Mac's View: Michael Langan rumour mill in full swing once more

St Michael’s and Dungloe threw a spanner in the works in the Michael Murphy SFC race last weekend with their wins over Kilcar and Glenswilly respectively. 

And I mean no disrespect to either Kilcar or Glenswilly, but It is great to new teams coming through.  

It is great for the championship and has added a freshness to the semi-final stages. The championship had become a little boring in recent years with the same four or five teams making their way through every year.  

I’m particularly delighted for Dungloe who had slipped to Intermediate ranks in recent times but have bounced back in some style.  

Looking first at St Michael’s win over Kilcar, it was a real shock territory, simply because of the advantage the Towney club found themselves in at one stage going seven clear.  

Dungloe’s win over Glenswilly was more in the surprise category but still raised some eyebrows.  

For St Michael’s to come from eight points down without the influence of Michael Langan, it was a truly sensational comeback 

It is all the more impressive as they had been played off the field by a fast-moving and fast-flowing Kilcar in the first 30 minutes that looked a class apart.  

And I’m not sure if that is even adequate enough to describe the win over what was - up until that point - a rampant Kilcar. But the penalty save from Mark Anthony McGinley to deny Patrick McBrearty was a huge moment.  

I know some have tagged it this week as a penalty miss by Patrick. But from what I’ve heard, and what I’ve read in reports on the game, it was a well-struck penalty and a brilliant save from Mark Anthony.  

However, it was a big moment in the game and St Michaels were a different side after the save. It just shows it does not always take a big score to lift a team.  

While some are lauding St Michael’s for the manner of the comeback others have labelled it a total collapse by Kilcar.  

And while there may be some merit in suggesting so, I think it is very disrespectful to St Michael’s and the quality of the football they played in the second half when the door was opened for them. 

Dungloe’s win over Glenswilly - as I mentioned earlier - was less of a shock but it still was a surprise to see Glenswilly fall.  

I hadn’t heard much chat about Dessie Gallagher’s side in the last few weeks as the championship progressed. And I had tipped Glenswilly to win but I got it wrong. The only consolation in that is that I was in good company.  

But as I said last week, they were tipping along nicely and they certainly came in under the radar and have caught everybody by surprise.  

I haven’t seen Dungloe in a few years. But they did win the IFC in recent times and the word at the time was that they were pressing a complete reset button at senior level. That patience and work seem to now becoming to fruition.  

Going on reports, they contained Michael Murphy well with Aaron Ward deserving a special mention. And he was never allowed to really get into the game.  

This was achieved by restricting the supply of ball into Murphy and effectively reducing his influence on the game. And when Michael’s influence was restricted, Glenswillly were always going to be in trouble.  

I know there was only a point in it at the finish and that Glenswilly had drawn level well into the second half. And in that type of scenario, Glenswilly might have kicked on in years gone by.  

But it didn’t happen and Dungloe went back in front and held on. In the other two quarter-finals, there was no great surprise.  

I always felt Gaoth Dobhair were going to have a little too much craft for a young Four Masters. And while it was tight and could have gone either way, Gaoth Dobhair’s edge and a little more experience got them through.  

But it has been a good season for Four Masters. They won promotion back to Division 1. They won the Division 2 league and reached the quarter-final of the championship. 

And with the underage players that are coming through, with medals in their pockets, they are surely going to become a real force in the SFC in the very near future.  

The St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill game was always going to be close and that is how it transpired.  

St Eunan’s outplayed Naomh Conaill in the first half and deservedly led by four points at the break. 

But they sat back in the second-half and allowed Naomh Conaill to dictate and Naomh Conaill led in the closing minute before Ciaran Moore and Eoin McGeehin kicked late points to just about shade it.  

That game was billed as the county final between the recognised top two in the county. I’m sure Gaoth Dobhair, St Michaels and Dungloe might have other thoughts on that. But it is generally agreed that St Eunan’s are now the clear favourites. 

No matter how the semi-final games go at the weekend, either St Michael’s or Dungloe will be marching behind the band on county final day.  

St Eunan’s and Gaoth Dobhair are first up on Saturday night in MacCumhaill Park. Gaoth Dobhair have already beaten St Eunan’s in the group stages. But it’s always hard to beat a team for a second time in the championship.  

I fancy St Eunan’s to advance but it could be closer than many expect. The St Michaels, Dungloe game is a genuine 50/50 tie.

The word last week was that St Michael’s were flying Michael Langan back from his travels. It did not happen. The same rumour is flying this week as well. If that turns out to be so it would tip the scales in favour of St Michael’s.  

But if reports that he is back were to prove untrue then I think the pendulum would swing back in favour of Dungloe. 

Congratulations  

Congratulations to Naomh Columba and Termon who have qualified for the IFC final and to Carndonagh and Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin who have made it through to the Junior A decider. 

Sympathies  

Finally, I end this week on a really sad note following news of the sudden passing of Anne Buggy - wife of PJ Buggy in Ballyshannon. My thoughts and prayers are with the Buggy family at this sad time.  

Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hanam.