DEFENCE was already on the minds of St Mary’s, even before they learned their next opponents in the Sigerson Cup – and the huge score they had racked up.
Maynooth handed out an unmerciful thrashing to ATU Donegal in round 2B, winning by 30 points, scoring as many goals as their opponents did points – 5-20 to 0-5.
There was a similar score total, albeit a much closer outcome, when St Mary’s narrowly lost out in round 2A – the winners’ section from round one – by 3-14 to 3-11 away to TU Dublin.
Despite that decent display, against a team able to bring Dublin star Colm Basquel off the bench, St Mary’s player Seanie O’Donnell didn’t just want to put the defeat behind them and move on:
“We can’t really be too happy with the goals we let in. It’s always good to have something to focus on in training. We got a night together for a session. We’ll nail down the defence, hopefully, and see where it takes us.”
Securing the last place in the quarter-finals will take a step up in performance, he feels, with their opening win over Queen’s put into some perspective by their subsequent hammering by the University of Galway.
“We got off to a good start [against Queen’s], which is always a bonus, but then down in Dublin that was a tough game, with the calibre of players they have.
“I thought we did alright, considering we conceded some early goals. We stuck at it and brought it back to three in the end.”
St Mary’s did display their renowned ‘Ranch spirit’, responding to those TUD goals, to trail by 3-5 to 2-3 at half-time, although the visitors’ third goal only came at the very end.
It was a second major for Niall McKenna of Emyvale - impressive in the opener against Queen’s, was even better against the Dublin outfit, scoring 2-7. He could be involved in an all-Monaghan battle as Maynooth had Thomas McPhillips of Latton at full-back.
The St Mary’s defence, of which Trillick lad O’Donnell is likely to be a part, have concerns of their own, he knows: “Looking at that scoreboard, we’ve a lot of work to do. They put up a high score, so we’ll definitely have a lot of work to do to cancel that out.”
Kerryman Luke Crowley was the undoubted star for Maynooth last time out, scoring 3-2, aided by fellow corner-forward Kieran McArdle of Louth, who notched 1-3. The latter’s replacement Mark Gibbons came on to score 1-2 and Maynooth had 10 different scorers.
“It’s a challenge,” acknowledges O’Donnell, “but now it’s knockout football hopefully we’ll bring a bit more edge and energy to it and that’ll work in our favour.”
In the second year of four at the Belfast teacher training college, the 21-year-old has a seven-week placement to look forward to soon at a local primary school in Trillick.
Although he’s “loving it” at the west Belfast seat of learning, he’ll be happy based at home, especially with his Tyrone involvement too
“It’s nice being at home too. It’ll be busy, but it’s good experience too. I enjoy it, so that’s half the battle.
“It is busy, but when there’s matches involved it’s always enjoyable. Playing football all the time, touch wood injury-free, it’s very enjoyable. I don’t mind a busy schedule.”
A Sigerson quarter-final added to the mix would be very welcome.
