Setanta on high alert ahead of Burt SHC final showdown in Letterkenny

Niall Cleary says Setanta would be foolish in the extreme to even contemplate looking past Burt in this afternoon's SHC decider. 

Player/boss with the reigning Donegal senior and Ulster Intermediate champions, the Offaly native says Burt’s pedigree and tradition means they’ll be highly motivated to topple the current champions. 

“The favourites tag is just something for the bookies or journalists to use but it certainly doesn't register with our group,” he explained. 

“We look at it as a county final against a club and team that has serious talent. We’d have huge respect for Burt and what they’ve achieved. It’s quite ridiculous if you look back through their history. 

“They are a proper hurling club with proper hurling people driving it all on. How could you not admire that? They’ve been great for Donegal hurling, for so long as well. And they’ve been the benchmark and motivation really for everyone else. 

“We’re going well the last few years but all of our players, or most of them at least, know what it’s like to suffer defeat in a county final. 2018 and 2021 are still very fresh in the memory. 

“It’s the worst feeling. And county finals are all about on the day. Every single moment counts towards the outcome”.

Setanta’s forays out into Ulster the last two seasons, coupled with this term’s run towards another domestic decider,  means there’s been little to no respite in between. Cleary admits it’s been a gauntlet at times but winning makes it all worthwhile. 

“Listen, there is a balance to get right. And we’ve also had ten or 11 lads in with Donegal in between. But it’s not hard to convince the players to keep things moving and motivate them as they want to keep achieving. 

“And the supporters and families of the players, this gives them something to really row in behind. The Ulster runs especially, they’ve helped lift things into the winter months. There have been some brilliant treks and trips. 

“Even training sessions in those dark nights, they brought people out of the house and brought them together. It’s a topic of conversation also. So no one takes any of that for granted.” 

Ahead of Saturday, Cleary was happy to report a clean bill of health. 

“It’s probably the first time this season we’ve had a full squad to pick from. We had a good four weeks there, got a good block of work done and it’s all geared towards the weekend now.”.