 So it's time to talk Donegal senior football championship once again and joining us to look ahead to the round two games There's a man that's won the Dr. McGuire cup on several occasions as a player and a manager Brendan Kilcoine Good to talk to you. Good to see you again Brendan. Good evening, Arshen. How are you? Not too bad Brendan obviously looking ahead to the action this weekend, but already again There is more controversy around the championship following on from the situation with me Connell and Kilkear Another replay has been ordered. Ardra and Bundorn has to be played again And I think everybody's agreeing that this is something that the 2021 championship does not need Yeah, 100% Arshen like you know we spoke before about the previous objection with Kilkear and Dave Connell County final from 2020 and the legacy that they that may leave for a long time And again, I'm speaking from experience here And you know, it's just unfortunate this Ardra Bundorn issue has arisen and again It's a similar issue but dissimilar if you understand me in relation to the use of substitutes And it's something that needs to be tidied up by clubs and county boards and CCCs And because it can leave it this could drag on for a while And you know if Ardra decide to appeal this now, where does that leave this year's championship? If it's going to stall the whole thing, it's just going to create more uncertainty More bad vibes and it's not good for Donegal Club football Arshen Yeah, Ardra are obviously considering their options and they have 72 hours to appeal this decision But the rest of the clubs I'm sure Brendan will be thinking to themselves What's going to happen in three weeks time when we get round four done and dusted And the championship then splits into knockout quarterfinals and relegations And what sort of bearing will this situation have on the championship progressing at that stage if it's not done and dusted? Well, that's that's the issue and no one knows that Arshen if this drags on for a while Because you know, we have that split common top eight bottom eight common in the next Few weeks following the completion of the first four round robin games and If this issue isn't resolved at that stage The whole championship can only be held up and that just drags things out and As I was involved in the similar situation back. I think it was 2003 when there was an objection to Eddie Brennan And that delayed the championship and it wasn't played until the following Easter. I think it was played and You know, it takes the sparkle off the championship It takes the momentum we were all enjoyed been out at the games the last couple of weeks and Seeing teams compete and seeing the club players, you know, who have had a tough enough time Their football has been limited and There's been no crowds for a while and this just brings more uncertainties of the whole completion of the championship but I suppose, you know Teams just have to concentrate on the games in hand that are coming up this weekend And that's all the players can do and the management teams can do and just get on with it And hopefully this thing will resolve itself out over the next few days Yeah Looking at the the other games or the matches Brendan this coming weekend Rather that's our draw and bondor and our featuring and our draw is you to go to milford Bondorn are set to host kill a begs in a big battle of the south of the county I'm sure milford and kill a begs. We'll be hoping that the what's going on off the field is going to affect these two teams on it Absolutely. Yeah, and you know We'd say milford, you know, they're they're Playing playing our drag this weekend and they're under a bit of pressure as it is ashamed from the point of view you know They lost their first game and I don't think the score line did them justice down indeed or that day I think there was a couple of missed penalties and that and you know Coming up against our dry now who are kind of on a crest of a wave after a really good victory in the first in the first game so, you know the beating bondorn, but you know Milford are at home this weekend They're Struggling and we've seen them last year We've seen them ship a heavy beating last year in the last couple of years that you know in the knockout stages and that so It's a big game for milford they Listen to plenty of quality and you look at the bar, it's like you look at came bar at fold forward fine player and really going well and Chippy and you look at the Tony McNamee in the ranks now and You know cal mcgettigan is excellent on the freeze and Luke Barrett sent her back and the two o' donnells all o' donnell And rory o' donnell who captain the 20s of this year's also final like they've a lot of good players But they just need to go out and perform and it's a big ask for them And then you look at the ardra side of things. How is this going to affect them mentally their preparation for this game? It's going to there's no doubt about it like you know, and I've been in buzz I said I've been involved in these situations it does affect now they can take a positive effect from it, but You know it does stop their momentum somewhat from the point of view that have been on a Cresto wave after getting a win the first day and then this news comes through and it filters through the players and they're thinking Where's this going to end up? So it's not an ideal scenario for them And I think just the fact that milford of home advantage and I'd expect a bit of a kickback from them I know patty mcgrath had carrying an injury and they've got a couple of other injury problems and again They're blood and a lot of new players. They've you know, but there's still plenty of experience with connor classon thomas boil John ross maloy and obviously patty mcgrath He's fit to play this weekend and that will obviously have a big bearing on how this game transpires But I would expect milford to you know Show a bit of resoluteness and come through and maybe get their campaign on the road this weekend, ashin Okay, what about bondone and kelly begs? Bondone obviously are going to be missing paul brennan because he was sent off wasn't it the last day And uh, the likes of kelly begs have huge doubts over own ban and humick fatten Who are there to key men this one could go either way so it could brennan Yeah 100% I like you know, you're thinking about this game It was difficult to call it to be difficult to call it the best of times with the uncertainty around You know the the the fitness and availability for kelly begs of hui And own ban is going to be a crucial factor here So it is because you know Huey McFadden is the life and soul that watched them play over the last number of years And he's their leader on the middle of the park and he really does Inspire them and if he's not available, it's going to be a big miss so it is and You know, then you have the one door and issue jamie brennan is out with a long-term injury And paul brennan, I don't know was he were bondone appealing that card or what his availability So the game would have been hard to call Which is the four big players the four major major characters in this In this game that may not be available. So it isn't really a difficult one to call There's plenty of other talent on the field of that. There's no doubt and you know kelly begs are You know, they'll be reeling from the first day when the last at home to glen swilly when they would have expected to get a Brighter start to their championship, but you know They didn't produce the goods against glen swilly that and as I mentioned the doubts about the injuries of the dookie players We've really difficult to call and I really can't call this one hashing I'm just going to sit in the fence and call it a draw Okay The tie of the round on doubly is down at the bridge that michael's against agridor two division one sides Are clashing in the first game two o'clock on saturday that one starts at st michael's going in with the one good or Going in with the one st michael's will obviously be looking for improvement on last year While gedor will be looking to get back to a final so they will brendan Yeah, 100 and You know It's a massive I see this is a massive game for gedor and how they progress through the air You know michael's certainly won't have any inhibitions about taking on gedor down the bridge from the point of view that You know, they've had a close rivalry with them down through the years while it's not achieving obviously what gedor have achieved We all know the talent that in gedor It's unlimited Like you know, there's some really good young players coming through as well as that you look at dole mc bride and You know, they've thin on coil They came through from dunagall miners and a few of these young fellas But their talisman or in mcnaillus seems to be playing really well And that's a big plus for gedor and if gedor can get pulling in the in the right direction If they can get the dressing room, right? We all know how dangerous they will be and what a Part they will play in this year's championship, but they're going to have a tough test down at the bridge You know, michael's going to be very well organized. I know daniel mclockin is in charge And I know rami mclockin who's involved with me and the miners very astute and he'll have he'll have See and michael's very well set up. They've a massive experience throughout the team You know, there's obviously colla matinee who has played very little football this year And was still able to go out and kick one six there in the last game and against mccools and the experience martin mechell henney If that, you know, michael langan is obviously a huge player Even though he didn't score much the first day he was involved in a lot of the big plays So he was and you know, the they also have a good mixture of youth there in the team too. So, you know See michael's a lot of people may have thought that say michael's had slipped away from the top five six But they proved the last day by that was a big big win against mccools and they showed a lot of character after the concession of two early goals So they're going to be, you know, they're going to be really going into this game with a lot of confidence They'll have no fear as I said, but I would still expect it the The experience that the door got by getting winning the ulster title a couple of years ago And they seem to be getting back on track Albeit, you know, it was milford the beat in the first day and we know milford are to have them in going well But you would still expect He'd door to have a wee bit too much for them And if either are going to be a feature in this year's championship They need to go to the bridge and lay down a marker Yeah, a fourth game on saturday is termin against st. michael's at the burn road starts at four o'clock Or termin against st. unis. Excuse me both sides, of course losing brandon in the opening rounds St. unis to kill kjarr termin with down to go on st. nalls Terminal meeting a st. unis side that will be hurting that will be wounded that will be But are they disappointed losing to to one of the other top four sides? But you would expect that that st. unis are that wounded animal and they would come through the game at the burn road on saturday with ease possibly You you would expect so that juniors would have too much for them You know, I'm asking we we covered the game out in not on a park there a couple of weeks ago And like st. juni's performance in the first half I was so impressed with the way they played with the way they attacked and did such width to their team and Patience and they're a very young side. They've a lot of experience would say up In the defense, but they've a young side that they've young forwards and they were really good But what was really concerning was their capitulation? basically in the second half when Kilkar turned the screw Unis didn't have the answers and that's a concern for rory cavern and st. June and so it is From a tournament point of view, we know they're building We know that they've a very young team and they have a lot of quality players and you know They're you look at the likes of jimmy grand keening gala her in defense and you look at Darren mcdade you look at ryan mcthadden around the middle of the park They're going to have great legs down there and you know the burn road at any time is a tough place to go And particularly in championship football and they're they're going to make it difficult for unions But I don't think they'll have enough to be able to prevent juniors You know there's so much quality in this st. Juniors team and you know you talk about the three o donnells You know you're looking at nyle and shane up, you know playing in the forwards and their brother connor and You just look at the quality that st. Juniors have and you would expect them to have too much for termin down here But you know termin will make a battle of it and termin won't Won't have any innovations here about playing st. Juniors You know because they've played them a lot of these young termin lads have played them at underage And actually have got the better of them through the underage ranks up through the years So, you know it'll be an interesting game and it'll be expected to be a tough battle But I would expect unions to come out with too much For termin in the end and get their first two points on the board and it's kind of like you know, it's like a Master's weekend or you know the one of the golf majors weekend It's moving weekend this weekend and you can find yourself You know on four points or two points or zero points depending on your situation And if you're on zero points after this weekend, you know that you could be facing that facing down the The relegation battle kind of so it's a massive game for both teams It's important that st. Juniors get two points on the board But equally termin are going to really put it up to them. So they are rushing At 12 noon is the start on sunday for glenn swally against mccoolton earlier start that time could change between now and sunday But it's it's fixed for midday glenn swally michael morphe informed the last day out in their game against killie bags And they're at home on the way mccool's played last week You would expect maybe glenn swally to edge this one would you brandon? You would expect so yeah, but I think mccool's will make make the morph really hard for it and You know glenn swally was the didn't have the the best league campaign They were without you know, michael for a lot of it through injury and his involvement in the county team and And you know the glenn swilly haven't they still have some very experienced players with the likes of michael and copper and keeling kelly and keeping marley 11 and and they've kind of interspersed that with a lot of good young talent and You know, they are in a period of transition to a degree But they've got a great victory down in Down in fintech against killie bags the first day and they'll be buoyed by that and they'll get it, you know Very much like I was referencing Gidore getting on a run If glenn swilly can get on a run and build up a bit of confidence with some of these young players They have in the ranks, you know, they've been written off too often in the past and We can we've seen what they can do what they've done over the last 10 years and the achievements that they've made So they're going to be really good. They'll be primed for this and they'll be ready for from a mccool's point of view You know, they'll be disappointed because We watched them play last year down maharick gallon where we we felt they were very unlucky to lose to a Gidore team In the end and we're probably expecting a bit more from them going into this year and Don't seem to be optimizing the use for getting out of ashing gallon up front now I know mary riley was missing the last day and he's obviously a key cop on that machine too, but like You know, they got a great start to the game They got two early goals They were in control of the game at the first water break and just kind of let it slip then So it's going to be a big ask for them to recover from that and You know again the need to find a way to get ashing gallon To get get farra on the ball and to get them causing trouble for defences because we all know the undoubted talent He has but if we're not getting the ball into him, which appeared to be the problem The last day that is an issue for them And they're going to have to look at that and they're going to have to look at their senior players and gary wilson And mary riley steven riley These guys are going to have to formulate a plan to try and get this man on the ball and causing trouble But they're going to a place, you know glenn swilly where glenn swilly would be well aware of the threat He possesses and if they can shut down that threat, they know they'll leave themselves a greater chance of victory So that's easier said than done But I feel that glenn swilly would have too much for for mccools this weekend And to get themselves on four points and to be really threatening to get into the top eight Our feature game on sunday will be a roux balle shannon against neve connell That will be at monday's field just across the road from Well, it's urney park in balle shannon. Can last year's intermediate champions Cause trouble for the side that's been top of the pile the last two seasons brandon Well, listen, it's we we saw glenn fin that glenn fin put it up to neve connell in the first round and you know, whilst Neve connell appeared to control the game for long periods They could never get away from glenn fin in that game and we know how tough it's i glenn fin our comp championship football but Neve connell have such a squad and You know, they named an experience team the last of the broad end players that you know There may be a bit of a hangover from the 2020 final that was on a few weeks ago And it may not be firing on full cylinders yet, but they still did enough to win and you know I've made it clear There's such a strong squad down there and they're going to be really, you know There's no there'll be no fear of complacency with these guys because martin reagan has them so well prepared and they've dealt Whatever than that's been trolling at them for the last few years Do you have to give great credit to tearu that come up from the intermediate ranks and They laid down a marker that put out that a huge 14 point win against four masters uh last weekend away And so they've again a very good young team coming through They've a good bit of momentum They've got a lot of good players all over the field that you know introduced some of last year's minors You know kyle murray and keen rooney were two lads that was involved with me self last year with the minors and they've introduced them into the team and If you know, obviously nathan boil was their score in three the chief the last day They've david dole and playing up top and they've they've a lot of really good players Now it's a big ask for them to be going in against the side and this will be a real marker of where they're at And they'll be honest enough down there It's great to see belly shadow to see eru a back at this level of football because you know dunigirl county football needs The eru a plane at this level of football But this will give them a proper indication of where they really are at so it will usheen them It's a proper test and as you correctly said it's in monday steel due to the on-go marks that's going on in father tyranny park and You know, they'll fancy if they'll fancy themselves. They're they're they're kind of there's a spring in their step down there There's there was always a bit of arrogance and and i don't mean that in a bad way confidence about eru a football kind of thing and If they can they'll be happy They're dining at the top table again, and they'll really put a test up to knave connell But knave connell just look to be able to find a way to win to to overcome all these challenges That are put in front of them and they have done so for the last few years and we can't forget You know, they'll go for three in a row So they're going to be so tuned in and so flew into this game that I feel they just have too much for a team that is still in transition still learning and That knave connell should come out on top of this one with a few points to spare Yeah Glenn funne against it knows two sides that know each other very well playing in division two this year This is the start of game could end up on a share of the spoils Could it be a point to pace at the end of the day brendan? Yeah, and they've had a lot of good battles still over the last few years There's a lot of familiarity here between the two teams So they are you know, they've been to the two really good sides at that level and You know glenn finne and i've experienced You know, this isn't just in the last couple of years My own time involved with st. june is glenn finne Come championship football They just have this pedigree to be able to raise their game and produce performances that garner results And they've been so good at that down through the years and you know It was easy to see frank mcglenn's going really strong for them too and ross marley in the half backline It gives them a good foothold on the course of jerd ward up front then who you know He's a really top player So he isn't he get a lot of scores for them and the They really will test st Knowles and they have had at the upper hand on st Knowles from the st. Knowles point of view, you know They'll be going in cockahoo too after taking out terminus in the first round And they know that they can go to four points this weekend so they can And you know, that'll be a massive achievement for them. There's a huge carrot for them They'll be then looking at a top eight quarterfinal position. So they will so it's a massive game for both clubs Pather mogen like glenn finne will look at pather mogen as the key man here in the st Knowles set up from the point of view that they'll know that if they can curb his influence on the game It's going to have a major impact because he really is the man that takes them and I know, you know So the likes of steven griffon, you know, thomas white. I know that Young cocklin got the gold the last day for them They've plenty of other talent the friend of mccollar the back plenty of other talent in the squad too But pather mogen is the guy that may will make this team take he's such a good footballer And he's such he covers like we see the ground he covers a county level and he'll do the similar thing But if glenn finne can keep the reins on pather I would expect glenn finne at home And with their champ to pedigree an experience to maybe just edge it ashin Okay, one of the game kylkar hosting four masters as the last game of the weekend And uh, it started for 30 townies the venue given four masters performance last week against a row You wouldn't expect too much trouble to come from the tonig all town boys against last year's beaten finalist. Would you I wouldn't know for you know, listen four masters There's a lot of good work going on at underage level down there and you know that they will Come in a couple of years. They're just not ready. And that was evident from their performance and their display They've a very young side And they're coming up against a kylkar side that you know last year's county finalists Put in a barnstorm and second half against in unions like it really was terrific Ashin, you know matthew mclean kicked points from all over the place in the second half Patrick's thread up front and I don't see that they'll have that You know, they'll have the tools to bit to curb their influence on the game And you know, it was also interesting The second half against in unions that the played ryan mcqueen a more advanced position Is that something that they're going to look at throughout the championship? They're sure to give them a bit more impetus up there But jikar are in a good place They'll be you know, they were bouncing coming out of odama park that day because their first half performance They'll know it wasn't good enough. Maybe again It was a bit of a hangover from the county final and the ongoing issues surrounding that that are well documented But the the reaction and the way they control that game in the second half is hugely impressive foshing So it is a big ask for a young foremaster's team going down to tally and to try and to look for results And it's hard to see how they can Come away with anything here and you would expect a comfortable victory for kylkar If they're in the right frame of mind going into it and they are a very well set up team with john mcnollty at the helm And they'll be well prepped for this a lot of experience there That won't let complacency sit in and they should account for this for masters team pretty comfortably you would expect dashing The draws for the third and fourth round will be then made after that kylkar for masters game There's also A number of matches in the intermediate championship this weekend Callahan need to play burt fana gales to go on neve colomba neve were against neve alton down low meat mallin Red cues against neve breed convoy against a bun crana plus red hues are also due to meet down low on the game Which was cancelled last week that's going to be held on friday night But just a note on one of the pace setters brendan and that intermediate championship neve colomba won two games two big matches as well beating sides that are Sort of sitting above them and and the standings and the league claw on ele and they had that huge one at home against bun crana last week as well Yeah massive and they look to be the foreign team of the intermediate championship at the minute so they do and You know, they've been knocking on the door for the last few years. They've been unfortunate in that they've come across They've been beaten by the eventual winners over the last number of years ashenan You know again, we spoke i spoke about, you know airu of ali shannon From the point of view that's good for dunningall football to see them back at senior level and i remember when i started up You know here playing with st. Juniors back in 97 neve colomba were a big straw You know, they were at their peak back then and we actually beat them in a quarter final back in 97 You know, if that great neve colomba team and they've been off the scene for too long So i think it'd be great to see them back up at senior level So it would but they've a long way to go yet. There's some great quality there of that There's no doubt and they've had two massive wins and So yeah, it'd be good to see them back and then you have, you know Bunkrana we know what they have there's some great talent to that their disposal And don't know that interestingly you have two games this weekend against red shoes and again I just want to pass my sympathies to the family of joe carlin and his unfortunate passing And their last week and for that reason don't know now if two games are both at friday evening and sunday So don't know will be a strong feature in this intermediate. It's a really really interesting intermediate championship And I think you know, you're looking at the likes of obviously neve colomba cla janele Bunkrana, you know, there are there are teams there that'll be looking to make their mark this year and to really push on It's a very open championship cla janele, you know I know jason mcgee didn't play last weekend Can he be available to struggle against fannet gales? And but that's there's nothing surprising about that from the point of view. There's obviously a huge rivalry there and They've had really tight games down through the years So there are some really good games there and this will really get interesting when it boils down to the last day at the last four or two Washing. Yeah, it certainly will that's and brandon as always. Thanks for joining us. Good to talk to you No problem ashen. Thank you