 So, time to continue our preview of the 2020 Donegal Senior Football Championship final that have fared the delayed final. Let's get the thoughts now of the man in charge of the Townie men, let's kill Keir boss John McNulty. John, it's good to see you. Good to talk to you. How are you? I take it you're on Townie and not San Francisco, but the looks of things in your, in your background there on your Zoom call. Yeah, I'm in Townie already. I would like to be in San Francisco sometimes, it's a long time since we're able to get away. So I just put that up there and made it a happier times. Yeah, well listen, despite not being able to get away on holidays, there's been a lot of time to focus on a county final. 11 months John, what's it been like between the day that it was called off and now here we are just days out from when the final is going to be played 11 months on. Yeah, the day that was called off, I remember, I remember well getting the call, I was, I was very disappointed that day in particular because that we were, we, we, we had the semi final over us and we got the one over gate over and we were in a very good spot there heading into the, the final and obviously there was a delay already, but we were really looking forward to it and a lot geared up for it and it was obviously very, very disappointing that time that the final wasn't played, especially I think it was about five days out from it. Yeah, I know hearing from Mark McEw earlier in the week, he said at times it was difficult to keep the motivation at a level required. How did you manage the players and trying to keep them motivated, John? Well, I think you had to just manage the situation as you see in the time ways and what was happening around you. And maybe, maybe they give them a bit of leeway when you thought it was able to give it to them and get them some downtime and bring it back when you needed to bring it back. And I think we managed that well and from, from the players point of view, I think we got a great response in that way too. Yeah, and listen, it was a, it was a fantastic outlet for players during a very difficult time and lockdown to stay focused on, on training and, and particularly keeping themselves in shape for, for what was coming down the line. And have you had any sort of issues during that time of players? Obviously a couple of men still out injured ahead of the final like Sabrina Donald and Eden's also out, Eden McGinley. Yeah, I am Brian Donald's injury came from St. Michael's in the quarterfinal last year in the first half he, he'd done the cruciate. So he, he's out since really, and he's coming on good, but he's just not, he's just short time, just maybe a month off at the minute. But his recovery is going well and with Eden McGinley, it was something that happened in this year. He had come back from one and he'd, he'd done it again there. And I think it's about in June there. So unfortunately that was unfortunate for him. It's a horrible injury for any player. So I mean, there are two long term absentees, but we're hoping Brian and Donald may feature, you know, in the 2021 championship. Yeah. And as for the County men, they all came back, of course, in recent weeks as well, which I'm sure added an extra bit of sharpness to the training, Joe. Great to have them back. It really is the boys look forward to having them back to training is always good all the time. But when you have them get back in the level that they bring a training and I think everybody just stops the training and having them all back. And we're all delighted to have them back in. They were delighted to be back themselves and really been working on things this past few weeks and training has been very good. Is there a county final feel around the parish this week because everybody's been waiting so long. So they have, John, is that proper county final feeling there? Without a doubt, you can feel it there with the everybody's talking about it now. It's on everybody's lips. And the town is, you know, they want things up. The flags are going up everywhere. Every day there's new flags when there's a really excitement and buzz about it at the moment. I can see that people are really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, probably the tickets is probably the better than the downturn that you only have two 25 tickets, which leaves a lot of people maybe unable to go to the match. I think that's a bit disappointing. But other than that, the feeling is really, really good. Yeah, will the actual occasion have the feel of a county final given there's only going to be 500 there? And it's a different sort of situation and scenario at play here. Will the actual day and the occasion have a county final feeling? Do you expect, John? Well, I do expect it because I think that's the feeling that you bring yourself to it as a team. We're preparing for it. So it's a county final we're preparing for it. And every way we do that, that's for Saturday evening at eight o'clock. And when that throw balls to one and we have no doubt that that's the way we'll be feeling for one that game. And that's a coping taking match. And that's that's our aim. And so definitely, I think we will have that feeling with that night. I suppose the fact that you boys have been involved in previous recent county finals, 2017, when you won it. And then lost in 2016 to Glenn Swilley. I suppose that having the big occasion that the guys aren't going to get a supposed lead with that, then it's not going to be an overwhelming factor, is it, John? I don't think so. I think, as you say, we have that experience from boys in the past and the young lads are in there, the lads that have that experience are able to chat them, talk to them about it. And again, it comes down to how you perform on the day, Oshin. And I think sometimes people maybe put that into perspective that boys sometimes don't react in a county final well. Some people do. And what I would hope, I would like to think that all our boys will be prepared for Saturday. Yeah, what can you give me expecting? If we look at previous matches between you two guys, Dave Connell and Kilkiar, there's been a couple of really tight, touchy affairs. So what sort of match are you expecting this weekend, John? I think as any final goes, it's going to be very competitive. I expect a very competitive game with Dave Connell. I think that we're two teams that are well met in a lot of ways. And I think we're going to have, I expect a very good match and we're really looking forward to it, Oshin. Yeah, is there going to be blister and stuff from the get-go? That'll be interesting to see. And we just have to wait and see with that. You're not going to argue with Oshin, John, are you? What about Dave Connell then? Because they basically have played four finals in the space of two years because they had the marathon, three serious decider. Against Ghidor and given that they went through that period, John, and that they've come through the league so successfully as well in the build-up to the championship, would they be seen as favourites? Would they? Obviously, coming as county champions from 2019 and as you say, that's the marathon where they would be seen as obviously the champions. So there would be favourites from off on that. And again, I mean, they won the league as well this year, so they've been going very well and we know that. So definitely they'd be favourites for that final of the minute. But that said, again, I think that's fine. But you have to perform on the day and that's what we'll be looking at. Yeah, what would it mean then to the man from Tony to lift another Dr. McGuire, John, and particularly under your management? I think any day you would lift a Dr. McGuire in the QQR, it means absolutely everything to everybody. From the old and the young, your supporters, everybody. The players obviously means everything to the management, hopefully would. But I think for a whole parish point of view, you know, as a sport goes, the GA being the main sport in the parish and how well it's supported. And I just think everybody, it means everything to them. Yeah, I suppose the fact that neither you guys have played at and fixture a championship level in so long, John. And I always said that we indicated that Conor could possibly favourites here as the playing ground been levelled somewhat since neither of your sides have actually played a real intense championship game in such a long period of time. Well, that's an interesting question. I mean, it's hard to know how that's going to play out until we actually that ball is thrown in and until we see maybe you say the first quarter or first half of that match, how it's going. You see how we're equipped. But I think with both squads that the players that's involved, I think they'll get to that level pretty quickly when the ball is thrown. OK, let's enjoy money. Thanks for talking to us ahead of the county final this coming weekend. And we wish you the best of luck and again. Thank you very much, Josh. Thank you.