Naomh Pádraig all set for Ruislip

By Niall Gartland

NAOMH Pádraig, Uisce Chaoin manager Daniel McCauley is content that the logistics have been taken care of ahead of Saturday’s Twinning final against All-Britain Junior champions Tara.

The game is, in effect, an All-Ireland Junior Club Championship quarter-final, coming hot on the heels of the Donegal side’s provincial final victory at this grading against Craigbane.

They’ve parked the celebrations ahead of their trip to Ruislip, London, and the club has come together to ensure that the team itself doesn’t get distracted.

McCauley said: “Ciaran McMenamin and Roisin McColgan took over the organising of the logistics, the flying and so on. I was told just to concentrate on getting the boys ready.

“I gave them the time-line for what I wanted on Saturday morning. We’re flying over on Friday afternoon and we’re back on Sunday. We’re looking ahead to a good weekend but first and foremost we’ll try to get a victory and then we’ll have a get together afterwards.”

There’s also a large travelling party making their way across the Irish Sea in support of the side, and that level of dedication has been prevalent throughout their memorable run to this point.

“There’s actually over 100 going over and that’s not including the team or management.

“The support has been unbelievable, and it’s been like that all year. Every reporter I spoke to after games has complimented the support. They’re vocal and big in numbers, and that day in Celtic against Craigbane, it was like a home game for us.”

Standing in their way of an All-Ireland semi-final appearance on the first weekend of January are London side Tara, who recently won the All-Britain Junior Championship with a 3-4 to 1-7 victory over Roger Casements. McCauley is mindful that they seem to be no shrinking violets.

“I thought Roger Casements would have been favourites because they’ve a lot of Irish-based players, they have Jack Gillespie from Red Hugh’s who was a county minor and u-20 in Donegal.

“Tara really got stuck into them, Casements might have been a better football team but Tara had that bit of work-rate and determination. They were very hard-hitting and they dug deep and got the result.

“I’ve said to the lads at training, would you sacrifice your Christmas for an All-Ireland medal and the answer was unanimous – absolutely. The boys are so driven so here’s hoping it goes to plan.”