Darach O'Connor pays tribute to JP McKenna for playing in Killybegs on Sunday

Buncrana travelled to Fintra on Sunday last to take on Killybegs in a crunch league match in the Marley Travel Division 2. It came a week after the club was rocked with the death of Jimmy McKenna in a tragic road accident.

There was a minute's silence observed prior to the game and Buncrana hit a goal in either half to edge the contest 2-8 to 0-12.

Afterwards Buncrana captain, Darach O'Connor, paid tribute to JP McKenna for turning out for the club just a week after his brother's death.

"JP was wearing six there today and lost his brother last week in a terrible accident. He was there on Thursday night at training, an unbelievable leader," said O'Connor, who said some players play with a sore toe, or a sore hand.

"That man lost his brother and he's there on Thursday night and he's there today having a great game. We as a club have to get in behind the family and we have and we will and we will always be there for him. If you're a young fellow and you see fellas like William (McLaughlin) and JP (McKenna) coming there today, no call for him really, but it shows how much the club means to him and it shows where we are going as a club. Things are looking good," said O'Connor

The win puts the Inishowen side back in the mix for promotion to the top flight and O'Connor feels that things are beginning to look up.

"Look, for a few years we have always been looking over our shoulder at relegation and then last year we finished third in what we thought was a blip.

"But we have a good young group of players coming through. There's a few minors there, 19, 20 that won the U-21 Division 2. We're getting there but no mean are things perfect."

One of those young players who are coming through is Dylan Mulholland, who looks to be a replica of Darach 'Jigger' O'Connor.

"Dylan is a cracker and he is definitely a better shooter than I am. There's no doubt about that. There are lads there, young Andrew Davison missed today through injury; Michael McLaughlin played midfield all year and he hurt his shoulder against Milford.

"We were down a few bodies, but the good thing for the first time in my time as a senior player, there's players stepping up. Caolan (McGonagle) obviously has to come back into it, but everybody else is fighting for positions."

There are also some warriors still togging for Buncrana, not least corner-back William McLaughlin, who scored a point and then set up the second goal for John Campbell.

"William must be nearly 40. He has been brilliant for us all year. In terms of training, he trains like mad, never backs down, never shies away from training.

"We have Dungloe at home on Friday and that will be a big game. I don't know how the table lies but I can tell you I have never beat Dungloe as a senior player. Looking forward to it surely and you always want to play senior teams. Dungloe won the Intermediate a few years ago. That's what you need. I know last year we finished third but we were teams missing county players, playing teams that you knew that two or three of their star players were missing," said O'Connor, who added that he "had a good feeling of where we are at the moment. Whether we get promoted or into the third play-off is irrelevant because we have a good buzz at the moment and we are enjoying it.