 Main Street, Dader County, and online at whatsandmenswear.com. Confirmation, we're also now in stock. The DL Debate with Sister Sarah's Ladder County, serving food you'll love till 9pm daily in Sarah's Kitchen. And there's free admission entertainment every weekend. Welcome one and all to the DL Debate. Thanks so much for tuning in. Now on Highland Radio, we're back via the podcast. Thank you Don Rhys for the news. The legendary Aven Borland for the Power Hour Plus. I'm delighted to say I'm joining studio here by the one and only, Parke Alfredi. How are you, Brandon? You keeping well? Our live audience now is giving me a wee... I'm going to make my own props for this. Oh, a little clap. Thanks, Brett. You're doing well at this. I had to give you a round of applause because that's how I felt. Oh, thanks, thanks. Thanks, Brandon. I really appreciate it. How are you? Listen, I'm good. I'm good. Busy day, busy weekend, you know, of multiple things. Mostly GA, of course, that's what we're talking about now. Multiple aspects, I suppose, for the town to that, you know. Yeah, it's been another great weekend for Ronnie Gall, I suppose. It's becoming a bit of a theme, Brandon, here. You're two draws in the accumulator, have you? Yeah, well, look, we'll go to the first one, the big one. Don't we go against our top of the table clash, most water encounter, but of a championship feel to that one, Brandon, wasn't there yesterday in the athletic grounds? The box at the... You like that. That would go well in terms of... To be fair, I really do like the athletic grounds. It is. Just the stadium's right in top of the players, you know. It's the best league ground in the country because it's just at the right size and you have back by it and there are my people who say to themselves, our fans are crazy. Like, they're proper, like, behind the team in India and, of course, the big interest from Donny Gall. So 11 and a half thousand, I mean, it's a huge crowd. It was box office, you know. But, look, as I say, there were people there queuing up to get down at half 11. I heard today, so that was interesting to hear that. But, look, top of the table clash, our man, Donny Gall, renowned for years, over the years to being just both sides, you know. There's never any quarter given, but I suppose Brown will analyse it through later on with Aaron Cairne. He might know a bit about it. He might have a bit of a better understanding. But, look, I suppose it's a game... I tell you what, you disagree with him. I'll just say no, you're wrong. I'd like to know what Cairne McGuiney and Jim McGinnis was having a conversation about that, Brown. You might have got that, did you? Yeah, listen, two interesting characters, for sure. And even you will talk later, like Kenneth Gilligan joining, you know, Big Donahue and, you know, the backroom team that they have there. It's huge. That's phenomenal, yeah. You just keep pulling people in, and that's coming up shortly. As you're saying, they're all on the show, and I think you'll enjoy this one, too. We're going to talk to the one and only Michael Sticky Ward. Look forward to that, yeah. He's won the four divisions. I wonder, has anybody else done that? You know, there's another fellow in the team on it, who can tell us about that. If anybody waits 16, 25,000. Could you just tell us because we didn't do the preparation round this hour? I couldn't stop researching. We won the four divisions. I would take you down a few rabbit holes. There's not too many now in fairness. I would say it looks going to be a great conversation with Sticky as well. Yeah, and I've actually won one and four. That's as far, that's as much as I've done. So that's what I've done in my time. But yeah, it'd be interesting to hear Sticky. I'm interested to hear about a bit of a real story because they really fell off the perch. They really looked like they're getting close back to where they should be competing at the top, you know. They're coming back again. And I suppose, like, you know, they've changed up their style of play. Brandon, which is another factor that I've looked at over the last number of years with Eru, but at underage level doing so much good things and have a number of players coming to the four. And look, a really good prominent senior side. You know, suppose the development of that team now is something that everyone's interested in seeing, you know, Eru coming back as another powerhouse. Well, we all need more teams, as I say. But Eru for years, you know, of course, you'd win a battle with them. But look, there's a resurgence there in the south of the county, which is good. Good to see you. Yeah, it is. Just county players as well. Just one other thing that I mentioned there, two Donegal schools, $3.00 in senior finals, school Wara, Bunkranna, and Abbey Vaeson, Abbey Vocational School, won their respective semi-finals on Saturday. Congratulations to them. School Wara under the management of Kevin Campbell and the Abbey team are under management of Stuart McFadden. There's interviews both up on Highlandmedia.com as is reaction from loads of people. One of the people we want to get reaction from is Mickey McCann, the Donegal hurling boss. He's on the line now. Mickey, how are you? Not too bad, Brandon, yourself. Mickey, keeping the best, sir. Mickey, you're away from home after that dairy game you were looking to pick up a couple of points. It never seems to be much, much, much between us and Tyrone in terms of squads. And at the end of the day, the spoils ended up shared. What did you make of it? Um, Brandon, but a bit of disappointment and a bit of relief, sort of similar to the football yesterday. You know, I felt we're probably the better side and we opened up the gap out to three points on a couple of occasions, but they kept calling us back, Brandon, and at the end, we went one up again the 17th minute and then they equalised and then the last minute was just mad. You know, you could have lost the game, so we could have gone down the road a lot more disappointed. So about disappointed, no, we met up in the huddle afterwards, but, you know, at the same time, we could have lost it, Brandon, but I felt it was probably maybe a point drop we could have held on, you know. And Mickey, the league, as all the leagues are now, they're so tight in terms of one minute, you're looking at a possible semi-final towards promotion. And in another game, you lose it and you could be in relegation. Is it now a bit of a chase and pack yourselves? We're obviously playing Roscommon in a couple of weeks and Tarone, is that the way you see the league shaping up in terms of getting into that semi-final? Yeah, well, obviously, Derry, Derry's going to be on the final, I'll tell you, Brandon, and then usself and Tarone and Roscommon's level on points at the minute, you know, and London's on two. So the last two games are so important, you know, if you get a result down in Roscommon, possibly Tarone beat London, it could leave you in the semi-final. If Tarone go and get beat, even we won, it's going to be a real humdinger come Saturday day against London at home, so it'll still be all the play for in the last day. But as you say, it can go either way at the minute. There's at least another three teams who can make that semi-final spot, you know. Yeah, that's the thing about the league, it's the same everywhere, isn't it? And it's just about supposed gaining that bit of momentum. You're just in the game there, as you said, the three points up, you're just going into the final quarter, you've built up a three-point lead, and then came the sucker points of the goal. But as with your team always, Ricky, there's always a kickback, there's a never-say-die, you know, and it doesn't matter what happens in the game, the lads are ready to take it on board, and, you know, just looking at the score and Gilmore again every time he did a point, was popping up, and there was a great team performance, happening there, even with conceding that goal, which should have swung the momentum back to Theron. Yeah, it's supposed to have been two young teams to be fair to Theron. Theron have a few boys retired too, and there's a lot of young lads on there, and they're very impressive, you know, but like Theron, they're really keen hurlers, and they really put a huge effort in. It's supposed to have been just on the goal, just the lead-up to the goal, so we were three points up, and there was a big hit on Conor Gardner on his head, you know, and I felt it should have been a free in from the 45-meter line, and it was that play on, you know, and the ball goes back to their keeper and stayed down the pitch and under the net, where, you know, said it might have been four up, he ended up level, so it's a big, big turning point in the game, you know, and I just felt, you know, they had Kevin Park before, and he's been very good, but on Saturday, we felt, you know, there's a few decisions out there, you know, even the keeper came out to the ball, and he lost it, and we turned it over, and he ended up giving it a very soft free out, and I think that maybe the home advantage works in your favour at times, but the goal was a massive turning point and a real momentous swing, but it felt weird a free in, but as you say, we dug deep down the pitch, and Jared Gilmour sticks your point up again, you know, and he was excellent on Saturday again, and 100% from Place Balls, Brendan, and it's like Stephen Gillespie from going back at three points, so with some great performances, Brendan, the main thing is, when you go level again, they take the lead again, and just hard-fought back, they get something out of the game, you know, which is pleasing, you know? Yeah, yeah, worth this in front of the goals, yeah, they put a few wades. Mickey, just overall, Mickey, looking in there, we spoke many times about, you know, you're bringing in new players, and always on Earth, and new players in the squad. In terms of the league this year, is it a thing where, you know, is promotion something that you think about in terms of, let's see, where it takes us, or is it about just staying in Division Two on Earth, and those players getting your team shape together and then going all out champions? I suppose if it was normal setup, Brendan, with the league being restructured now, the top three teams is actually going to go into Division Two next year, which is leaving a really tough division now. It would be nice to get up there and see how you compete at that level. It definitely will be a test up, and you probably could get a couple of beatings on it, but the fact that the top three, Brendan, is going to go up, we'll be looking for that assembly final spot, which last year we got, like, but we know promotion, so if you get the top three this year, your promotion to Division Two has been done away the next year, so it's something we talked about, and as we say, if we get there, it'll be great. If not, we're going to get a lot of learners of this league and these young boys, you know, on Earth, Josh and Grant, there from Bon Canna, who got a senior start on Saturday. So we're definitely getting a lot out of the young boys and a great experience for them. If the top three would be great, you know, an extra match for the challenge would be great to get a semi-final, you know. I suppose that thing, Mickey, is a coach. You're always weighing it up. You know, you want the challenge, but then, as you said, it's about learning. If it's, as you said, a couple of beatings could swing it either way in terms of, but you're always learning from the process itself. And just interesting there, you know, the comment of the new GA president, Jarlith Burns on about club hurling. Interesting that that's one of his main strategies coming in, Mickey, to make sure there's many teams as possible are playing hurling and are helped to coach and promote the game. That's probably should have a good bearing on Donegal. That's brilliant. No, and you just look at Donegal, maybe from the seven, eight years ago. You're looking at three teams, you know. Now there's seven or eight there, you know. You've done low-started up. You've Bali Sharon going again at Bon Canna, Cairndona. And obviously ourselves, Tampon Unans and McCool. So, like you said, eight teams there and not gonna, you can see it when it comes to the county team, you know, you just get that one or two extra men from different clubs. And as you say, the more clubs are better and it'd be nice to see maybe another couple of clubs starting up in Donegal, you know, and just promoting the game a little bit better. I can only make the county teams stronger than, you know. Yeah, yeah. Paul Kelfrey's here with me. Mickey, maybe you could include him and give him a few nights coaching. They could take it back to Terriman there. I don't know if it's Terriman, boys, we sticks. Well, because, you know, we can always learn, Brennan, you know. Listen, I think every club, listen, I was down at Donegal's Dinner Dance on Saturday night there and, of course, they're competing, you know, and with the four, they've got the Kamugi, the Hurlin, you know, the football ladies, you know, they're very strong in the score as well. There's so much going on in the clubs, but, I mean, the effect and the community across all sorts, because everybody has different skills. You've got to at least get the chance to play with a small ball. Exactly, Brennan, you know, you know, it's tough going at times. Brennan being a dual club, but it's on the count, you know, especially our football team have affected, like when we've seven or six or seven club players away with the county most of the games now, only through the league. So, but it's something we're keen to keep going as being a dual club and putting huge effort under both codes, you know. So, as I say, the small ball means a lot, a lot to us and Bert here. Good man. Melissa and Mickey, were you weak off in between? I mean, if there's not a weak off, but a weak end off, I don't even know what you're saying. No, you don't get a weak end off. Nobody gets time off, do they? There's probably training Sunday morning at half eight somewhere. Of a hell. Yes, Brennan will be sitting there early at the weekend, is right? So, I'm not going to be a weak end off. No, of course. Maybe from a bit of travel and that's it, but you'll sort the rosses out after that. Mickey, listen, great chatting he has ever done. Keep up the good work. I must speak to you as the season goes on, all right? Cheers, Brennan. Top man. Mickey McCann there. He's a good hurling boss. He's doing a massive, great job, massive job. As ever, after the break, we're going to spout, break the anchor, do you want to speak first? No, I was thinking about the hurling there. You're all about it, the clubs. I suppose they're starting to do a bit more work in the guilty clubs, you know, within the hurling as well. So, Brennan, you know, as you look, you've got eight or nine senior teams, and you're going to have a few more, hopefully in the next couple of years. That's what you're saying. No matter what, if you have a team, there has to be a couple of guys in there just by the long averages. Well, you look at the numbers of players coming to play football now at the minute. There's not going to be game time for them all either, so obviously that might be something that could develop down through the years. And, you know, we could get you a position on goals, eventually, Brennan, you know, you don't have to do too much. I've played a wee bit for more, actually. There you go. It wasn't much good, but I got up in the team, but they must have been very short in numbers. Now you've got that cut, like, you know. I see that the mum's influence, all the girls, played Kemogi, so we would have been pucking away there, you know. So, been a bit of hurling of a great love. Who couldn't love the game of hurling, you know. That's fantastic. In many ways, it blows the other game away. We were in Haley Park at Saturday night, and it was 1-5 to 4 at half time, or whatever, and the hurling match at, like, two and a half times scored in errors, you know. It was just, every time we went over them, it was four or five points. You know, you go over them back, they'd come to us, it might be a one-point score, or a non-scored. But listen, that game that liven up second half, we'll give it a wee mention after the break as well, and I'll be right back. Any time, anywhere, at bluepoppydental.com. Blue Poppy Dental and Orthodontics at a Kenny and Donegal town. Give vouchers available. Enhance your skills with SIFTEC's part-funded training programs. At SIFTEC, we provide courses including First Aid, Roadworks, People Moving and Handling, Confined Spaces, Electrofusion, and Machinery Training for Ireland and UK sites. Also online programs such as Water Hygiene, Construction Supervisors, Safety Reps and much more. If you have a group for training, SIFTEC will go to you. Contact SIFTEC today at SIFTEC.ie and take the first step towards upskilling and safety compliance. Buying or moving home can be a strange mixture of excitement and stress. So the last thing you need is worrying about conveyancing. 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Yes, welcome back again. Now we turn our attention to the football of the weekend. And I'm joined by a man. Who knows a thing or two about it. Our legend himself, Aaron Kernan. Aaron, how are you, sir? Dev, great to have you again. How's the form? You're doing about it. You're doing about a coaching there. How are you this evening, Aaron? I am. Yeah, this is the night one of the next stage life as it was there. Retirement and then straight into under 10 coaching. So, yeah, 60 kids. So far, aren't you? We're here. Did you give an idol ready there? That sounds funny. No, no, it was good. It's good to get back out at the club and help out the young ones. Yeah, they're mad for a road already. Yeah, and before we get to the big game, Donny got on our mat. I mean, you were in Crow Park, I suppose for teams like Donny got on our mat and everybody else were trying to get up to the level of the two teams was playing. What did you make of Gary and Dublin? Yeah, geez, without losing the run yourself in late February, I have to say, I was unbelievably impressed with Dublin. I suppose there's always been plenty of talk and chat about them the past few years and maybe picking holes in their style or some players have gone away with stale. But I have to say what I've seen the other night of them. They were extraordinary. The pace, the power, the hunger, how quick they moved the ball from one end to the field to the other and the options that they had ahead of the ball I suppose was the biggest thing. It was just... Gary couldn't live with them at all. How well they functioned their kick-out in the first half was brilliant. But it was, I suppose not, if you're looking for a change in all Ireland champions or mixing up the All-Ireland series, it might have been something that would have excited you. But I just have to say how they played on the night. You just couldn't but be impressed and say hats off to them. But just players in particular, Kieran Kilkenny and Conno Callahan, stood out to me to just look unbelievably hungry. Lucky men that have never won anything in their lives. And whether that's... Well, Callahan was given captaincy there at his past few games, whether that's, you know, maybe something that he's really taken on board and has ignited him again. He scored seven points last week and three, four at the weekend. Could have been four or four or four or five. So he's definitely a man in form and a man who is going to take some watching over the next few months. Did you just get a sense in the league? We had a bit of desperation. Not that it was desperate, I suppose, but that opened up the monogamy. We were surprised of, you know, they lost to Mayo, maybe a bit unlucky. You know, the beat was common. You know, they're sitting on a couple of points, home game. Is there a thing in the league where a teammate coming to charge? I mean, I was in Healy Park on Saturday night. They told me they were going to Rome were terrible for us. Up to the second half they were unreal. And maybe they sensed they have away games to carry and to Dublin to come on their last three. Maybe they sensed, listen, this is... We're going to go down if we don't win this. Not that you would have lefty put Dublin in that, but is there a sense, maybe, with league being at such a level that the energy was with Dublin and maybe Kerry just weren't ready for that challenge? I think it probably is that. I suppose if you've been realistic and you think of everything at Dublin and the big games that they're playing, even your standard league game might still be hard for them to get up for it, but I just felt the other night. It looked me like there were boys with a pint to prove nearly. You know, Kerry coming to Crow Park, 35, 38,000. They definitely, they were up for it. And I suppose nothing sort of rubber-stamped that more than the last score they got at the game. The game was over, completely put to bed. But the work rate and the tackling that they were still doing in and around their own days, and they got a turnover. But as soon as they get the turnover, seriously, there was about five of them who took off sprinting as fast as they could. And Bugler was in his own 21 and he ended up tapping the ball over into the hill on the far 21 after making a 100, 120-metre sprint. Whatever, there was no need. The game was over, the game was done. But I just felt it was them saying, has the calling carried basically to Kerry to say, this is the level you're going to need to match if you want to take her all out and tighten off the game. And again, you just, as much as you don't want to, you don't have to say a fair play to them for a group of boys that have won so much to still have that hunger and desire to do it. I have a man beside me here, you were ahead of your times. Maybe we were making 60, 70-yard long bus and long, up and down, up and down, you must have been ahead of your time. I don't think that was happening to me at all, and I think you were disillusioned a wee bit there. Who's Francis Freilier? I don't know about that. No, I was watching that game, it was impressive, like on Saturday night, like a statement. Clifford, you know, many times, I suppose it's difficult to see him. Strange game from him, even though he's talking about maybe two, six and the thing, you know. Yeah, but they definitely dominated, you know, dominated that defensive shape as well. So look, the rubs haven't gone away, I don't think Aaron, that's what you're telling us, unfortunately. No, they haven't, and the big thing for me was, and maybe you might have seen it if you weren't there, to be there. The one thing, Amy Fitzmars mentioned this two weeks ago on TV with Artie, sorry, it was the Mario game last weekend, and I felt he was saying it because whose audience is going to be whenever they're watching it back, they had no half-ordling. They have playmakers in Dill and Geeney and Pawdy Clifford, but they're floating around the middle of the field. They never have an outlet. So yesterday, everyone sort of saying, the ball in on top of Clifford, there's no option because the only players in the carry half attack and half of the field was Sean O'Shea and Clifford inside the D. But Kerry were taking the ball from the middle of the field and any good defender, like Merchant seven or eight inches shorter than Clifford, but he was just reading the flight of the ball, it was hanging in the air that long, and even the size difference, you're just giving Clifford a wee nudge, the next thing, they were picking up the break that they need to address and address now is they have plenty of playmakers, but they don't have an outlet. They had nobody in the half-ordling that you could play the ball through who can give Clifford and O'Shea a 35-meter one-bounce pass to their advantage. So that is definitely something Fitz Morris mentioned it last week. It was very notable just sitting watching the game the other day that they didn't have it. And that was a big difference in Dublin. And I'm talking with players like Ross McGarry, and Akie's only a bit power player in that count, but he was getting the ball there today out in the side lane and just thinking the ball in, and whoever it was, Connell Callahan, Kilkenny, Paddy Small, playing it to a forward's advantage. So something that they're clearly working on. And for me, that was a massive difference of why Dublin were able to get the scores so much easier than what County wanted. There was so much more fluidity to Dublin than there was Kerry, and that's something that's very surprising to see. What did you make the fluidity in the old box at Athletic Grounds there? And you're on about tactics there. The only reason we're talking about it is because Kerry and Dublin are setting the standards. And it's always good to look at them, because that's where everybody's looking. Maybe Derry have other ideas of their own, I'm sure. But you know, our man, Donegal, and where do you see them now? We talked earlier, you're on about the direct ball of our man in the first half, and how Donegal maybe didn't go after the press the way they have in other games. Is there a lot of kind of playing maybe an odd tactic for a few minutes, drop back, and just more or less play through a game without going full throttle? Was that your kind of feeling of the game at the weekend from the two teams? It was. We had obviously spoke last week about it, and I just felt Jimmy would come out and try to lay down a marker and not be afraid to set out his own stall. But I think whenever we sit and look back at it, and overanalyze things at this stage, but it just sort of looked like neither team really wanted the shoulder full hand. My whole thing last week was, I assume that Jimmy would go for the high press and the energy that you probably have seen against Romana and against Cork in particular. And I felt that that would give our opportunities. And the reason why I did this is because whenever everyone come and sat back and played the Jimmy's tune the last time, you know, Donegal just became a force that got inside everybody's head. And everyone was like, but we can't break this down, you know, they're too well set, they're too fit. And it become a thing that got inside everybody's head. So I was thinking the other day, this is a free shot for Armagh. Look at what they're doing. See how we can exploit it to maybe put it out in Jimmy's player's mind, you know, that they're just not as focused or each nut of the palm of his hand. But it didn't really do it either. I thought Armagh put four long balls in the first half and nothing come off them. And I thought, that didn't bother me because at least we're trying to get the ball in. You can work on that. You can throw video analysis in terms of trying to get someone else in with Murnan who can feed off him or pick up that break. But then they kept going and the last two balls in the half we ended up we got one one off them. So I thought that was a positive from an Armagh perspective that at least it's right. And then also another positive that I felt was that you're not going to get yourself who was sort of middle third probably from our attacking 65 back to the middle of the field. We're again last year we were dropping off. You could be nearly inside our 45 before anyone would attack you last year. So I felt there were two positives from our point of view. In terms of Donegal Armagh are difficult enough to break down. They do get a lot of men behind the ball. I think the average pints they've been seated all year is 10 pints a game. I just didn't see Donegal flooding at pace the way I expected them like McHugh was getting up to our attacking 45. But then they were quite latter like going to the wings and Mogan and McBrady kept a couple of good ones off the left. But yeah I just didn't see us cutting open like you had mentioned last week about people making 78 70 or 80 meter or long bush and runs maybe knowing that they weren't getting the ball but they were finishing the run in the end lane. I didn't really see a huge amount of that there in Donegal. So maybe boat managers sort of have an idea that there might possibly be a game in Croke Park and maybe another three or four weeks time and hell a little bit back from that there. And I think ultimately probably a draw was a fair enough result. Yeah, yeah interesting. Well I would say from a Donegal point of view, suppose the goal opportunities that Donegal didn't take, you know, and suppose Armagh have been renowned for their defensive shape over the years Shane Adon will get in twice. If one of those goes in you know Donegal's coming down the road with the points and that's the bottom line. Missing the penalty. Blended really well for the penalty actually. See McGuigan's one, you know, it looks like when the ball hits the net with a good penalty it looks so easy and then when you see it that isn't a strange thing, you know, I think there's only certain people that are very talented at hitting penalties, you know, it's a very fine art. I don't ever take any yourself. I was always told to get out of the road. Maybe Aaron, I think Aaron might have had a few. He was a top free-ticker. He was a half back. He was a talented boy. I definitely wasn't a free-ticker. That's one thing. He was going to be clubbing a few of them. You weren't forced to do it, but you were good. Sorry. We had no option. We had no one at the left foot. It's the brother Stephen you're thinking of, I think. No, he played the free-ticker as well. Of course I was watching him. No, I did. It's just penalties to be fair. I often say to people from Jim's first tenure that he learned a lot from our man in terms of the use of the team he liked to play against. When you were saying that, that's the way Jimmy got in people's heads. I think he actually took a lot of that from our man. And having Rean back, you know, Jared O'Back as well, Murnham's performance, you know, from an our man perspective, you know, Rean coming on, I mean, what a point. He had something, I mean, something coming on, hasn't been playing, and he hits them all over from basically he's almost understand. I mean, fantastic must be from your perspective to see him back and Jared O'Back. Brilliant. Really speaking, we're not going anywhere. We're not winning any big champions games unless Rean is playing and playing well for you. So just, yeah, for him to get back on the field to get some minutes. Obviously, it's not the first effort that he had, but that's unusual. It's not too often you'll ever see that happening. But once he got his hands on the ball, obviously he didn't even hesitate and taking on the shot that he did. Luckily, it was going to be a one-point win for us. So yeah, it's great to have him back. There's also why he's back. Kieran and Kelly didn't get a run there. He missed most of last year through injury. Neil Grimley hasn't got a run yet. He missed last year through injury and also Washington Ailes. So there are, and they're all big players, they're strong players that sort of will be in around the middle third. So, yeah, it's still a lose of options. Competition for players is very strong. So he'd be delighted where they're sitting. I still think, well, I suppose the next few weeks he'll be sort of sticky enough for ourselves because I always find us going away to Fermanah is difficult. It's very, very difficult for us going to Fermanah no matter when we go. So I wouldn't mind us just going to any sort of a win. Kevin last day earned for you, is it? No, not actually where to where from next and then we're at home to Calvin. We're actually we had a cork on the last weekend, which I thought that would have been going down there to see who gets promoted. But it's certainly looking like we're going to be going down to the cork and they're going to be fighting for their lives. So equally, it's going to be just a tough game. Yeah, definitely. And from a totally all perspective, I mean, there's a lot, everybody seems to be playing to a certain level. You know, Ryan McHugh looks energized around there. I mean Morgan was, I thought was very good last weekend, but I'm getting more game time. I mean, big QE was back in midfield another serious option here and Murray again putting on the shift. My birdie I thought looked sharp, you know, and then you have the subs, of course, you know, she and the Donald coming on, you have Jimmy Brennan, Jack McKelvie, then all contributed. And that's you know, it's just looking there, players you'd nearly not forget about, but they haven't been involved yet and hopefully Conor Donnell, you think now Donald, you know, Keelyne McCalgan, you know, Phyllis McGee, you know, don't we call like our operating at a decent level and there's still a serious amount of talent to come back. I don't care where they picked up an injury there, you know, Charles McGinnis hasn't seen any time yet, but you know, there's a serious squad making there. You know, I suppose that's something Jim has done, you know, is getting those players back to the level, but also the players now at the minute that game yesterday, particularly what have brought, you know, those players that have come into the panel, like Keelyne Moors, you know, brought them up a level going into our, you know, before any championship football, it gives you headaches because you've got a good panel to pick from. Now, Conor Donnell, you mentioned Conor Donnell, just thinking about Conor coming back in as well, like he had an explosive start last year as well, so looking forward to him coming back. With Paddy McBurdy, you mentioned as opposed to Aaron, you would have seen yesterday the movement of McBurdy has been something a wee bit of a difference this year than other years, just some of the shots, scores he got yesterday, he was tightly marshaled as well with the experience, you take those shots on, Brandon, and I suppose they go over the bar, but now you're right you're not going to be rushing down the levels were through the record scale for rushing, now he's getting a lot more attention, so that's opening up, you know, opportunity for more player. We've seen Shane and Donnell coming in yesterday, and suppose Shane you know, we know what he can do, but he was flourishing yesterday as well, so there's some point about it, because that thing of, not that Gallon was unknown, the quality was always in the brilliance, because of his injuries, once you have a couple of high high games, you know, the whole opposition is preparing, I'm sure Aaron used we're thinking about, you know, you have to shut down Gallon in terms of his effect and then that's something he has to respond to, and the team has to help still get him in the imposition, because he only needs half a yard, you know you were telling me on the wee bit in terms of turning and shooting, Gallon has that capability in him and that's it, and to be fair, the more that Shane keeps performing the bigger the bullseye he puts on his back, so the opposition he's coming up against, he's the first man that you're trying to nail down, because whether it's right foot, left foot, or just his willingness to take on with a shot he like last year whenever obviously things weren't going well he was really showcasing his talent and didn't look even himself, didn't look as fit or as lean as what he is looking at the moment so the longer the year goes on the better whether the more of a run he gets injury free, the harder he's going to be to handle, and then you see the amount of options that you have that still have to be looked at still have to be focused on all he needs is that half yard and he has the capability between play and free kicks of chipping over with six, seven, eight points every day, so in terms of massive shoes to fill, if you're thinking about someone who's going to replace the focal point which is Michael Murphy there's no doubting that Austin definitely has that ability to conjure up as many scores as Michael was capable of doing and I just talked to Donny Gull again yesterday at times they were able to cause amylofrums because there's so many people ahead of the ball and that for me is a dangerous weapon whenever you have a ball and McBrady and then you're running power coming off and could you get it into those two ways, they'll snapshot and shoot, but then they can also feed and bring the runners in, so for me you can mix and match your game then that is a defender, if everyone's back well you know right I'm just going to say this runner's coming here but if you're back and you're isolated and you're one on one with a sharpshooter and you also know that the runner's coming off your shoulder or there's men going to be coming at pace you have to sort of be hedging your bets and trying to see where is the most danger here, so for me that's what would be very important for Donny Gull and for Jim that he's building towards, particularly the derby game and the first round of the championship. Our friends and Tarone of course we always have to keep an eye on them just in case and we know what the derby boys are building and they are looking like a side is going to be hard to beat but Tarone, I've seen a lot of football you know half time Tarone's shocking four points and I'm thinking more or less a most one game for you I just couldn't believe what I was saying and I heard obviously from the Galway performance you know I was like there's trouble here they come out in the second half, McCoury comes on the pitch, Keeks eight points, some of them out Rages and between him and Canavan and just would you sit there about con and not getting carried away in late February but I tell you what them two boys were unbelievable particularly in that second half really I'm looking them thinking good luck to you ever as to try and pick them boys up on championship in that form the two of them were as good as I've seen yeah and what is brilliant where as I suppose a derby person might turn around and go what did Canavan do against us Conor McCloskey never give him a kick but McCoury's not there to take your A off, now I know Dale's here and I'll detail a man market job but it's the link play between those it's just how dangerous they are with the glance of an A where they're popping a ball in or Canavan's just putting it up McCoury's off a shoulder one step bang it's over the bar it's individually yes they're brilliant but it's sort of it's the link play between them and you know yourself and then whenever you're confident and you're on song and there's another man operating the same level as you there's you take on with anything to know you throw the ball around you're not be afraid to take a man on bit of contact, shrug them off and try and get your shot away so definitely there's no team I think that you're talking about you hear all of these arguments and there's disagree and there's disagreements of management and among players and they can just flick switch and Everton's good and Everton's rosy and I have to can switch it around which would take us maybe two years there so definitely they're dangerous once they get a bit of swagger about themselves and a bit of belief they're just hard enough to handle and you've heard of them, there are so many new players that none of us have been coming out of underage teams so now they'll be very happy to still have carry away, they have doubling away, they'll probably fancy themselves to pick up points off a month and a go on at this stage but yeah you'd have to say against a seasoned outfit in Mayo that it was an incredible turn around I was on my way to Crow Park and I was listening to your good self on the radio and you were very bored and Tyrone Wren's going great and I get into Crow Park and next thing is switch the TVs on and Tyrone's five points up and I'm wondering what the hell has happened so yeah it was it was an incredible turn around and particularly McCurry's taking eight points in one half is a serious pegging but you could say the likes of Shawnee O'Donnellis that was quite good for Tyrone, the level of work rate they were back hunting in packs once again like Tyrone of yesterday if you want to call it but when you look at that give them the platform as well iron moving forward you know working really hard man off the shoulder the movement was exceptional for February but Tyrone haven't gone away it was perfect what is valuable about that there is I think and well everyone talked about it but I thought that Tyrone he was just stale the gun stale if the same players over and over again and the hunger just doesn't seem to be there in them and like we had just chat a couple of years ago Brandon we were saying awkwardly change his team and bring his experience by his back to where to play there and for me I said no I think they have had enough chances since they won that all Ireland their forum has been shocking they haven't even resembled a team that has remotely won an all Ireland in the last ten years never mind three years ago so I think the right to give all the young ways as much game time to try and grow and build in the country if nothing else they have energy they are hunting balls down chasing lost causes they are doubling up they are traveling up and if not that brings a bit of energy to the group and to their supporters and there is no better country to feed off than Tyrone in particular so I would say that was Logan and do heard the sort of felt right we talked to them about it we got an all Ireland as far as we can but it is time to go with fresh blood and to like to care in the country and we know the ability he has he will come in as the season goes on so those players are definitely they are well bedded in and really find them at the senior level yeah brilliant and this is me when was Fergal Logan of course all the best as well I hope he makes a full recovery of course he has a house in Dynan's big love for Dunnegall like Loretta Roman they like to come and hit the Dunnegall beach and say we hope to see Fergal back and every week and myself and yourself we all be woolly it's always an education you give me I just kind of join in whenever you run out of things to say but listen I'll be speaking to you probably as the week goes on then and on behalf of myself and Parke thanks for joining us this evening iron and rounded up the weekend's action to your friend great to talk to you speak to you buddy right after the break we as I say from the top of show we're going to speak to you in a little debate with sister Sarah's letter Kenny serving food you'll love till 9pm daily in Sarah's kitchen and there's free admission entertainment every weekend do you currently have vacancies that need urgently filled have you tried various ways to find new staff but didn't succeed let Highland radio help you source and fill your current vacancies in the most cost effective way simply sign up to our new job spot and we will tell you that 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Hi, Patty here at Shea and Connolly cars in Donegal town. Are you looking to upgrade your car? With Shea and Connolly cars, you'll find mix and models for every budget. Great finance options and they also accept radiance. Check out sheaandconnollycars.com or call into us at Shea and Connolly cars from down her road, Donegal town. The DL debate with sister Sarah's letter, Kenny, serving food you'll love till 9pm daily in Sarah's kitchen and there's free admission entertainment every weekend. Welcome back folks. Now we turn our attention to club football and the A Rua club and there was a bit of history I'm trying to find out and I think it definitely is history two A Rua men have won the four divisions and one of them is on the line now. It is Michael Sticky Ward. How are you, sir? All good Brendan, how are you? Good man, good. How did you manage this feat then? I think you've been playing a long time and you've seen it all in terms of club there. You know you're up in Donegal with us I remember back in the day and through the years you've managed to pick up pretty much everything that's going. Yeah, I suppose you never set out to win all four divisions but that's the way it panned out for me. You know you started out at first year senior you win a division one and you think you're going to be competing every year at the division one but with emigration and retirement early on the team just started to fall apart and we went down through the divisions and we actually ended up one game away from going to division four. It was a game against Karen Dunn in Balich Allen which we were lucky enough just to win so that kept us out of division four. So you think you're going to be at the top for a long time but it can just disappear very quickly? Yeah, it's hard to believe Stiggy and you think of when I grew up you know De La Salle and the kind of football and fraternity there was just constant, from your club there was constant and when I think back to when I started playing and you started playing next to John Dovey and Nell McCready and Rupert and listen there was an unbelievable team you know the championship one and team obviously and you just felt that it would never get too bad you would never be at a senior for a start but you said one game away from division four but you've seen it all now Stiggy you know you're back on the regs and back competing and a lot of good things happen in the club and even from your own victory in the summer with Brian. Yeah, it is unreal when you think back of it but you're talking about the old area of the team and we were challenging for championships and winning championships I think we were in four or five county finals in the 90s but it was the De La Salle with the bedrock of Eru at that time and all them great players that you just mentioned. So when it closed, we lost all that extra hours then players were getting every week and they were getting exposed to college football in Ulster which was a massive development for them when they went to play a club football in Donegal so that was the biggest loss that Eru actually had. Yeah, very interesting that. Parks and Studio Park, Haliflame here this whole debate about the academy in that and if you look across in the north there probably gets the schools that drive the teams the schools are helped or coached they've all ex top players in there and there's a real push so they're all playing A grade so they don't need the academy they don't need to match up and that's something I suppose that's right. From a Donegal point of view and you just hit the needle in the head Stiggy is about that kind of that college football that they were exposed to they bring it in then to the actual you know the team of Eru that was renowned throughout the county and the country you know but as I say look you know you can't get away from Macquarie Cup football in Northern Ireland it's huge it's really just you know that gap where there isn't academy in Donegal it's supposed as a factor that it's maybe something we have to look at but you know getting our schools up to that level as well you know and you don't have no doubt about it you know there's definitely good work happening but maybe look at success down through the years is that a trick we're missing maybe within the county and you've seen the success of Eru you mentioned some of the players that played and you know you look at Eru bouncing back with that and how important that factor was you only see it when it's gone so that's the thing but not something for the future that Donegal football should be looking more into and Stiggy I suppose had a good number of tosses there down through the years and look suppose ourselves in terms we went through that kind of gear change and into different divisions and you're right it is hard to get out of you know if you go from division one to division two down to division three it's difficult at times people just don't realise that it affects the whole club I suppose again you by word come in there and made a big impact there's of course John McNulty then took it on to another level you know great great science in the club I suppose you know the development down there as well you know the facilities the pitch there you know everything now looks like it's set for yous to come back and be back competing at the very top as yous are but maybe challenging for it for a title you know well that's our goal is to move forward and we think we're getting there and the only downside we have at the minute we have the academy in Eru but our senior team now there's four or five lads they're in their mid 30s so we'd be looking to hold on to them rather than ship them on because it'll be another four to five years before we have to have an ask what we'd be thinking would be serious senior footballers so it's like the Atlantis boys we need our older boys to hang in there to keep us up in that division one that's vital because from past experience once we started slipping we went the whole way down and we do want that to happen again are you going to play again this year? I don't know the wife says I'm not it's early in the year you know you're up training kids and the ball's always at your foot and it's a niche that they always have and if the body's in good shape and you can keep the beef off you just don't know what's going to happen or when the club needs you I don't think you're as hired in club football you know you just keep going if they need you if they want you yeah, yeah listen when they stop asking you there's a problem that's right I think that's a bad sign and I know you're coaching as well there's like you listen you've put in so much to the club but it's great to see everywhere back where they belong listen it's like well done they and who's the other lad on the four divisions? Big Kerry Ryan Big Kerry he was from dinner camp we have to give Kerry a mention Oh absolutely Kerry he's one of the great lads to me every day no more than myself if the club was stuck this year he'd be the first man that I talk to I think all club need men like that you know yeah they do indeed Sticky Fairplay he'll have great talking sir and we'll catch up later on the year that'll leave chairs behind them and talk to later top top man that's Sticky Ward there giving us a lowdown on the four divisions we've ready there's two guys outside man to get in it's the greatest double X since Mark and them lies as Jimmy and Paul in the Monday night session say you want to thank Joe Dex for producing the Chocobrothers of course Hemsford yeah Mosh and Kelly of course the one and only Parik Alford hey Parik thanks very much man I guess I'll leave it over to the two guys I'll speak to y'all next week up