Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NIALL’S ALL SMILES NOW IN DONEGAL
NIALL O’DONNELL has hailed St Eunan’s Letterkenny’s county title win as “the best day of my life”.
The Donegal star has tasted Ulster Championship success with the county team but captaining the club to Sunday’s runaway victory over holders Naomh Conaill, achieved alongside his brothers Conor and Shane, outstrips lifting the Anglo-celt Cup.
The 1-11 to 0-4 victory brought St Eunan’s their first title since 2014.
They lost the final the following year to Naomh Conaill on a day when O’donnell made a brief appearance for his senior debut.
The Glenties club have been in every final bar one since and eliminated Eunan’s en route to the last two titles.
O’donnell said: “It is unbelievable. It is the best day of my sporting career so far.
“I have had a few achievements with the county minor and seniors so far but nothing compares to the personal touch of this with the club.
“It has been six years since we were in a county final.
“I lost in that one after coming on for just three minutes but this is something else and to be captain of this bunch of players makes this probably the best day of my life so far.
“It was a big week in our house. It was my dad’s birthday [on Sunday] and he is a Glenties man but he is a St Eunan’s man today.”
Reflecting on their recent record against Glenties, O’donnell said: “Two years ago we lost to Naomh Conaill to a last minute point and we went to put things right last year and we were sickened even more, so to put it right this year is more than I ever dreamed of.”