 one at home to Galway United. More on that to come. The Alliance National Football League is back this weekend after having last weekend off. Martin McHugh will join us later in the program to offer his thoughts on some of the big games in round three of the league and there will be more besides so hopefully you can stay with us through until eight o'clock. Well we'll begin this evening with our preview of the new League of Ireland season which kicks off tomorrow evening and I'm joined on the program by two former Finn Harps favourites, Anthony Gorman who's here in studio and Gavin Cullen who hopefully will be joining us via Zoom along with Dairy Journal sports reporter Kevin McLaughlin. Anthony first of all you're very welcome for Harps and Dairy City. Contrasting fortunes last season and the expectations of both sets of supporters I would imagine so different as we look ahead to a new campaign. Yeah well obviously with Dairy City they're going to be so optimistic with the you know after the result they had at the last weekend with the President's Cup victory against Shamard Rovers and Dairy have done a good bit of business this won't there as well where you know they've taken in quite a few players Colin Whedon's coming from UCD the much shot after Adam O'Reilly from Preston who was in the loan of Pat's last year and obviously I suppose the best one of the lads Ben Doherty returning to the brandy wealth from Larn after having a very successful four or five seasons now he resleague with Cole Rain and Glen Avon as well you know in contrast in that German Finn Harps going into this season you know after the disappointment of getting relegated last year and you know the change in manager with Ollie Leven and taking up a position at Colby United and Dave Rogers coming in and it's a new era for Finn Harps and it's a change in the way that they're approaching their business in the season you know they've they've gone very public in the way that they're going about it and you know given Dave Rogers and Darren Murphy four-year contracts and have shown a big commitment there and you know giving players two-year contracts as opposed to the way it had been going the last number of years with players coming in and on basically playing for the season I think the pleasing thing from from Finn Harps as well is they've been very transparent and in their communication over over the winter you know listening to Ian Harkin he's spoken very well about his plans and the vision that the people within the football club have and hence that's why Dave Rogers they've shown a lot of commitment to Dave you know and you look at what Dave has said you know all his press conferences and all his interviews you know it's all about you know playing the front foot packing the park and you know playing with passion and commitment and high energy and you know he's getting that across to the public and you know it's it's an exciting era for supporters as well you know it's I suppose as well German from a local point of view it's disappointing that players like you know Connor Tourish didn't resign Barry McNamee you know but and saying that you've had Keith Coyne returning which I think some massive help to the club uh Ryan Rainey committing his future to the club as well who um arguably has been one of Finn Harps top performance over the last couple of years so it'll be interesting to see how it goes um but it'll be very very challenging for Finn Harps yeah and it all starts tomorrow evening against Galway United Gavin Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin are with us as well via zoom uh guys it's good to have you on board this evening Gavin we'll start with yourself and and Anthony's talking about the new regime at Finn Park um this evening uh confirmation from Harps another new addition to the squad uh former Cabanteli striker Kane Lynch the latest signing an entirely new squad at Finn Park then ahead of the new campaign Gavin what's your take on events there so far um it's probably some summer to Anthony in terms of like all the right messages are coming out of Finn Park from the management team from no from the club and about building for the future and and playing football the right way and and all the rest and and and it is exciting and and it's it's a it's probably a breath of fresh air to a point you know um uh by by talking like that but but you also have to suppose bring it to the pitch and and that's going to take time with obviously a fall news squad the only players who are really familiar with the suppose Ryan Rainey and Keith Coyne um the the rest are totally unknown at this level yeah and in Ireland so look it's very hard to be what's realistic about expectations this season or over the first few months itself but obviously it's League of Ireland football and and it's a results business as well so that's hugely important to to get results early because as the season progresses like fans want the best for their team and for their club and they want to be challenging and it's it's it's it's going to be a difficult league for them for sure and I say hopefully they hit the ground running obviously a difficult task in Friday night but hopefully all these positive vibes and messages and and that are coming out and no come to fruition because it'll be great for all of us if that's a case yeah and he's he's had a chance to have a look at some of his new players in pre-season they played they like supported down dairy slag overs last weekend I think they kicked off against undock and their first pre-season friendly that's a good few weeks ago now it suggests Gavin it'll take them a wee while and like Rogers maybe a few weeks before he he discovers what his his starting 11 will be oh there's no doubt like most most teams in the league are probably going to be like that if you're being honest um there's just very few clubs in the Premier or the first division could could start in the first game of the season and say that this is my best 11 this is my best 12-13 players it doesn't work like that but obviously with so many unknowns and obviously so many young players coming up from the also senior league in under 19 squads it's it's a it's a huge task and and probably what sticks out maybe just and probably I'll agree with this is maybe the lack of experience and that's where the likes keep for going to have huge roles in this one this season is how they react to you know some of the tough games and the travel and and League of Ireland football in general because as we all know it's difficult as well Kevin um I mean you I meet you over at Harps every other week when Dairy City aren't in action so you're well aware of of the importance of of of the home games at Van Park as well and that's going to be a big factor in the new season but there are a lot of good teams in that first division aren't there again this year teams who have been down there in the first division for a few seasons now and have been trying to get back up so Harps fans I'm sure they're not naive enough to think that you know their team are going to bounce straight back up without without a challenge no exactly we don't know for first like a lot of a lot of things being and made about budgets and stuff like that look sorry Gavin go ahead there sorry no there's there's a lot of a lot of made on budgets and stuff and people sort of judge how leagues leagues are going to go and teams are going to go based on how much they spend on players but that's that's not all that that boils down to so like obviously the water furs the gallways the braze and Wexford seem to have signed well you know they've been looking at maybe the top four Harps we don't know they could they could challenge they could they could be mid table they could be struggling we really don't know um if I was looking at from my perspective what I see like I think a run to the lower half of the playoffs would be almost success yeah at this point but who's who's to judge that we we just have afraid I forgot like but obviously gallway and waterford are the front runners on paper yeah this season you know Kevin I'm hoping you can come in there I know you're on on zoom carry FC a new addition to to the league this season a positive move by by the league to have them involved okay that was you know the sort of getting out of Dublin is what the ourselves up here and there and don't make all would always be saying so another team in another area it's what you want not good from fun harsh point of view that'll be adding to their travels and we're just just here in Gavin and Tony they're just talking about the travels that they're going to have this year it's going to be very tough just travels for for for harps this year and that's the big concern for me I agree with the lads too there's so many young players and players we sort of don't know what they're going to like it senior football it's going to be a big ask for her but hopefully as I said you said earlier fun parks and we have a big thing for them this year and then get off the a good start with a home record yeah and you know who's going to be in the visit and dug out tomorrow evening as well but none other none other than ollie it's another factor to what promises to be a great night in well buffet tomorrow night I would agree yeah you have ollie back there you have john coffield who's been there done that with obviously cork and now he's tready he's had the bar last couple years we we're going in the play out to turn it up there's a big year for for ollie and john particularly john they they get going up so they're going to be looking to come up to the harps and first match this season packed out by buffet I think in the in a positive results from their point of view they'll be delighted but they'll also know an ollie of them well wired off how much is going to be tough for them first match of season up at ballet buffet okay anthony you mentioned earlier on there as well about the fact that they're well Ryan reaney is really the only player who featured regularly last season to be to be back on board this year I suppose that makes the signing of Keith Cowan even you know more important whenever you're you're sitting in a dressing room and looking around you and there's all these strange faces important to have some local faces there too yeah I mean Keith I obviously had Keith at dongan with me there for for six months before he went to draw the and what he brings to the dressing room not not only what he what he brings on to the park general but what he brings to the dressing room like we're we're something similar supposed to find harps where so many young lads coming in and so Keith's experience has ability to talk young lads through games has ability to ability to organise is is vital for Dave Rogers and like you mentioned Ryan reaney there as well and Ryan now has had a couple of years behind him in league of Ireland and you know that experience is vital but we look at say the the profile of the player that Dave Rogers has gone after and it's you know it's enthusiastic people like you know when he's he's talked about players that you know weren't going to resign like so Barry McNamee and Connor Turish and you know Ryan Connelly and that you know Dave was very positive in the fact that he only wanted people about the club that wanted to that were committed to it and wanted to play and you know didn't have any doubts about coming to the club and you know I've looked at a lot of the players that have come in and you know the the interviews have done and the big thing coming out about them is you know the passion that the manager has shown the professionalism he's shown the right player environment that he wants to create you know so that's a big that was a big a big attraction for the players that Dave has signed but you're you're so right German in the fact that you know the the local players especially the local experienced players are going to be a huge miss the Fin Harps this season indeed they are Gavin just on some of those those new signings um I'm not suggesting by any manner means that you'll know all these these guys but I'm sure there are a few familiar faces there for you Seamus Kew we've watched him in action with Slaggle Rovers Michael Harris a good a good player a good addition Damian Duffy back on board again Shane McMonigal younger brother of Thomas I'm sure you know him and then there's a couple of lads that have come in from Derry Kevan Porter and Dahi McKayan I think both are joining on loan even join on loan they were playing with the Ulster senior league squad at Derry um yeah two two good players two very promising players Dahi's a young lad young center half with I suppose an old head in the shoulders he talks he's a good communicator and and he's probably chomping at the but they give give senior football a go obviously with Derry at the minute the way they are he would be struggling to get in there so a loan move to like a harps or an institute or something probably what the timing was right for him again how he adapts as an old Kevan Porter very good player um technically very good and well play um and and he will he'll do very well there then then there's there's quite a few then actually we played harps at the weekend and in the league and the five or six of them played against us the likes of Kevan the likes of Kevan Jordan um they may end up in Brendan McLaughlin Sean or all Sean E Bradley and all the m lads played all promising young players they look hungry they look fit obviously in training and being about the first team environment is helping them you know so again it's it's opportunities maybe some of them young lads might not thought it was going to happen so quick so hopefully for them though they grab with the two arms and give it a real go no because once they're getting this opportunity at the start of this new season okay then well we've got uh got a break to take uh that's a harps Galway game marks the first game of the new campaign for Dave Rogers side that's an eight o'clock start tomorrow night in Battle Buffet and we'll look at all things Premier Division and Derry City after this break sport on Highland is brought to you by Michael Murphy sports and leisure beat your personal best with new trainers from Assix Brooks and New Balance or gear up for the gym with active wear from Under Armour and Adidas of moving to a new bank maybe you already have well if you pay insurance or a pension policy by direct debit just be sure to change your bank details so your policy continues uninterrupted it's easy just contact your insurer pension provider or broker today for more information visit understanding insurance.ie forward slash bank exit brought to you by insurance Ireland do you need a little extra help staying in your home 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Kevin, Dairy City then they've warmed up for their first game in the ideal way with a win over Shamrock Rovers in the president's cup and perhaps significantly they played really well didn't they? It had to be fair and while Rovers to be fair brought on three or four of the who's who League of Ireland football Dairy City sort of similar didn't have quite their full strength squad as Gavin said earlier you know any manager at this time of the year doesn't know he's best 11 let alone he's best 15 and Dairy certainly like that but they look like an off the perfect start beating Rovers at home up as a packed house they played well at a high tempo game and that's ideal for going down now to what's going to be a massive game down at some parts here also going to feel like they should built their challenge in them rightly so yeah and again new faces on board you know at Dairy um Adam O'Reilly Anthony mentioned him at the outset um probably one of the the the big signings of the of the entire League of Ireland this season and he's going to have a big part to play Ben Doherty can offer you so many options down the left hand side I think Colin Wheeland's still coming back from injury so we might not see him but a good addition as well Kevin he is obviously the first of us and he scored a lot of goals for UCD and then I get quite a few too when he came up and then he'd done the the crucial obviously injury at Fun Park before the season came to an end last year there was a lot of interest from English clubs and whatever and Sam at Rovers were after him but I agree with Anthony chatting about O'Reilly obviously last year done really well at some parts and just in the pre-season friendlies he's looked apart he played up at Kearraig and as Anthony would well know what Taylor's Avenue was like that night it was very heavy but good for a pre-season workout for players to eat a little of their legs and then the the president's cup game it was very good uh it was my man Lamatch that night so he's going to be a big player but he then at the likes of Padding Magalene he came back and must have asked for you just picking up Weaver and Ingle and Andrew and they they sort of put him in cotton wool they're missing the aloe for tomorrow night so that's a bit of a blow but look as I say you're still with Dominic and they came back in and Ben Dordie as you said earlier gives so many options played left back last week was really good going forward giving them Michael Duff of that space he can also play in mud field you can play high in the left there's so many options Ben gives you and a lot of Dairy fans were pleasantly surprised because he hadn't seen Ben since he'd left as a youngster and then went anybody sort of followed I wish they would know how well he had done since he'd left there so that's a very clever sign I think by Rory Higgins getting him in. Yeah indeed Anthony I think the feeling is that the Dairy City are more than capable of mounting a challenge to Shamrock Rovers who are what they're going in search of a fourth title in a row aren't they but I was looking back at last year's stats Dairy you know were there thereabouts for so much of the season but ended up 13 points adrift of Shamrock Rovers at the finish and actually only finished in second on goal difference ahead of Don Dock. Dairy had a brilliant start last season German I think of him right and saying that they maybe won four or five in a row and then they lost unexpectedly to Shelburne at the Brandeville and they went on that wee bit of a dip in form at that time so Dairy you know they're a year older Rory's had that was his first full season with them the players that he's brought in will certainly strengthen the team you know they've lost a few players as well like some of the younger lads like Brendan Barr who's in Lone and Irish League has gone to UCD and young Evan McLaughlin has come back from Colrain as well who he gives an option as well a really talented young player but I think what you've got on my ear about Dairy City is that you know there's we all know that they've got money behind them now as well but they haven't gone out and spent foolishly you know Rory he's built his team slowly you know he looked at the team last year and you're right they did finish 13 points behind Rovers but they did make it make it an interesting title challenge for a long part of the season I think the players that they have added and spoke about them already they will certainly add to that and I think say for example the likes of Ben Daugherty coming in Ben gives different options in terms of formations that you want to play if you want to play with wing backs or like Ben and as Kevin said Ben can play left back wing back wide midfield he's so versatile and you know it's a big it's a big season now for Dairy City because I think the the settlement period is as well and truly now for Rory and he will be expected to close the gap in Rovers you know and they they have taken it to a different level Shamrock Rovers over the last number of years and the way that they've you know they've qualified for Europe they've competed in Europe and they've been a real credit to the league and Stephen Bradley deserves an awful lot of credit as well because somebody who was criticised an awful lot in his early reign at Shamrock Rovers and none more so than by his own supporters but he's truly won them over now with the the leagues that he's won over the last number of years and they're certainly a team to catch yeah and on that Gavin Cullen Shamrock Rovers again quite a few changes within their squad this year Liam Burt has joined them Trevor Clark an important addition Johnny Kenney the former Slager Rovers player who was over with Celtic he he's on loan isn't he still only 19 big future ahead of him our Shamrock Rovers actually stronger than the word last year um possibly yeah they even they've a phenomenal squad as Kevin said at the start no they've a who's who league of Ireland big name players and the squad but they've also no been right up there and they'll obviously be 1A in the Champions League this year as well they they give that a good go so look all in all I do think it's between themselves and Derry I just I really really like the look of Derry squad at the minute um so dynamic and so such balance and so many options and it seems such energy levels coming from coming off the back of the cup final and the feel good factor that they've had and how good they play how well they played in that cup final I really think there's a massive opportunity this year for Derry and and for me possibly our favorites but look it's a big ask to Shamrock Rovers squad as frighteningly good frighteningly strong but in saying that I think I think Derry are in a real upper curve at the minute so it's a really really exciting season this season so it is yeah okay well listen time is almost beating us on this discussion we could talk the league of Ireland all evening there are so many stories as well in that Premier Division isn't there the the return of Cork City to the top division Bowles who'll be playing under Deckland Devine this year how are they going to do what about Dundalk and St Pat's and Anthony we need to speak about Slagov Rovers as well before we finish up Aiden Kiena such an influential and important part of their setup last year he is left he is signed for Cheltenham they've brought in a Faroe Islands international Shane Blaney has gone to Motherwell Lewis Banks has gone to our broth so again chopping and changing there but another big season and I'm sure plenty of expectations at the showgrounds yeah Slagov Slagov done really well over the last number of years German you know the European qualification they finished fifth last year they always seem to start the season off really well but some of the players you mentioned there like Aiden Kiena and Shane Blaney especially were two big big players for them Shane had a brilliant couple of seasons at Slagov and really Marshall they're back four and you know he's away to Motherwell now and Aiden Kiena who's the top scorer it's very difficult in the League of Ireland and I suppose no different than the other league where scoring goals is the most difficult thing and and and Aiden Kiena that Slagov had one of the best in the league and that's going to be very difficult to to replace but you spoke about Bows as well they're going to definitely be stronger now under Declan Devine like Agentundi signed from Derry and you know Dylan Connelly and their returning Keith Buckley who took a year out from traveling as well you know Bows finished like so that's more pressure in Slagov to finish you know their fifth place finish so it's going to be a very difficult season for for Slagov and a lot of the other teams in it okay Anthony thanks for that and thanks to Gavin Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin as well no doubt we'll see us at the different venues as the new season gets open running Harps by the way kickoff against Galway tonight Galway United tomorrow night 8 o'clock Derry City are at St Pat's a 745 start Slagov they are in action on Saturday night by game at the showgrounds as well a 745 start at Slagov Rovers host Shamrock Rovers we're going to go for another quick break Sport on Highland 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your views so let us know what you think at gov dot i e forward slash prb consultation before the 28th of february 2023 a government of ireland initiative sport on highland is brought to you by michael murphy sports and leisure with all the equipment you need to get fit this year including home gym equipment like weights skipping ropes resistance bands and exercise balls and you're welcome back martin mcquee will be joining us on the program in a couple of minutes time to talk g a but we're going to stick with football for the time being an atu donnie gall are through to this season c u f l colleges premier division final that's after the defeated cork by three goals of two on tuesday to advance to the to the decider which is against carlo and shane burn is the manager of atu donnie gall shane um you're welcome along to the program first of all um good victory on tuesday an excellent one in the end now three nil up at one stage it actually ended three two so credit to mtu cork shane they certainly didn't make life easy it didn't do that i mean the game was going to be played really well for a bit an hour in that game and you know to be fair and we let cork back into us then obviously you know we we played really well as i said for in the first court three goals when and then the better complacency can enter play and that happens in games times you know it's but we'll have to ratify that before we get to the final yeah indeed and the final is going to be against carlo shane a good side aren't they it's a repeat of a of a previous final which unfortunately went the way of them we did we we met carlo with for carlo always a good side to think that the the time we played them they were one in the base seven or eight in it on a truck you know so they always have a good uh pedigree and that that competition and uh it'll be no easy no easy game for us in the final they're a very difficult one actually but um from our last final we there's a game they scored early on in that game and and we pressed and pressed and pressed and just actually a donny goleman and that's for them she looks out and yes i won the game for them really you know yeah well listen um steven black among the goals he got two on tuesday gabi aduakka got the other goal um part of a of another good squad shane you've been in charge of so many teams at at well it was ly at before that now the the atu donny gole how does this how does this current squad compared to those other ones you know yourself team was very hard to compare squad i mean last year squad took it got us under the primary division and our aim from day one was to stay in the primary division which this present squad we did that fairly comfortably we ended up mud table type of thing and then we went from a cup normally this squad on when the final cup so all in all it's been a really good season with each group of players they've done really really well um teams and the teams in the past we would we would uh last year with a good save uh as i say they got us promoted and we went to semi-final a cup we've been in two cup finals before that but the step up to the family league with these players that they've really worked hard and uh it's been a great season for them okay that's good and the final is on february the 28th then so that's a another tuesday fixture and the final is going to be an athelone shane so it'll it'll not be too long before it's upon you a very short turnaround to prepare for what's such a big game and that's a term of two weeks out of 28th and uh an athelone and it's nice as well i mean for it we've got to the final now and it's it's it's a good one the way because we've been league airing fixtures coming up and players are under pressure with their clubs which is totally understandable and we've only one game left in our present season so it'll play you know i mean the the clubs have been very good tossing and let the players go to these games and that's so there's only one game left and our season and our season's coming if we don't we don't play an early game until the end of october the middle of october next year which is which is good okay well between now and the final shane we wish you well with you and your your team's preparations and we'll be talking to you before the big match no doubt but for now thanks for joining us this evening thanks very much to you that's shane burn the manager of atu donnie gall well there were no games in the alliance and national football leagues last weekend but round three matches are scheduled over this coming saturday and sunday and joining me now via zoom to look ahead to watch another important weekend is our ghillie games correspondent martin mcqueen martin the leagues have served up some interesting games over the open and two weekends but i'd suggest the results are becoming even more important now as we prepare for the third round of fixtures perhaps none more so than the match in clonison sunday where monah and host donnie gall yeah very much so general it's a very very big game for both teams and you know donnie gall you know had that good victory over carry which makes a you know a big difference where monah at home have no points going in i'm hearing that they target in these two next games which is home to donnie gall and home to us coming and they're hoping to have four points after that uh i just think that that you know when you look at it i think they have word is connor mcmanus will at least be on on the bench they have carlo connell back they've darned cues back sitting out there so this is the game they're really targeting the first one was donnie gall so yeah big game for both teams you feel that if donnie gall can one it gives them a great chance you know of staying up and maybe going on and even trying to get to a league final yeah and let's just remain listeners then about the the situation in division one martin donnie gall with with one win from their their two games uh and monah and significantly without a win losing down in in ross common and then uh remain me again then that they lost uh did they lose down in ross common i'm wrong in that i'm into where are we to our own last time or monah lost in carry yes and carry so a big game and clonus never an easy place to go martin remember this is a monah and team who beat donnie gall actually in balba fae last year too yeah they tell you the monah people tell you they don't fear donnie gall and they've never feared donnie gall the moral fear of toron than than they have have done of donnie gall so i think i think when you look at it you know i mean their performance down in carry carry was uh you know this four four four well it's a 16 points or something they got in carries they did all right down there but that you know it's always hard to be carried down there and the national league people tell you that home home's a big advantage to be playing at home now they played their first game monah against our man castley glaney and a lot of modern people weren't happy with that they wanted to play in either an in his team or clonus they feel they have a good record clonus so yeah so really looking forward to it suddenly there's a lot of pressure on donnie gall but there's a hell more pressure on monah because you feel that they don't want this match and suddenly they're they're in big trouble and they've been there in division one and they've been staying in division one a long time and it's a great credit for them for a small county and everything else so yeah a big game it's a very big game because when we look at it now german the championship you know when we go forward to the championship it's you know it's going to be now kind of based on your league performance going to be very important to your championship uh seeding and everything else but if you end up going into the second division you mean you're talking about maybe only the top four teams in the second division that will make and play for the samigway so it's a very very important to stay in division one indeed it is much talk this week as well over the injury worries concerned and pally mcbriarty martin that that's a that's a major worry on the plus side word is that donnie gall played for manna in a challenge game last weekend of course there were no fixtures in the leagues last weekend so they took advantage of that played for manna and we're hearing that donnie gall included the likes of oshin gall and owen van galleher and michael langan in their side yeah that's that's great news german to hear that i think oshin gallen played played for um dcu uh came on as someone kicked five points so looked very very sharp for dcu and the cigars and semi-finals so yeah it's great to see that oshin's back and you know he's a very important player particularly when you know michael murphy has retired and now patec mcbriarty looks like he's going to be out injured as well it's important to get oshin gallen back there so he adds a fair bit of pace and everything in with that inside line now it hasn't a lot of football played and everything else and neither has probably owen van galleher and michael langan either but there's still you know pluses to have back and we talked about manna in there in the same boat they're just getting players back as well but as i said the two points is so important uh it's important to have to you know to have these players back so you know which is good because the trone performance was one of the course performance was seen away from the donnie gall team in the sense of you know i don't know did we even pick up a yellow yard or not against them with you know they said david goth down to ref it considering there's going to be a tough local derby which is always in so from that point of view just disappointing from a donnie gall point of view so you know we expect it you know we're going to have to be up for it and we're going to have to match them you know for team for spirit and everything else particularly you know manna because that's the way they play they will play on the edge they will be really up for this and we need it we're going to need a good start from a donnie gall point of view i think that'll be very important because want to get ahead of you they're always hard to break down indeed and i'm and i would imagine there will be a big donnie gall support mic in the journey as well on sunday martin and the mood among the supporters i mean there was such a contrast wasn't there from the the win over carry when there was such excitement and the the fans were on a high after that that dramatic win and then as you say the disappointing display in healy park against toron yeah that's it that's the way the league goes you know but you know we'd you know you always knew that toron were going to do their homework particularly on the younger lads that had played so well against carry and everything else and you know you were expecting that and toron needed response because we're beating and in russ common the week before so it's very again that was a very important game to roll and playing at home as well to pick up that at two points because there are no easy games in this division now they're a way to go away in the old to roll so that's going to be two difficult games now in a row for them and everything else so i think that yeah it was just disappointing it wasn't the fact of getting beaten toron it was just the performance was very disappointing and very poor and you knew after 10 minutes that donnie gall weren't going to won the match and you know that's the that was the disappointing thing about so hopefully though the game and sunday is completely different it's going to be definitely going to clonus but we're well used to clonus as well and having them players back and everything else is definitely going to help yeah another new challenge then for paddy car and has donnie gall said a 145 start in clonus and martin you'll be with oshen kelly on commentary from that fixture on sunday we'll have a look at ahead to some of the other games in a moment or two but for now we're going to grab another quick break sport on highland is brought to you by michael murphy sports and leisure beat your personal best with new trainers from asics brooks and new balance or gear up for the gym with active wear from under armor and adidas did you know that using a hair dryer for just 10 minutes uses as much electricity as 30 hours worth of smartphone charging time if you'd like to know more sign up to esb networks pilot program is this a good time we'll send you customized advice and relevant information to help you and your household take more control of your home's electricity usage you could even get rewarded for taking part so sign up today at esbnetworks.ie slash pilot the smallest shrub to the largest tree in an awkward place donnelly tree services provide a complete range of tree surgery services whether you need to 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the games on saturday there's a a number of interesting games again on saturday we'll start with the division one match at mckayl park mayo hosting kerry two sides locked in mid table in division one i know it's very much early stages but martin you know again another big game mayo still looking for their first win despite the fact that they haven't lost gee our german how tough this this division is you know we look at it you know they could have won both matches and they could have probably lost both of them and end up with i think that that's when you look at it from the outside you can still be happy enough of the way they started considering the players that are retired and everything else and he's taken in a lot of younger lads into it and he's starting it seems like a manager that's getting the best already already are of aid no shame which is a big big player for them and gives them an option of from kickouts an option to play in the full forward line and all them different options and he really played well the last day i think the word is that kerry's coming with a full squad you know and uh they have they have the clifards clifards back and everything else so that's going to that's going to be a big big help to and and chano shea so looking forward to this game it'll tell us a lot more about mayo it's a home game for mayo they normally do well against kevin against kerry sorry in castel bar so you know how you know the whole thing of chano shea and cliford chano shea hasn't played a lot of football i still have a sneaking feeling that maybe just about mayo could still get over the line because he said he'd haven't won any matches but they've been very very competitive and they've been very good and i think at this stage they've a lot more work done than kerry would have you know from from the start of the year and yeah so may it mayo maybe just might sneak that german in castel bar okay i have past seven start on saturday night then on sunday uh aside from that manhandony gall game the other two games again thrown in it's uh 145 gallway against her own another important fixture and ross common against our matt ross common the the early league leaders i know your your mark is in there part of the managerial setup martin a big game big crowd expected at this one and if ross common were to win this they'd be sitting pretty yeah i think that looking at from from ross common point you know the people didn't expect them to get a start like that they're every respect them to be fighting for relegation i mean so it's a great start for them i mean the big gallway by a point in a low scorn game 9 9 80 the great victory over to her own after to her own going maybe three points up at a stage in the second half and they showed great courage to come back i think there'll be a massive crowd there's going to be two very very big crowds this weekend in castel bar and on saturday and then on sunday there'll be a big big crowd even trouble them the old people probably head over as well to go to go to dr hay part of what's this and an aromatic big support so i'm looking forward to it i mean i mean we look at it that our man three points were coming up for it's a big game it'll tell us more about ross common what they're like they're hard to beat in hay park our man were impressive to come back to last day and they're never say died and they would have a lot of work done as well so hard game to call you could even wouldn't rule out a draw in that match as well but uh you know i'll be able to see our man really looking forward to seeing our man maybe you know in a big pitch and everything else to see how they're performing us ross common have got players back and everything else so difficult one to call maybe just a wee bit advantage to ross common the fact that they're the fact that they're playing they're playing at home i think that just might give them a bit of advantage to okay well back to saturday then martin and dairy playing host to me at five o'clock on saturday evening dairy have had a good start haven't they they've been impressive in their wins over louth and limrick i think the feeling is though that me is going to provide an all much more different test for rory galler side yeah it's a big test for them because when you consider me going down a big car when the first game down a car and all they got goals and people saying they're needing goals to one matches they're seven goals and spotting their two games to date but i think that looking at them they're very physically very by the wall test the dairy fall back line put by putting high ball and on top of them and test the dairy goalkeeper on lynch as well as they'll put high ball in that area so i think from from me from me fun view that you know they're probably didn't expect to get the points in car he's car came up on hammer till there in the next game i'll say they were expecting maybe to be paired homework and that game but i think looking at it's a big game because as i said before the way that he looked at it because he will probably get to the lengths of final so that will definitely get them into into the this amiguerre where dairy will have to finish at least four in the top four if they don't get to the austere final and there's no foregone conclusion of getting us to finally play for man on the first round and then they meet her owner mon on the semi final so look what they're going to have to try to make sure maybe to get promotion but at least to be to be to be up there up there you know in the top four and even to get make the summer so this is a big game again the fact is the tax of the championship makes it even bigger for both teams but particularly for dairy there's a home game they're playing with no one beg it's a home match for them i expect dairy to not concede the goals and looking at the scores that need to get to date back to date i think they need goals to won the game german but i think dairy will want it work by four or five points but i think they're going to need to get goals themselves they're not scoring maybe enough goals from their own point of view but i do expect them to dairy especially at home to get to get over the line against me yeah and it is it is all new to us isn't it martin this this link between the league and championship this year and and the importance of finishing high in your your respective division that as it stands early in the season dairy doubling me the only three sides with with 100 record so far in the league cork then lie fourth on score average the feeling might be that those are probably the strongest four sides in division two yeah and so most of the disappointing team is killed there if you're expected to be up there back then with them and everything else and you know louth put it up the last date to dairy and everything else i think the best way to sum up the way the championship is going to work is the the eight provincial finalists the winners will be seated one i think the the losers or runners up will be seated number two then you'll have the next four highest teams team and in the leagues that's in division one probably then four teams will all come out of division one they're the next four and that makes it 12 then in comes west meath come on as for one in the talc and couples the 13th team so you have three teams left and you must remember either slag or leap drum london or new york will be in the connet final chairman so that they'll be one of the teams and so that's the way it works the eight provincial finalists will be seated the winners see the one two and then you have the next four highest team in the league then west meath join them as the talc and pub winners and then you have three places left that will come out of probably division two and a certain wherever far down it goes in division two it depends on what teams get from division one to the to the provincial final so that's the way it works so there's going to be big teams losing out it looks like cabin and down could get promotion from division three but unless cabin or down get off the final they won't be playing in the in the salmog for the salmoguer and they'll be they'll be playing for the talc and pub that's how tough it is yeah and down we're keeping an eye on how they're how they're going they have one two out of two uh so far in in division three uh this weekend they travel to play for manna yeah it's a big game and there's an elderly you know something that's killing so you'd have to say that's a wee bit of advantage for manna for manna have a good record against down their team their own mind play now down have a lot a lot of work put on here they have nine of the kilku boys and maybe for the first time in a while there's been nine of them nine of the kilku lads and what down so well never strong squad barry hagan picked up a crucial ligament injury that's him out for the for the season you're disappointing him he's one of their better players last year and this year so far but uh picked it up against altum in the last league and down are going well a lot of maybe even people tipping them that they'll get us to find so yeah we go up there in the first round of the championship to in ure so it's not going to be an easy place to go because they're definitely going you know they're going well they're going really well and everything else down so a lot of players who always know who go down are and definitely punter laughney has got a big big kick out of them and they know they're responding to them and everything else so big game for them again they'll want to get promotion they'll want to get up to division two that'll be there you know the first thing you would have what he wants to achieve and then after trying to get to an Ulster final okay marten before I let you go um the the situation and donnie gall um a few controversies in in recent weeks and perhaps none more so than the the ongoing situation with the underage academy any thoughts on it hopefully something that can be sorted before too long yeah you would hope that it can be sorted you know was a disappointing thing to us and I've always said this word you know national media has and everything else if anything goes on and double in our carry we don't seem to ever hit the national media and bring us but anyway it's happening it's happening to donnie gall so this thing is disappointing I think the whole thing and I think it's important to get it sorted out I've been talking to a lot of different people maybe people even involved in the academy and everything else you know there were 40 coaches in there bonding coaches you know doing it up their time and everything else the party and then the other you know the fact very important and I just heard it was very professional setup under karl lacy and everything else so hopefully they can get it sorted out it's important to get it sorted out because when we look at how strong you know schools are in other counties that we're competing with particularly in austria and yeah we're going to need the academy and we're going to need a very strong academy it seemed that you know I mean it's only it's only starting out really it's only in two years it's only up and running two years like everybody very impressed with it the professionalism and everything else of it you know under the sheer stuff of karl lacy and the amount of work that he was putting in himself and to think about hours was unreal that he's putting into to himself into in time and I mean I think the big thing that they were working on was that you know that when these lads became senior poppers that you know they had their strength and condition and don they had you know the right physios and everything else so it wasn't going to cost as much money you know when they went into a senior setup and everything else was starting the strength and condition picking up injuries and everything else and this was going to end up saving a lot of money for the county and everything else and I think they modeled it a bit on the limerick model and we see what's happened in limerick we're not saying that would have happened only well but in general the most important thing is to sort it out and everybody you know whoever sit down and round the table and sort it out and it's important that we get the academy back and going as I think it's going to be very very important to the county talking to parents talking to players and everything else you know how people go oppressed with the clubs and everything else so yeah very important to from our own point of view from a GA point of view in this country to sort it out quickly. Okay Martin thanks as always Martin McHugh or GA correspondent joining us on the score tonight by the way busy weekend of glee games we can't forget the ladies as well donnie gall playing waterford in an important game on sunday at set at runnel park in letter candy that's in division one donnie gall in real need of a victory in that one and the under 20s are in action against slaggo this weekend that's on saturday one o'clock at shaw mccow park in balaba fe that's about it for this evening it's been another busy program my thanks to our guests this evening anthony gaven kevin and martin mccue who you've just heard thanks to you for listening and to joe for his assistance on the program as well our next sport here on highland is tomorrow morning after the 830 news from myself cheer me to hearty have a very good evening sport on highland is brought to you by michael murphy sports and ledger you'll find everything you need to stay motivated this year in store and online with free next day delivery on order