Termon manager Caolan McDaid on the line on Saturday. PHOTO: Geraldine Diver.
Caolan McDaid took time out from Termon’s historic Division 1 league title win to remember two men who made a serious impact at the Burn Road.
The recent passings of founding members Seamus Harkin and Johnny McCafferty Snr were honoured in the best possible fashion with Saturday’s 3-12 to 0-13 victory over Four Masters.
READ NEXT: Goal-getters Termon topppled Four Masters in Division 1 league decider
Termon topped Division 1 outright in the lead-in to the weekend’s decider and their young manager explained, for that fact alone, that it was important not to get turned over by Masters in Letterkenny.
“Coming into this week, we ended up topping Division 1 and that was a first for the club. I guess we just really wanted to get over the line because of that fact too.
“It would have stung having finished top and to have come up short today. So it’s lovely to pick up silverware.
“We still had to come, show up and perform and thankfully the players did”.
There was a minute’s silence observed in O’Donnell Park prior to throw-in for the late Seamus Harkin and it was obvious from very early on that Termon were highly motivated to deliver.
“Ricky Gallagher touched on Seamus Harkin in his speech. But even a few weeks ago, we lost Johnny McCafferty Snr. Both were founding members.
“Without them men, even the new clubhouse, we probably wouldn’t be here today. And I’m sure this means just as much to their families today”.
Termon led 2-7 to 0-7 at the changeover thanks to a brace of goals from Ryan McFadden.
And even though Masters looked to mount a comeback at the start of the new period, Ciaran Cassidy raised a third green flag for the leaders - entering the final quarter - and that was that.
“The goals were a big factor. The scoreline alone paints the picture. I felt we worked them really well.
“It’s something we have worked on, in that 11 v 11 environment, we’ve looked at how we can make space and maximise that. The flip to that it shoring space up when you’re defending.
“We’ll enjoy this and then it’ll all be about turning attention to championship. We have Killybegs and Masters once more and that won’t be easy”.
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