Winners to another level
“To be fair this was probably the most low-key fortnight we’ve had, we probably did more work for all the other games because this two weeks was about keeping them calm, take the emotion out of it, not to try and build it into something it’s not and, to be fair, we managed to do that.”
For a crestfallen Naomh Conaill manager Martin Regan, there was little left to say: “We came up short and we’re disappointed. It’s one we’ll look at and, in a few weeks time, feel it was one that got away from us.”
He dismissed a suggestion that they hadn’t the time to get their head around the challenge of Kilcoo.
“No – we’ve seen enough of them the last few weeks to know they’re a very good side. We were up against a seriously fine side. They’ve pace throughout their team.
“We knew we were going to struggle to keep a lid on that as it can come at you from every direction. There is no weak link there.”
Still, he reflected on a season that brought incredible relief after a three-game marathon against Gaoth Dobhair that wrestled a Dr Maguire Cup out of their grasp.
“Of course we’re disappointed and I feel we could have won this Ulster title. But it has been a good season. There is no doubt about that. Our aim was to win a Donegal championship.”