NAOMH MUIRE have yet to win a match in the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta SFC but one tomorrow will give them a chance of progression to the quarter-finals.
At the Banks, they will welcome an already eliminated Killybegs side, who are aiming to stay out of the relegation play-off that the last-placed team in Group 4 will be subjected to.
Having played senior championship in 1999 and 2000, Naomh Muire fell as low as Division 4 so being in the position they’re in has certainly shown their level of progression. They have no fresh injury worries for Killybegs’ visit.
Following a 2-13 to 0-8 loss at Kilcar in their opening fixture, Naomh Muire and Termon shared the spoils in a 0-15 to 1-12 draw last weekend.
Termon have three points with a scoring difference of +2, while Naomh Muire have a point and -11. But with Paddy McDaid’s side travelling to Towney to take on in-form Kilcar, there might yet be a change in the order.
“We were disappointed to draw last week but when we sat down and looked at it, we’re still in a decent position,” said Gary Boyle, the Naomh Muire manager. “There’s talk about permutations but we certainly won’t be taking Killybegs for granted and they certainly won’t fear us – all we can really do is just focus on our own game and then when it’s over we will hear what has happened in Kilcar.”
Killybegs scored an early goal through Brendan McGuire which helped them lead neighbours Kilcat at Fintra last Saturday night 1-3 to 0-4 as half-time approached. However, a goal from Mark McHugh turned the tide of the contest and Michael Molloy’s team won 1-15 to 2-4 following a dominant second half performance.
“We had a gameplan and we were sticking to it,” said Killybegs manager Mark ‘Herbie’ Boyle. “But that all changed in the 32nd minute when Kilcar got their goal and in the second half they proved what a good attacking team they are.”
Killybegs lost narrowly to Termon, 1-11 to 0-12 first time out and have yet to pick up a point in the group.
Boyle will have to plan tomorrow without the suspended David Conwell, who was dismissed against Kilcar, as well as Daniel Breslin, who manages St Catherine’s in the Donegal Town Area final of the Brian McCormick Sports Cup in the Donegal League against Cappry Rovers.
Niall Carberry is also out, while Ciaran Connaghan is back from his travels having also had an ankle injury. Killybegs know a win will spare them the potential banana skin of the relegation play-offs, which already include Ardara.
“It’s very important for us to win,” Mark Boyle added. “Naomh Muire have plenty to play for, with the chance to qualify and we want to avoid that bottom spot.”
Fixtures: Glenswilly v MacCumhaill’s, Gaoth Dobhair v Malin – both Sunday 6pm.
| P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts | |
| Glenswilly | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 22 | 4 |
| Gaoth Dobhair | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 27 | 2 |
| MacCumhaill’s | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 34 | 1 |
| Malin | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 34 | 1 |
