McShea's Say: 'This is where the real heat of championship football begins'

There were no major upsets in last weekend’s Donegal senior championship but this Saturday and Sunday we’ll see the real cut and thrust of knock-out football with four attractive quarter-finals taking place.  

Starting in Falcarragh on Saturday, Glenswilly plays a resurgent Dungloe outfit. Gary McDaid’s side has a good blend of youth and experience, but again, the outcome of this clash will depend on Dungloe’s ability to do a damage-limitation job on Michael Murphy.  

In the belief that Murphy will have a major influence on the outcome of this game, I expect Glenswilly to prevail and qualify for the semi-final.  

Saturday evening at 7.30, we’ll see the two teams who carry the tag of favourites for this year’s championship meet in Ballybofey. St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill are both formidable outfits, and while the Letterkenny side won the latest encounter between these sides, it would be foolish to read too much into that result.  

When it comes to team sports it takes all types, some players need the fury, while others need the calm. There is no exact science. But whatever the outcome of Saturday’s game is, people will need to identify reasons to rationalise the outcome.  

Supporters, press, and even players seek and often apply logical reasons to explain a result. A team lost because of this or that: a lack of marquee forwards, bad referring calls, etc.  

The reason a team wins or loses is sometimes obvious, but more a collection of tiny moments that culminate in victory or defeat.  

One thing that I believe can smother the dynamic of a group whatever the objective is tension. It can infect a team and disable it.  

Naomh Conaill and St Eunan’s have had some stirring battles in recent years, and while familiarity will not breed contempt on Saturday evening, this will be a hard-hitting encounter.  

Because the teams are evenly matched, the side who plays with ultimate discipline may well finish this game with a numerical advantage, and while no one would wish to see a player ‘walk’, this scenario could have a major bearing on the result.  

This is a very difficult match to call. The Letterkenny side have a large and very talented panel, but even at this stage of the campaign, are the Eunan’s management confident about who their best 15 is?  

Naomh Conaill does have a more established look about their side, but some of their key men do have serious mileage on the clock, but to their credit, they seem to be playing as well as ever. They play with true grit and have a wonderful pride in wearing the famous blue jersey.  

Eunan’s have flattered to deceive on occasions in recent seasons but in what has the making of a good championship match the Letterkenny men may prevail on this occasion, but I will not be having a wager on the outcome.  

On Sunday, St Michael’s meets Kilcar in Glenties with a 1.30 throw-in. Michael’s are enjoying a good campaign, but Kilcar, after a less than impressive season seem to have got their act together in recent weeks, and with Patrick McBrearty going well in attack, they would seem to have more scoring potential, which should see them progress to a semi-final.  

The last quarter-final sees a youthful Four Masters side meet Gaoth Dobhair. This Donegal Town outfit has loads of potential, and they were most impressive even in defeat to Glenswilly in the round 3.  

Gaoth Dobhair have been like the curate’s egg, good in spots. But Four Masters did not impress last week when they went in at half time having scored only two first-half points to Killybegs 0-1.  

They were a much-improved side in the second half and won with a bit to spare, but Gaoth Dobhair are seasoned championship campaigners, and they impressed in putting MacCumhaill’s to the sword last week.  

I expect Gaoth Dobhair to prevail in this game, but if there is to be a surprise over the weekend do not write off this Donegal Town team.  

I hope that all four quarter-finals will produce quality football and not result in 14 men behind the ball which has made watching football less than an exciting pass time.  

New GAA Rules

This year’s All-Ireland was won by Armagh scoring a total of 14 points, something that only happened three times in the previous 25 years. As we look forward to the deliberations of Jim Gavin’s proposals from his rules committee which will go to a special congress next month, my hope is that most of the new proposals will find favour with the suits in Croke Park.  

In the GAA, rules shape everything. These rules of course are not immutable. They are often reframed to the way football changes because people seem to find new ways to go around the rules and win.  

I hope and believe that Gavin’s changes will be designed to make play faster, more open, more skilful, and supposedly by extension, more attractive to players as well as spectators.  

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney was quoted this year as saying that he was not in the business of entertaining but rather in the business of winning. At least one could not question his honesty.