Naomh Padraig determined to stay focused on All-Ireland quest over Christmas period

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin boss Daniel McCauley has no doubt that all of his players will look after themselves over the Christmas holidays as the Inishowen team continue their preparations for their rescheduled All-Ireland quarter-final against Tara in London. 

The Donegal and Ulster junior champions were scheduled to play Tara from London in McGovern Park on December 7, but after making their way across the Irish Sea, the game was called off due to the pitch being unplayable and will now be played after Christmas on January 5. 

While the team will be waiting almost a month until their quarter-final bout will be played, McCauley admits that the Naomh Padraig men have been staying active in what has been a long season, with their first training starting all the way back in November 2023. 

“The game being cancelled was something we had to get on with but it wasn’t too bad because we’ve been staying fresh by having a few challenge games against ATU Donegal and one against the Donegal U-20 trial team,” McCauley told Donegal Live. 

“That was brilliant because it allowed us to get a bit of game time under our belt and also it let Gary Boyle and his U-20 management team take a look at a few players for the county team. 

“Other than that, we’ve had a few trips to Convoy for training, but overall, it’s been great to keep that level of action up during this time of year when things get a bit hectic with Christmas.  

“I feel we’re fresh at the minute, and we’re looking at different plans for the match in January, and we’re also looking at different things for next season too now that we have time. 

“We started back training last year in November 2023, so we’re well over the year mark at this stage, but it doesn’t feel like it because we’ve been keeping everything fresh and we’ve been changing up things at training over the course of the year too.” 

On the matter of the game being cancelled after the Naomh Padraig men had already landed and togged out in Ruislip, McCauley said it was disappointing but the referee on the day made the right decision saying that the official gave every opportunity to allow the pitch to settle so that the match could be played. 

“We landed at the ground in London and we knew the pitch was in a bad way, but we thought it would have been playable by the time throw-in came around,” he said. “The referee gave it three inspections and even informed Croke Park who allowed the referee himself to make the decision. 

“We were out warming up at the time when we were informed that the game wasn’t going to go ahead and that it was too much of a risk to allow players to play on it. It was disappointing because we were out warming up and ready to go with a fully fit squad but I think the referee made the right decision. 

“Look, we don’t know what could happen over Christmas, you could be down two or three men in that time, but so far, we’re going well in that end, and we got to see a bit of London when we were over there. 

“We knew the game couldn’t go ahead, we gave the referee every chance, and to be fair to him, he gave it three inspections, and I think he was dead right to call it off at the time.” 

With the chance of a Donegal side to go one step further in this All-Ireland Junior Championship campaign McCauley admits that it is going to take a lot of sacrifices over the upcoming holidays, but states it’s something that his panel is willing to do in the hope of winning national glory. 

“I think where we’re at now is that all the lads agreed to sacrifice their Christmas for the chance of an All-Ireland title,” McCauley said. “We know we’re capable of going all the way but we do need to manage and look after ourselves over the Christmas period. 

“I think to represent our club in Croke Park would be an unreal feeling and that’s what we want to do, so, I have no doubt that the boys will be so committed to the cause over the Christmas period.”