to the field for the first time against Aodh Ruadh in 2019.

Their panel is primarily made up of local players but boss Mills explained that they’re also boosted by experience from Waterford in the form of Sean Clooney and Cork native Niall O’Regan, while Brendan O’Mahony has also helped the group as a coach.

Mills’ men are now preparing to face Burt at O’Donnell Park this Saturday and he feels that preparations have gone well.

“We’ve had great numbers and, at this stage, we’ve done as much as we can,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of managing them in the lead-in. It’s a huge occasion and it’s one they are gearing up to give their best shot. There isn’t that much time left so we are as ready as we can be for Saturday.”

The pair met in the group stage last month where the Letterkenny outfit ran out 11-point winners however, Mills is expecting a much changed Burt side when they face-off this weekend.

“We met earlier in the campaign but I have no doubt we’ll be facing a much different Burt side at the weekend. They had a senior game that same evening and they pulled a few players from the reserves so we expect a much different challenge.

“They will have a lot of experienced heads there and it’ll be a different team this time out.”

This Saturday’s showpiece could be viewed as David vs Goliath, a club that is steeped in history against one that is just six years into their journey and yet to get their hands on a title at senior level.

The Letterkenny Gaels boss expressed that victory over the Inishowen outfit this weekend would mean the world to everyone in the club and he’s certain that his players will do everything possible to achieve this goal on Saturday afternoon.

“Honestly, it would mean the world. We’re not long off the ground, just six short seasons. It would be absolutely massive. This is our first adult county final.

“So many of the lads came through our underage structures. To lift a county title at senior in a Gaels jersey, that would be really special.

“Burt have so much history and tradition. We are looking to make our own. And to do that we have to step up and make it happen. But I have no doubt this group of players will give it absolutely everything they have in trying to make that a reality.”