ALL eyes will be on Ballybofey this Saturday as we see an early Donegal SFC ‘final’ between St Eunan’s and Naomh Chonaill.
Elsewhere, Glenswilly, who have been reliant on former Donegal marksman Michael Murphy, play Dungloe, Kilcar face-off against St Michael’s and Gaoth Dobhair and Four Masters go head-to-head.
St Eunan’s v Naomh Chonaill (Saturday, Ballybofey, 7.30pm)
FOR many this is the real county final between the county’s perennial heavyweights over the past decade.
Naomh Chonaill are going for their third title on the trot, while Eunan’s last triumphed in 2021.
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The teams have already met in this campaign, with the Letterkenny men winning in Glenties, but that is no indicator when it really matters.
The big question is how long can Leo McLoone, Brendan McDyer, Anthony Thompson, Dermot Molloy and Eoin Waide keep going. All are well into their 30s.
The Glenties men also have the likes of Odhran Doherty, Ethan O’Donnell, Jeaic MacCeallbhuí and Charlie McGuinness to spur their efforts.
Opponents St Eunan’s have an abundance of riches also and have been experimenting wholesale this year.
Pauric Boyle, a recent acquisition from Monaghan, has certainly given them more options up front alongside Niall O’Donnell, Shane O’Donnell and Eoin McGeehin.
Caolan Ward, Darragh Mulgrew, Ciaran Moore, Conor O’Donnell (Snr) and Eoin Dowling are also major figures in a talented line-up.
This will be very hard to call but Eunan’s have a greater need to prove themselves and that could be crucial.
Dungloe v Glenswilly (Saturday, Cloughaneely)
Dungloe’s advance to the quarter-finals has been one of the stories of the championship so far.
But they face a huge test against the Michael Murphy-inspired Glenswilly who have come through the group stages unbeaten.
Dungloe actually pipped St Eunan’s for a place in the last eight and that fact alone will give Dessie Gallagher’s men great heart.
The return of Conor Greene has been a big help to the Gaeltacht men, while Oisin Bonner, Dylan Sweeney, the Currans and Daire Gallagher are all big players for a side that has bulked up considerably over the past few years.
Glenswilly have been most impressive so far and Michael Murphy has been the stand-out performer once again for his club.
Gary “Copper” McFadden, Jack Gallagher, Oisin Crawford, Daithi Gildea and Shaun Wogan are also key players in a team that may be in transition, but one that could make a big impression.
Glenswilly should win this one with a bit to spare.
Kilcar v St Michael’s (Sunday, Ardara, 1.30pm)
St Michael’s have had a good campaign with a clean sheet in the group stages.
Michael Langan, Carlus O’Reilly, Anton McFadden, Colin McFadden, Martin McElhinney and Edward O’Reilly have all been in fine form for the Gaeltacht men.
They have been in and around the top four in the county for around a decade but always seemed to falter at the business end of things.
But they will certainly not fear a Kilcar side who are only getting back to full strength in recent weeks.
Paddy McBrearty is their top scorer, with Ryan, Mark and Eoin McHugh, Ciaran McGinley, Matthew McClean, Stephen McBrearty and Conor Doherty all major figures.
Kilcar have been improving steadily and are renowned championship battlers.
But their main problem has been a lack of strength in depth on the bench.
St Michael’s look to have slightly more quality on their bench but any team that has three McHughs is always formidable and Kilcar might just nick it.
Gaoth Dobhair v Four Masters (Sunday, Ballybofey, 4.30pm)
Last year’s youthful beaten county finalists take on an even more youthful Four Masters in Ballybofey tomorrow.
The Gaeltacht men have been minus Eamon, Neil and Peter McGee and they are backboned by a slew of names that have taken a raft of county titles.
Daire O’Baoill and Domhnall Mac Giolla Bríde are huge figures for Gaoth Dobhair, who also have the experienced Niall Friel, Nessan McBride, Ethan Harkin and Fionan Coyle as major figures.
Their dominance of the U21 championship in recent years has fuelled speculation of a new dawn for the men in green, but it hasn’t happened so far.
Opponents Four Masters have been dominant at underage level in recent years and Kevin Sinclair’s young men are steadily climbing up the pecking order.
Seánan Carr, Richard O’Rourke, Killian Faulkner, Aaron McCrea and Alex McCalmont have blended into a formidable outfit and there are more underage stars to come on board.
But, Gaoth Dobhair might just shade it.
