 The HSE's CEO says that while hospitals remain under significant pressure due to COVID-19, they are not going to call for any more restrictions. The comments come as case numbers here were over 3,000 for the third day in a row, with today's figure of new cases standing at 3,024. 458 patients are now in hospitals with the virus here and 99 ICUs, both down on this day last week but still up from two weeks ago. Demand for testing has risen by 20% in the last week and around 16% of swabs are now coming back positive. HSE Chief Executive Paul Reed says that while hospital numbers may be starting to level off, the system remains under strain but they are not going to be calling for any further restrictions at the HSE yet. The actions of the health service alone won't get us out of this current situation. The cases continue to rise, there comes a time when no additional testing, tracing or vaccination or hospital beds or ICU will help to turn the tide. To be very clear, unless it's taken up differently, I am not and HSE is not in any way calling for a need or requirement for further restrictions. A leading pharmacist in Donegal says that his pharmacies are now being made to dump vials of out-of-date COVID-19 vaccines, in part because pharmacies have not been allowed to participate in the booster vaccination programme. Director of HealthWise Pharmacies James Cassidy says that at one pharmacy of his alone, there were six vials of COVID-19 vaccine dumped as they were passed their used-by date. That will be enough for 24 doses. He says that even though his own pharmacy staff are eligible for a booster as their frontline healthcare workers, they still can't get a booster dose in their own pharmacies. I've had to dump in one pharmacy alone six vials, that's 24 doses. The pharmacy staff are vulnerable healthcare workers who have been told they're eligible for booster vaccines. They have to go to a mass vaccination centre to get that if they get an appointment, which hasn't even been made available. In the meantime, we have the vaccines we could give to our own staff on site and we're told dumped. Because most people who want the initial doses have been given them, we're now in booster territory. A Donegal GP says it's likely that COVID cases are being missed because people are using antigen tests when they display symptoms and then not doing a follow-up PCR test if the antigen is negative. Speaking to Greg Hughes on today's Ninetown News Show, Dr Kira Nofari said the results of antigen tests can be inaccurate, with up to one-third of antigen tests potentially providing a false negative result. He says that antigen tests are becoming more popular despite this, as it's becoming more difficult for people to become self- isolated and potentially miss work. Lots of people are contacting us saying I've got a cough, I've done an antigen test that's negative. I suppose what we know from antigen tests in symptomatic patients is that you'll miss about one in three cases of COVID. Whether it's OK for people to do an antigen test and get on with life is a question for, I suppose, Neffat and the government because I think it's increasingly difficult to get people to take one or two days out of work and family and school to go ahead and get a PCR test. So that's a bigger question. I think that we're going to have to address going forward. And finally, the government has unveiled a 125 billion euro climate action plan, which aims to halve the country's emissions by 2030. It includes having almost a million electric vehicles on the road by the end of the decade, alongside sectoral ranges for emission reduction. The government says its policy on data centres will be reviewed, with current forecast suggesting almost a quarter of Ireland's power will be needed to operate them by 2030. While ministers say improved grants and low-cost loans for electric vehicles and home retrofits are also being considered, Tishon Mihal Martin says there will be increased incentives to do so. The gap has to be bridged to enable people to be in a position to make a decision to buy an EV that it would be affordable for people through a combination of the grant scheme and low interest loans. We do recognise that issue and the same applies to the retrofitting situation. So we have to, at the earlier part, make sure the courage is enough to change behaviour. And now the weather. Cool and cloudy this evening, but dry, apart from a few isolated light showers. It'll be mostly cloudy tonight with a little light-patty rain and drizzle, with lowest temperatures of four to six degrees overnight tonight. That's all from the Haenemberle news team for now. Your next local Bolton here on Highland will be coming up at seven o'clock tomorrow morning. But in the meantime, we'll have regular news updates for you as well as international news updates for you. Until then, good evening. Throughout the Northwest and across the world online, this is Highland Radio, your voice, your station. Sport on Highland brought to you by MycomorpheSports.ie with free next day delivery on orders over 85 euro. Well, it's a very good evening and welcome along to a score special tonight at seven minutes past the hour of seven o'clock on this Thursday, as we present a county final special as we look ahead to the big decider this coming weekend, where St Unans will look to try and dethrone the champions. Naive Connell will be hearing from Martin McHugh, Brendan Kilcoin and John Gilday, all former winners of the Dr. McGuire Cup. We'll also get the thoughts of the managers, Rory Kevna and Martin Regan. We can't forget about the intermediate final as well. Michael Lynch and Desi Gellar, the respective managers of Klochanile and Dunlowe. There's a big senior decider and Derry as well with Glenn against Slockney. Later in the show, we'll be speaking with Michael McMullen of Gillick Life and not forgetting about the big derby on the soccer front. Finn Harps against Derry City. It's another crucial game for Harps as they take on their neighbours, former Finn Harps goalkeeper Gavin Cullen and sports writer with the Derry Journal, Kevin McLaughlin will be joining us on the programme as well. So it's going to be a very busy show and extended score programme for you tonight and before we get stuck in to looking ahead to those big matches, a bit of confirmation from the county board in relation to the senior matches which are taking place at McCool Park in Balbuffet on Sunday. What we know is the senior A game between Neve Connell and St Unans is definitely going ahead as planned at 3.15 on Sunday afternoon and it's just a case of when the senior B match will be played between Ardra and St Unans. At the moment, it is fixed for a quarter past five but if the pitch is in good enough condition, it will take place at 12.45. There was a pitch inspection today and a decision has been made to make a final call on it on Saturday. So the game will be played in Balbuffet. Both games will be played but it's just a matter of starting out the time in relation to the senior B game. So that's the situation there. Well, of course, we are broadcasting a special county final programme this evening with St Unans against Neve Connell. Let's say hello to our guests who are joining us this afternoon or this evening rather. First, Martin McHugh and Brendan Kilcoin, gentlemen, you're welcome to the studio in Highland tonight. Thanks, Hoshi. And of course, two men that have lifted the Doctor McGuire with Kil'Kyar and indeed St Unans respectively and with the magic of technology, John Gilday. Welcome along to the programme. Hi, my name is Ben John. Well, John, we'll start with you because you're in the home of the champions. History is looking to be made. Three in a row, which hasn't been done since the mid-noughties. But nobody before has ever won the county title in the same 12 months of period. It's actually just a couple of months ago as we go back to the delayed ones. So what's it like over the last couple of weeks now in and around the parish of Neve Connell up in Glenties? John, what's the feeling up there at the moment? Yeah, the excitement has been building gradually over the last number of weeks. I think I suppose the last two weeks have been more enjoyable probably than the weeks gone by because the games came thick and heavy. You rolled out of your door and you rolled straight into your car. So, you know, it's the town is buzzing. There's a great buzz about it. Obviously, it's into an area year for the club. So it means an awful lot for an awful lot of people up there. And then throw in the bit of controversy from last year. And you know, it takes on an added impact as such. But I suppose they've been here before. The team themselves have been locked away and it's, you know, I think this is the fifth final in a row. So they're very used to the process as such, which is the buzzword nowadays. So they're not getting carried away but there's a great atmosphere around the town and obviously high expectations from what we feel is an exceptional bunch of lads who have contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the people from Glenties over the last 15 years. Yeah. Well, that's the feeling in Neve Connell at the moment. Brendan killed Coyne, you of course were part of Successful. St Unan's teams through the years, winning as a player and manager. It's been six years since Unans have been there. Have you got the final feeling around the town this week? Have you? Yeah, I think there's definitely a great degree of expectation and hyper on the town this year. So there is maybe more so than previous finals because it is six years since Unans have been in a county final. So there's a great degree of excitement and expectation. It's a new team. It's a young team. Yes, there's an experience throughout it kind of thing but there's a lot of flags up about the town and more people are talking about this final because I suppose Unans were in so many finals up to 2015 and it was nearly expected every year to be there and maybe there wasn't the same build up in the town but you know St. Unans is a small club in a big town and there's a lot of people have done great work out there through the years and you know it's great that they are back in the final. Some people will say that it's too long been out of the final for six years but you've no god-given right to get back to the final every year and it's a great opportunity for this team to to go on now and to maybe upset the Nave Connell three in a row. Martin you're the neutral view tonight in the in the studio so you're what you're thinking ahead of the game obviously probably be a bit jealous that Kilkar aren't back in it again but it's listening you still get the county feeling the county final feeling and out and about in the roads and in the various towns in the northwest. Yeah I was just thinking that oh you know I'm the neutral here today I'd rather not be the neutral it wasn't the last time asked me to think Brendan might have been the neutral going back but look at yeah this is a great post it's county final day and it's a brilliant day and it's a big big occasion and so it's unique it's what you said having the two county finals in a period of eight weeks there's a club on day in the junior they lost the junior final and won the junior final the following year within within eight weeks period so that's how how diverse how things are with the whole COVID thing about it but yeah really looking forward to it it's a great final and the one thing about finals they just take on it they're on occasion on their own I just was listening to somebody talking about about unions in a final when they went into a final as underdogs they've won the finals and when they were going as favorites they've lost the final so you know they're definitely going in as underdogs this time so there's no pressure on them but sometimes a small club in a big town is no harm to be as Brendan said it's no harm to be going into the going into the final as underdogs yeah yeah John Gilday used boys are rage and hot favourites over there she is our for this Dr McGuire as you choose a three in a row but I don't think you'll be underestimating unions in any sort of way at all because it's sort of flipped on where it was in 2005 John when you were part of it yeah I listen I think this favoritism things in illusion that maybe held more store you know 20 years ago when many players got caught up on it a bit more you know if you look at this Clint East team and like they've been exceptional obviously over the last number of years but if you look back three years ago we were in three files in a row and we're looking at losing three in a row so we were going for a totally different three in a row so there's no complacency in that bunch of lads that won finals they shouldn't have won they've lost finals they should have won so you know favoritism as Martin Recky pointed out there their finals are one-off games you know crazy things happen on the day um you know and and Neve Connell of all clubs know the ups and downs and the trials of type relations attach to that so you know whatever about us supporters is such getting carried away and you know obviously going in confident which any team and I would imagine if you talk to Rory and his background team in the lads and said you know as well you know you don't show up to a country finally not being confident they've done the hard work they've got there so you know it's great for us guys on on a radio show we're down the town to be talking about favoritisms and underdogs and all that type of stuff but it doesn't really mean a lot on the day when when the ball's thrown in and then it's just really what happens and who gets a break of the ball because there's nothing in it between these teams if you look at the last couple years despite you know Neve Connell won on the championship and been you know dominant per se you know there's only a kick in the ball you know two years in a row against St. Unions there was a controversy last year with the punch ball by Leo Matlin and and Sean Patton's case so there's nothing in it and nobody in Neve Connell is going to take St. Unions um for granted you know I know we've been you know we've been strong for the last 15 years or you know really strong in the last 10 years but a lot of those lads remember coming through the ranks where you know county titles and county finals were very very rare indeed so you know even though we've we've done well there's nobody taken for granted because we remember the bad old days as well as the good as the reaching good days yeah listen John our Neve Connell a better side now than what they were last year and even if you go back over the last five finals is this probably the best Neve Connell side? I feel it is and I just look at the way they're playing it I think the infusion of youth coming through the ranks over the last number of years has really helped and they've matured and blossomed and there's new guys coming into the squad every year so if you looked at like from one to 25 they're incredibly strong and with players come in that actually add to the team so you're not bringing in a lesser player everybody has a role to play I feel that they've really found their niche as regards that balance between defensive and attacking when they break on the counter that was maybe missing years ago so you know looking at them from a foreign perspective over the last number of matches you would have to suggest that they're a better side now than they were last year however you know the one championship last year they still have to want a championship this year so they're supposed to prove they'll be in the you know at five or six o'clock on Sunday and if they're crowned county champions then we can have that conversation but if you lose it then that conversation goes by the wayside Brendan Kilcoin would you agree that Dave Connell are better placed this year than they were over the last number of years and losing in one game finals? Yeah I do believe so you know Dave Connell to me or you know and I've said this all along all year you know I just feel that they're developing all the time that there's so many strings to their bow now that you know they're capable of getting scores from anywhere in the field we've seen that with the likes of Alton Daherty Kevin McGeddigan Anthony Thompson you know these guys getting up the field kicking scores for them on a regular basis this isn't a once off or you have your corner backs coming up and I suppose their style of play subscribes to you know players coming from deep getting scores so does so I feel to the you know I know Charlie McGinnis has been around for a couple of years but he's really come of age this year so he has and his work creatives his positioning at the edge of the square gives Dave Connell an outlet for that long balling but his work rate is exceptional I've been hugely impressed with him and also with Kieran Gallagher you know he's been really really good he's a quality footballer so much quality for a big man the skill level is whole high and as John mentioned you know they're bringing in these players and they're seamlessly slotting into the team they understand the group and the work ethic of the of the team and they just buy into it and they're just such a machine of a team every man on that team knows their role knows what they have to do day in, day out and they go about their business in such an astute and professional manner manner that they just break teams down now the one thing I would say about them they don't put teams away they leave teams in a game up to the last quarter you know you look at you know Kildkar against Ghidor even in some of the you know the group games they don't put teams away and that probably is a result of the style of play you know it's very tight and cagey and they keep their defense you know it's very they're very hard to break down so definitely I think they've caught on a better team this year than they have been for the last couple of years and they were a fine team the last couple of years because you don't win championships without being a good team so they're developing so strong as John mentioned there you know the players that they can bring off the bench in the last 15-20 minutes and you know it's such strength and depth you like the Brendan MacDyer Johnny O'Malley you know Nathan Byrne Keelan McGill Brick Malloy these type of players like they're all potential game winners and there if you can introduce them players when legs are getting tired and minds are getting tired in the last 10 or 15 minutes they have the ability to grind out and win games so yeah definitely Dave Connell to answer your question to me are a better team than they have been in the last couple of years I'll ask you an old one then or said you know it's a better team than they have been in the last couple of years well you know the truth of that question will will only be answered on Sunday you know as a result of the county final you know it's haven't been overly press of getting here the struggle really against St. Nalls 14 man St. Nalls Steven Griffin was sent off and the same scenario then in the semi-final when Liam Paul-Ferry was sent off and okay they got there in the end on both days but the big factor here is and you go back to the first game when the had kill car on the ropes at halftime they didn't put them away so that is the question Mark for St. Junis did they learn enough in that first group game out in the Donald Park to be able to go head to head with these teams for 60 minutes now you know we look at Dave Connell we look at the semi-final against Dave Connell last year they had them on the ropes and it was the late Leo McLoone controversial goal that got Dave Connell over the line that day but Unans have you know they definitely have improved but I think that question can't be answered definitively until Sunday even when they can produce a performance we know Dave Connell are going to turn up and play their game on Sunday but can St. Unans come up and square up to them man for man pound for pound across the pitch and that's the question that this is Rory Cowan will be asking the St. Unans lads this week does Rory Cowan have the players Mark McQ that can contend with that can go man to man and can match them yeah and the interesting one is what Brenna said there about Neve Connell but I think if there's one team in the county can match their subs coming off the bench is St. Unans who've got a good squad of players as well they have a lot of quality I think they've maybe a lot of injuries but I think a big one is Peter McEnough McEnough will he be fit to play or not he's a big player and was a big player Unans is he able to play or not it'll make it will make a huge difference to St. Unans but I think you know if you look at Neve Connell you know they've got experience they've got youth they've got a style of football they can play the defensive style of football and they're very very good out their counter attacking is very good and then they've the big man or two men on the edge square to put high ball on top of the full backing so they've every part of it short out now the big call because I think Neve Connell will have to make is the kick outs they give the kick outs to the door basically in that in that match they felt maybe there's best thing to do to give them kick outs and they go along with a lot of their own kick outs that people have there but will they give Sean Patton the kick outs or will they make them go long or not so probably Rory Cavana might be happy enough if they push up and make them go long because they can you know Sean Patton's capabilities have gotten a half four lane or even a full four lane coming out to get a ball the other thing is if you give St. Union's the ball they're all good fufflers and they'll be comfortable enough on the ball to take it forward and everything else in other games they might have made a decision to say we'll give certain players the ball and make that call and let them have the ball and don't let maybe other players have the ball against St. Union's every one of them are good on the ball so that will be an interesting call to make but come back to what you know looking at it and what you're saying Neve Connell are definitely you know looking at them there are no superstars the many else they play his team and Owen McGilligan another club other clubs and the country not alone in the county had lost a player of the quality of Owen McGilligan you'd really would struggle so if you think about him even going in there with the players they have one of the failing players coming off the bench and everything else so look at from Union's point of view the great thing is from it there's no pressure on them going into the match and that's a big thing and that's going to help them a lot now the conditions are of a big bear now if you feel Union's are the lighter the client are a physically stronger team and Union's are lighter team a good day would definitely suit St. Union's you'd feel okay you never answered my question I asked you to have the players to go man to man into match Neve Connell do they have the bench to do that as well Mark? I said they had definitely have the bench and they had you look at the players they're probably the best defense from goalkeeper six defenders of all the teams in the county they've got the best so they match them now you know we look at Neve Connell even taking the kill argument Brenna said they don't put teams away now I think Union's will be happy enough with their 10 minutes to go and they're right in this game that's what Rory cabinet will want we're still in it they have the bench and from their point of view from Neve Connell's point of view they're not going to panic or anything else the way they play anything else I think they have the players I think maybe we look at their forwarding and they are a bit light and everything else but will they play Porig McGilligan that's a big thing maybe he did well coming off the bench is he better maybe coming off the bench than starting now the other one is Nail O'Donnell we talk about a player of the championship at the minute we look at Owen Wade has been the player who marked Owen McNailas given the job when they look back at the county final against Calcare the best player was Andrew McLean put him on Andrew McLean put Andrew McLean on the back foot right away where we know we know Ciaran Thompson has been brilliant but Owen Wade will be probably picking up Nail O'Donnell and that battle will be the thing will determine a lot if Nail O'Donnell can perform with Owen Wade marking them everything else that'll make a big difference in units but they definitely answer a question there's no doubt that they've got the footballers okay John Gilday how do you see see the match-ups come Sunday yeah and to be honest Urens are the one of the sides in the country that I do agree with Martin that are able to play across you know one to fifteen and even deeper into their bench you know and I mean this respect to Calcare the Calcare are very much based around four or five of the main key men and as they're shot down which Nail O'Donnell did very well over the last eight makes it very difficult as you go down the pick and order whereas you know the whole St. Urens squad are all very comfortable on the ball so it's not a case of you know isolating one man and trying to take him out of the game even though there will be key match-ups as interesting you mentioned Owen Wade Owen Wade was given a marking job in 2005 on the now current Urens manager Rory Cavanaugh and did a very good job back there and it's still doing the same job you know 16 years later and an exceptional footballer for Neve Connell and really should have done probably at county level or whatever but didn't get around to it but the match-ups are going to be very very interesting what I would say is that you know Rory has done an exceptional job with St. Urens has come in brought a you know freshness to it all comes with loads of experience you know very well respected in the town very well respected footballer around the county and around the country so when he talks and he tells people and encourages people people listen to him the flip side and then you have Martin Regan who's who's the longest serving manager in the county and has shown an incredible a supposed understanding of tactics and how to eliminate and take other key members of the opposition out of the equation he's done that very successfully over the years and no doubt Hale have a plan in place as well to try to negate the main strengths and obviously the Adonals would be a big part of the St. Urens game plan and if we can shut them down on Sunday you know we're going to be hard to beat and if we can keep the score down and make it a dogfight because what Neve Connell have proven over the last 10 years is when it comes down to that Nippon truck 10 minutes to go they're more likely to come out in top than anybody else right now and they've developed that in a way that that's their self belief and then doubt creeps into the opposition point of view as well so I can imagine on Sunday it'll be a KG fair you know rightly pointed out Neve Connell on the other side they come out and blow anybody away they played his system they played their pattern if they're in control they're not going to run away 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 points on you Kilkar have that potential all day long and that's why Neve Connell have so much respect from a Kilkar point of view because if they get a run on you they can really do big damage on you whereas we don't have that capacity we don't have a lot of the marquee forwards that will be around the county even though Big Charlie and the rest of them are doing very well this year so it'll be Titan KG the way it always is with the Neve Connell game unless something dramatic happens in something which you don't see and you know the idea would be to grind out another result and I do agree with Mark the conditions will have a bearing on it because you would feel that there's a greater physicality with the Neve Connell side I think the ground is going to be having it in a way so from that point of view it probably favours Neve Connell a little bit more than maybe the dry sun and June, July or August okay that's the voice of John Gilday and if you're watching live on our Facebook channels and on YouTube as well you can watch the programme we're all linked up here we've got cameras in the studio and we've got John via satellite zoomed in from Neve from the parish of Neve Connell in studio Martin McEwan Brendan Kilcoin will have more on the 2021 county final preview on the score special coming up after these Highland Sports is brought to you by Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Letter Canine where the Christmas Club is now open shop online 24x7 at MichaelMurphySports.ie Christmas has come early exclusively here at iMotor's Drunkine and Malin why not treat yourself to a new Kia or Nissan and avail of the fantastic finance offers available on all 221 vehicles order today and drive away in style in the new year all new 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which showcases the best of Donegal businesses to a global audience that's this Friday from 9 to noon live from the market square Lettercanny for a huge selection of furniture all in one showroom pull in to grow furnishings in Lettercanny sofas beds wardrobes tables and chairs also a range of carpet vinyl rugs and laminated flooring if it's time for a change it's time for a visit to grow furnishings growth deliver throughout Donegal dairy and tarot be inspired at grow furnishings kill toy road Lettercanny one lucky winner will walk away 2,000 euro imagine that's Christmas all wrapped up Christmas sort the draw will take place on Wednesday December 1st on the 9 till noon show 9 till noon and you're still in with a chance to win the Kia X8 worth over 28,000 euro it's that simple to win that car to get your ticket log on to highlandradio.com Highland radio exceeding your expectations Highland sports is brought to you by Make a Murphy Sports and Leisure Lettercanny get the Donegal GA supporters gift box now at MakeaMurphySports.ee and you're welcome back to this score special where we're focusing in on the Donegal senior championship county final coming up later in the program we'll also be hearing from the respective managers involved in the intermediate final we'll have a preview of the dairy senior final as well and there's a derby in the soccer front fun harps against dairy so they all to come on a specially extended score program tonight our special guests are all Dr. McGuire Cup winners previously with their respective clubs I'm Art McHugh with Kilkear John Gilday with Dave Connell and we've also got Brendan Kilcoin a sligo man of course who has won county championships as a player and a manager with St. Unions is there anything going to change this weekend Brendan from what we know of the contests between these two sides previously is it going to be another one seven to nine point game things of course being very very tight not too many scores and the board not too much given away are we going to follow this same pattern is going to be the same sort of suit come the weekend I would definitely imagine so you know that's the kind of game you expect with these clubs you expect it to be cagey and you know you look at the way Unions have played all year and they've been criticized maybe for it that you know they're very deliberate and methodical in their build up play where they hold the ball and you know the same possession is nine tenths of the law kind of thing and Unions have nearly adopted that mantra where they've just they haven't been taken any chances in game and you know there comes a time in a game where some guy has to drop the shoulder and take a man on because Neve Connell are so well structured and set up in that respect that they'll soak that up all day and you know there are so many questions then if Neve Connell concede the kick out Sean Patton's kick out you know Martin mentioned it and John you know that all these Unions guys are very comfortable on the ball and they'll be happy to keep control of that ball so they will so I expect it to be a tight cagey affair I expect it's not it's not going to be a high-scoring game you know and the conditions will play a part in that too even though I think the forecast is decent for Sunday the boys mentioned the pitch is going to be sticky and it's going to get stickier as the game gets on so I expect it to be very close very cagey both teams garden possession with their lives and you know at that stage then come that crucial time with 10-15 minutes to go if the game is still in the mental part that's where you want your heroes to stand up and to make a decision to go at it and to do something out of the ordinary or out of the structure that has been set for both sides kind of thing to go and win the game and both teams have players that are capable of doing that we've seen Karen Thompson do it right really for Neve Connell over the last couple of years but by the same token Eunans have some very good players up front too you know and we obviously know about Nile O'Donnell but Owen McGeehan is a guy that if Eunans can get ball into him you know he's a dynamic little forward so he is he's so good and if he gets a sniff of a goal chance he'll take it he's one of the best goal scorers that I've seen playing the game for a long time if he gets a sniff at all and he regularly does kind of thing but the St. Junans game style isn't conducive to inside forwards getting on the ball and that's the problem that very rarely do get on the ball and I remember the quarter final he might have got two or three touches kind of thing so there are so many questions and so many you know ways that this can go but it is going to be tight and cagey and both teams are going to adopt their normal style of play they're not going to deviate from that and on final day so Rory Kavana said this week that it's all about these younger players getting an experience of a county final but obviously behind the scenes is that there's a lot more drive than that Brendon oh yeah 100% you know and you get to a county final you're there to win it and we spoke about favoritism and systems of play et cetera but by gob when you get to a county final you're going to go all out gung-ho to win it and you need to have that mindset to be able to go to the wire for every ball and fight for every ball and win that dirty ball something Naive Connell are very good at doing about winning that dirty ball around the middle of the park and Junans will have to match that aggression and that will to win we know that Naive Connell can do it mentioned it earlier the St Junans lads and particularly the younger fellas are going to have to grow up quick they don't have much time you know they're going to be in this game and it's going to that hour or that hour and 10 minutes is going to pass them by very quick so they need to adopt this very quick but there's a lot of experience in this Junans team too and you know particularly in their defense and I expect them lads you know to be able to talk to the younger fellas in the St Junans camp and you know to guide them through the day and it's going to be new to a lot of them you know the whole parade thing and the whole build up to a county final to talk around the town all week and that's all new to them they haven't dealt with this before so that is a big you know question mark as how they deal with that as I said we know Naive Connell are going to deal with it so it's how our lads can deal with it Martin as a manager as well how did you deal with younger players in the big occasion Rory Cavanaugh told me this week it was all about trying to deal with the situation as just another game but how do you go about making a county final just another game that was definitely not another game but the thing about you just don't know you try your best as a manager in the build up to to do that there and play it down and everything else and then just sup the players on the day listen there will be players that will freeze on a big day young lads just don't know how they're going to react to and everything else you know but as Brent's after saying now there is a fair bit of experience in this St. John's team particularly the fans you know we talk about Sean Patton then we have Keelan Ward Aemon Dordy has won five championships and he you know well he starts or not Aemon Dordy they could start him in the middle of the field and Kieran Thompson make that decision but Aemon Dordy's got great experience and everything else and that physical physical power as well but you know we look at unions you know they're defensively brilliant the Keelan Ward battle with with Charles McGinnis is going to be a big battle another big battle on the field and everything else but you know looking at it suppose we we talk about St. John's and other than beating Neve Connell I think what was it two three two seveneen or eighteen around the beat them in the last game of a group they haven't really beaten the big teams so this is their chance that they're going to have to do what people talking about this here that they haven't done it and people who say teams haven't performed they flop on the day of the meet big teams this is Unes big chance to set their marker down this team they've won underage and everything else these players now is the chance for them set down the marker they're coming up against big team now Neve Connell are going for three in a row and we look at this Neve Connell team and if they achieve this then they have to go down there's been one of the greatest club teams we've seen we've seen in this county now we go back to somebody who's telling me they're reading a paper here 1972 Unes won the Hurlin Championship and they won the football championship and I think they won the minor championship that year and everything else maybe history but I think looking at it I think it's a great way to go and that Rory Cavanis team is going into this match there's really they're not expected we look at most types of players are going for Neve Connell so they're under no pressure so that's a great way I saw it in myself in 1992 going into an All Iron Final they're great well if we were going in in those favourites in that final you know it'd be very very difficult to deal with but the only talk and Donny Gall was about tickets that was all they were talking about tickets so it took the pressure completely off the players where if you go into a finalist favourites especially you know a young team went into a finalist favourites John has said there it's not going to matter what Neve Connell they just went to every match and deal with that game and play it but from from St Juner's point of view it does take the pressure off the young lad so you'd expect that that same pressure is not on them as we're going into the game as Red Hot favourites and everything else what they're not knowing and so I think that'll definitely help them they're not the same pressure on them expect Neve Connell on the other thing about it as you look on her Neve Connell haven't started well in the Ghidor game or the Kilkar game there were 2-0 down against Ghidor and there were 3-1 down against Kilkar and maybe 4-2 down that's when if Unes get that chance push on early and you know get that lead early on and we saw it in the Turrone game between Trillig and Dremor Dremor was 7-0 up they started the better team a start's important for St Juner's and you know Neve Connell have given teams that start up to now so you know Unes have taken it on and push on if they do get that chance for their point of view to push on away so look at we don't know when the ball's thrown in we don't know about young players you just don't know how they're going to cope with the occasion and everything else but there's no doubt it's a lot of them wouldn't be that experience but the other lads including Rory Carvin has played in plenty of finals they'll be able to help them help them as much as they can okay is there anything at all John Gilday that has you worried going to go under this decider has it been a part of the furniture of county finals over the last couple of years we're talking about nerves and young players here from a St Juner's point of view is there any sort of concern at all up around Neve Connell heading into this decider well I suppose it wouldn't be a concern and you know they they have a very determined mindset in the sense that they treat every game on its merits and that's why Martin Regan was quoted here in the week where whether your favourites are underdogs in their perspective is not very relevant because they they're very much locked into what they want to do themselves so you know from an outsider's point of view the fact that you're overwhelming favours is always a concern for you because you know you're set up for a fall I don't think that'll permanent into the team itself because as I said they're very much focused and they'll have a lot of respect there's been a lot of big battles with St Juner's down over the last 20 years going way way back from Brandon and myself for playing like you know so there's a lot of you know respect in one sense and then also you know always awareness between both teams because you know neither side wants to get turned over by the other because there's a lot of history and water under the bridge is such so they'll be taken nothing for granted my concern is you're overwhelming favourites the fans are going there the expectation that Glenn he's outside the campus that's going to be another county title you're set up for this fairytale scenario where it's centenary year three in a row two championships in the one year league already in the bag so you know that's dangerous and that kind of mindset and talk was dangerous as I said okay for us to be having that kind of conversation and the other thing is and my big concern is that we nobody really knows how good this St Juner's team is and that's a positive and a negative in the sense that you know as Martin rightly pointed out young lads on a final someone can freeze the other side of the equation is men can really step up and turn it on and have huge games that turns the whole thing on its head so the fact that they have no track record maybe perceived as a negative in some circles but it also means that you don't know what happens when things go right on the day for them and they can really really put it up to you and as I said they're all very capable for 1 to 20 they all can play ball they have probably the best goalkeeper in the country not just in Penangal and his distribution is excellent so that's a huge plus from they have a very solid defense with a lot of experience there and when you're starting with that base level then you're in with a very very good shot in any game because the way Neve Connell play the game and they're not going to kick 25 scores so you're always going to be in with a shot and then on a bad day a wet day bounce of a ball referee and decision ball slips into the net and if you look at the Clacar game Clacar were in control early on in the game Neve Connell dominated probably the third quarter into the fourth quarter and still only for a referee a decision the game would have gone to a draw so anything can happen on a day between the top four or five sides so units are definitely in with a shot I don't make them as rank outsiders as everybody else does because I think they have a lot of quality they have a lot of talent a lot of those young follows are used to winning championships county finals and you know maybe different in our day where you know young guys might have been overwhelmed most young lads now are walking around and you know there's a level of confidence in arrogance that maybe wasn't around maybe 20-25 years ago so I don't think it's going to phase in that much Okay, I take it you are going to back your own club anyway in the final this weekend John but what would it mean to the club and to everybody involved up in the Glent days in the Fintown area that is in your centenary year that just were to make history one and three in a row become the first side ever to won two senior titles in the first year you've got the league in there as well what would that mean to the club and to the people of the area I would be huge because you know the GA club as is a lot of small communities is the lifeblood of the parish is such and it's taken on a life of its own within the New Connell parish everybody's involved and we've been blessed with a great bunch of lads who have been fantastic ambassadors they never put a foot on a line they're dedicated they're everything that you would want you know your young boys and girls to aspire to be because when they commit to stop the 100% commit so from a town perspective and from a parish perspective and the good thing about this team is that there's players from all over the parish there's from all the corners of the parish are represented in this team it's not just the Glent days town itself so it would be huge for them as a club centenary year closing it out three in a row league in the bag two challenges in one year it's fairytale stuff but therein lies the concern in the sense that if we get carried away too much with it the fairytale could turn very very badly against you and you end up losing and that not that it tarnishes the whole season because it's been an incredible season so far for this bunch of lads but I think as a lot of those overlads come towards you know their their twilight years from a football perspective because a lot of them have been around for a long time like that four or five lads from that lads from that 205 contingent are still playing and they're not going to be playing for another five six years so they know that so I think it'd be great for them to to wrap it all up with a big bow and lockdown three in a row yeah okay we're going now to Brendan kill coin Brendan just finally then from you how do you see this one going at the weekend yeah we'll listen and we've spoken we think it's going to be a tight close fought encounter it will be and the most amazing three in a row from Dave Connell if they can pull it off because they've beaten key door kill Carr and the Vunans in the final on Sunday and they beat the same three or they would beat in the same two teams in the consecutive order in the quarter final in the semi-final and the St. Junans now in the final so it would be the most amazing three in a row probably in the history of Dunnegoggi if they do it because they're the top four teams that we've talked about for the last four or five years do I think unions have a chance of course they have a great chance going in they've been very close to them in the past they know they can compete at this level with them but the big question is can they can they push this one over the line I think they can and my heart is telling me they can but my head says Dave Connell just might have too much for them on this occasion in what is predominantly a young St. Junans team okay and the last word to Martin McHugh we've got the neutral in the studio Martin you of course would love to be there with Kilkear but it's not the case this time around tell us how you see this one going just think the two lads summed it up very very well I think that we look at unions you know they've been very competitive against against New Connell this last couple of years so their style of football they have no fear of New Connell and you know sometimes teams struggle with different styles of football so definitely the union style of football so it's been unlucky in other games like you said the game in the park they could have beaten Kilkear they were very impressed with the first half and everything else out in O'Donnell Park from their point of view and other years you know they've been there about so you know we've been you know looking back at games so what do we expect from St. Junans just depends it's on the day exactly we know exactly how New Connell are going to play and how they're going to do it and we look at them and the way they can do it and the way they'll grind out results and they'll get there at the end of the thing so look at it I still I say it's going to be very very enjoyable game it's going to be cagey a lot of it's going to be cagey there'll be a lot of teams having possession of the ball in me but I think New Connell just have got that but too much and they've got different styles of football that makes it very very hard for a manager to compete against that you know they've got the defensive style in place they're quick breaking out of defense and then they can put the high ball and on top of the full-back they can test them when they need to do it it's very hard to compete against all that there so I'm going for a close match but a New Connell victim New Connell Brendan just to clarify you're going with well as I says my horse is in Junans but my head says New Connell I just think the experience at this level and the last one John Gilday take it you're going with New Connell well given maybe if it knocked the favoritism on the head I'm nearly tempted to tip St. John's just to break up but not to jinx it too much but you know I like Martin expecting a tight game and be very hopeful and that New Connell will one out in the end and please God that's the way it'll work out okay listen John good to see you as always and we'll be talking to you again of course later in the weekend as well thanks for joining us on the score tonight John talk soon thanks everybody see you again that's John Gilday who is talking to us live from the parish off New Connell and also our studio yes you can see as well on our on our stream on our socials Martin McHugh and Brendan Kilcoine that we thank you for coming in and joining us tonight as well thanks Oshie thanks Oshie okay we're going to take a quick commercial break when we come back we'll be hearing from the respective managers Martin Regan and Rory Kavna Sport on Highland brought to you by MyCommerceSports.ai with free next day delivery for 85-year-old quality and service all over Ireland of the government of Ireland are you troubled with painful varicose veins? restore your confidence with vein treatment at Kingsbridge Private Hospital at our Kenny our vascular consultants offer assessment advice and options on the latest treatments available so why wait say goodbye to varicose veins and hello to healthy legs with appointments available why not book your consultation today visit kingsbridgeprivatehospital.ie to find out more because life matters Christmas has come early exclusively here at iMotor's Drunkine and Malin why not treat yourself to a new Kia or Nissan and avail of the fantastic finance offers available on all 221 vehicles order today and drive away in style in the new year all new orders will be entered into a draw where one lucky winner will win 2,000 euros in cash calling today to iMotor's Drunkine or Malin I'll call 0749134567 tease and seas apply Hi, Raymond Sweeney here from Ben Swinionics for heading off to college a good Chromebook or laptop is essential and we've got a great selection available in store including the HP 14-inch touchscreen Chromebook with a 360-degree flip screen for only 419 euros or the HP 15.6-inch pavilion touchscreen laptop with one year of Microsoft Office free for only 479 euros see these and other great offers at Ben Swinionics in Nutter Kenny and in Lowe Homeland Fuel offers keeping you warm for less 40kg premium doubles or easy flame coal 16.99 buy 10 get one free hardwood logs two bags for only 10 euro flow gas 25 pound gas cylinder only 25 euro 99 shop in store or online at homeland.ie and you're welcome back to the program it is of course a score special tonight many thanks to the guys for joining us in the studio still to come we've got Michael McMullen who's going to join us as well to look ahead to the dairy the senior final plus coming up around about eight o'clock just after it we'll be focusing in on the Donegal Intermediate final and then Gavin Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin we'll be talking football in the northwest on the soccer front with fun harps against a dairy city tomorrow night that fun harps dairy game tomorrow night by the way is live on Highland as from the eight o'clock kick-off we're going to have Jermot Doherty and Declan Boyle on commentary tomorrow night and we will of course have the county final live on Sunday as well seeing unions against Steve Connell it starts at a quarter past three at McCool Park in Bally Bafay a full live match commentary here on Sunday afternoon and in addition to our coverage on Sunday as well as you know Brendan Daveney has the DL debate podcast each and every Monday we're going to bring it forward today and we're going to broadcast his podcast live from McCool Park in Bally Bafay on county final day just after five o'clock so when the game is finished up with Brendan he'll be doing his podcast live the likes of John Gilday and indeed Gary McDade will be joining him on the program as well on Sunday so a lot of live action for you here on Highland on Sunday let's hear now from the managers of the respective camps coming up shortly at Rory Kevna but first of all we are going to hear from Martin Regan the Neve Connell manager as we know Neve Connell are on the brink of making a huge stamp on history in Donegal Gaelic football one one away from taking three senior titles in a row to do that they're going to have to dispose of St Unans the letter Kenny opponents were the last team to take three crowns in a row on the bounce in the late Notties while only three other clubs have achieved the fate previously St Joseph's in the 70s McCool's in the 60s and Gideon of twice in the 50s and the 40s it has been a remarkable period for Neve Connell who are in a fifth consecutive final and a raging hot favourites to one again manager Martin Regan said it would be a major achievement for the club to one it again in a centenary year he's been talking to Tom Comac Martin what fifth final in a row is it fifth ah fifth in a row I think right we lost two in a row in the last two so I'm going to go forward with this one how to see if it goes and I suppose this one is special giving us three in a row yeah definitely it's a huge thing I suppose in our centenary year as well it's a big thing as well for the club and all the past members of the club and past people that will help me out in the past it's a big occasion for the club this year so it's brilliant to be in the final yeah you come back really well after all the thumb and all that went on last year you know I thought you really just came out and and did what had to be done in the league won the league you know you know in a final again yeah I suppose the thing about the league it was you kind of forget about it now it was the championship was taken over but the league was important for us this year and both all the boys knew with the 2020 final so close to the league finish and they were all playing for places so they kept competition for places I'm really really high for the leagues that stood us in good stead and when the league was nice and going meeting the league as well it was it was a great thing for all the boys that were involved in it and I suppose the county boys going back and then we left them in the championship yeah and sometimes you can be given out but the county boys away but the fact that there'll be leave the door open for somebody else and over the last couple of years you've got the chance to blow on other players well that's that look at your your panel is stronger for it when you're missing them players and what can be difficult to line out without them but when you're players ready and able to step in and mad for game time and deserve game time too because they've trained off hard all year that's great and and then boys come back then they left at another level yeah and you find you're fair sure of injuries as well I have a few injuries now we're close to full strength now obviously Owen was long term he'd done the crucial and it's just that's horrible for him now you know he broke his heart come up to the car again the 2020 kind of time when he found it really really tough and I know he's find this difficult as well every championship games he's itching to get going and he'd be lovely out there playing so it's difficult for him if I feel so sorry for him obviously he wasn't the 25 and was tough and another championship then just so soon around the corner at this time couldn't have been worse for him but look at he's still down helping us out of whatever he can and he's there he's still a young man so yeah he's spent time helping us yeah so and obviously you know you've gone on well without him you know a lot of people said it was a body blow but you know a seamless transmission I think you moved all and all and the artists since draft forward nah Warren's giving us plenty of energy now up in the forward line but look at this there's no dispute no one's a huge loss only getting the massive loss no matter even though we're playing well without him you'd still rather have a pair of his quality and any given day so he's a massive loss and it's not that we're managing without him he is a big loss but we'll be better without him but look at we're we're soldiering on way there's nothing you can do good injuries yeah you have no choice but to battle on yeah I know you don't like talking about individual players but I was speaking to a man last week and he says every time I go to a game I come away with a different idea which of them darts these are the best they're fantastic yeah either by yet on and training like it's just it's thinking into panel for ever six seven years ago they've they've been unbelievable and their energy they show a training and they're shaped with all three of them have got themselves into they're they're they're actually credit themselves and they leave everything on the field and they're massive for us all three of them they're they're really bad and obviously that that's what keeps the likes to Leo going and Marty Boyle the age is Marty Boyle at this stage and I think he's probably older than yourself and he's still going strong I've made him a couple months in him now but not much now there's not much between us and here Anthony Thompson ah yeah look at their their great service to the club and they owe the club absolutely nothing they've been around a long time and I suppose they're there since 2005 there's five or six of them that have been there since 2005 and look at they keep things going and then young young boys come around and bring in the energy to the whole thing it's it's just a good relationship there between everyone yeah looking ahead to St Junans a lot has been made obviously of the rivalry and the games between you and Kulkar and you the best teams but over the last couple years when we look back probably St Junans are the are the one that have given you the greatest rights oh absolutely it's the last two years like we're blessing both semi-finals in 2019 and 2020 to get over the line I think last year was extra time and even at that stage we were three down with that long left and we looked beaten and we got that that goal that that goal I suppose that yeah everyone's still talking about but look at we we got the break that time and we managed to get over the line but this last two games and league games and even champions prior to that there's never been anything between us and you and we've we've managed them out the right side of it this last couple years but only by the smallest margins and it'll be the fine margins and that bit of love that's going to decide of this something does that be concerned for you because you know the old adage in getting football every time you lose to someone and you're giving them our own for a jerk and you're getting away and against them or getting maybe a break or ah look at it we've said it for years that we came out the wrong way and we lost two finals in 17 and 18 and we knew we weren't far away alright we were well beaten in both games so we knew we weren't far away and with a bit of luck things might turn and things didn't turn for us and look at us we'll only take a bit of luck for things turned against us too and we'll only take a word and absolutely nothing for granted and the success we've had in these last two years that'll mean absolutely nothing and it's going to come down to very fine margins again on Sunday no matter what yeah and as we said looking ahead at the game in general you're going to go in as favorites you know because everybody's seen you as favorites and the way you've been playing because you've come in with a bit of a swagger you've a big win over Widor a big win over Kilkar ah yeah look at favourites tags don't they mean nothing to us and it was an old cliche that's being waited but we genuinely don't and we've gone into games those are times underdogs as well and it never bothered us too much we always knew in any given day we were good enough to beat anyone but likewise in any given day if we don't perform prior abilities that's where they're for the taken and Unions will know that too but just in the last couple of years we've played them this may not be one of our favourites underdogs in our eyes that genuinely doesn't mean a thing what is it about the Unions that maybe I'm not sure if you're losing sleep over but worries you a bit or maybe a bit of concern to you ah look at Unions they're a great team they have a great young squad there and they're hungry and they're energetic and they'll do whatever they have to get over the line they're there's some quality players of course there's some quality players throughout we know that and we know about the county players but they're players that aren't on county squads or seers threats too like oh maybe he didn't see setting a word about the last couple of years he's as good a forwarder as there is there in the county and that's the county forwarder clear it as well he's a brilliant player and throughout you know parking getting and all these boys Connor Donnell two Connor Donnells there's great players and there's no weak links in the Unions team at all and defensively they're really really strong we look at all their defenders they've all played county at some level it's the last number of years and they're all county standard players and how can we know we're in for a huge huge battle to to get any bit of success in Sunday any time of the last five or six years or maybe even longer pinch yourself and I don't think really this is all happening because it's been a great role for Glenties ah it has look we've we've managed one of you champions along the way right but there's you know we've had a lot of disappointment down them few years as well we lost two county finals so we felt we kind of left maybe we could have performed better on both days and there has been some good days but there's been very disappointing days too but even those disappointing days you know the years that we put in even years we lost finals and lost semi finals we were enjoyable years and it's the enjoyment to get out of all the time down there with boys who have experience with us yeah and they are really cohesive the units and they are a unit together aren't they they're in this together ah they are and that's where we're said even years we've lost things there's never a blame game with anybody it's we are all in it together and we enjoy being there together and we enjoy our time down in the train of field together when we head away together they're they really are that one big family to there so what is it one big push over the weekend yeah that's it look at we another week ahead of us and hopefully we don't pick up any injuries it was they might have been the Tuesday or Wednesday before the 2020 final we lost when we get again to the Crusades so hopefully we get through this week with no injuries and we are at full strength there you go that's Martin Regan hoping to be at that full strength for the county final this coming weekend against St. Unions you're tuned to a score special here on Highland on this Thursday night as we focus in on the Donegal senior championship county finals just one more piece from the seniors decided to play and that's from the letter Kinney Camps St. Unions of course will reignite their county final rival rate with the Glentys Fintown Boys as the old rivals clash for the Dr McGuire this coming weekend the sides have met to end four deciders and it's split two ones each ahead of their fifth meeting as we know St. Unions were favourites in most of those but this week they go in as underdogs St. Unions manager Rory Cabinus says it's a great occasion for the Unger players and his group to experience and knows well that anything can happen on final day so Rory looking forward to the final this coming weekend St. Unions tag with the underdogs it hasn't happened too often in the past but as you know anything it can happen on final day yeah absolutely I've seen that I mean we're just all looking forward to the final now there's been a good buzz about the town in the last week or so and you've seen flags and but I'm going up and you know just adds that sense of occasion but yeah look the underdogs tag is probably irrelevant and nearly everybody now you know it's about producing the goods in the day and I suppose it does show the level of consistency that Glentys have been at them the last four or five seasons and the fact that they're chasing three in their own and I suppose the fact that they've really come through a really hard side of the draw and quarter final games and against Ghidor and semi-finals against Kilkar and they've maintained that really good level of consistency so look we know we're going to go into it as underdogs and we're going to be up against it but look we're a young side and hopefully we can bring a bit of that energy and you know there hasn't been much between us in the last couple of seasons that you know in the last couple of years there's going to be a kick out of all so look we're looking forward to it and that's the main thing that we're in the final and does it ease the pressure then on you that everybody's talking about leave Connell on this this three in her own and Jens are coming on onto the radar is there much pressure this week is there we've been enjoying the build up and that's what I've been emphasizing to the boys like a lot of them are going to experience County Final Day for the first time and it's about enjoying the build up enjoying each other's company and you know we'll prepare suppose like we do for every game you know we'll have our training sessions and our analysis work done and you know it's about treating it as any other game really so look I think by the mood in the camp they're all really looking forward to it and can't wait to get going now and Sunday how do you treat a County Final like any other game or by preparing the same way as you do for every other game so that's what we've been doing and that won't change no matter if it's a County Final or any other game so look we know that what is in front of us in Glentys is a very very consistent team a team that has a game plan now that's been embedded over the last four or five seasons with the same manager same group of players you know an experienced cohort of players that you know are bringing the next generation along free with them so they're very very comfortable in possession of the ball and they're very very comfortable in producing big moments and they've some players that you know that have produced big big moments in the last number of years so it's up to us to try and come up with the goods to counteract that but look we have a few boys ourselves that have experienced the big day and you know that have been good this week that have been good among the the younger guys in particular and talking to them and coaching them along during the game so aye it's it's great it's going to be a good occasion for everybody yeah our Senyuna is a better team this year because you have gone one further than one position for them in the last couple of years you've made the final he's a better group this time round I think we'll be a better group having experienced something you know there's definitely going to be that you know and no matter how many times you play to experience the big day is a different thing so for them players that haven't experienced it that'll be a brilliant learning for them to experience the whole build up and the occasion and you know but the reality is they've they have jobs to do at the end of the day and that's why I'm saying it is like any other game you have your jobs to do and there's there's certain things that we need to tick off and hopefully we've been ticked off now in the last couple of weeks preparing for the game How do you try and go about eliminating the nearest factor because it is a huge occasion or I think by just treating it as any other game machine you know as I said before you know there's there's going to be that nervous energy that's within the group and I remember myself and my first final I think it was 2000 against our draft yeah as a young player you just can't wait to get the game played you know and it's a matter you know of trying to harness that that nervous energy and embracing it in the right way and you know I think that you know the hurlers even last week have have shown what can be done if you have the proper belief and I think there is good belief within our squad yeah what's it like as a manager for the first time around yeah listen that's been a learning experience too as you know there's been there's been ups and downs and bumps along the way and you know we haven't been at our fluid best as opposed in every game there's been kind of peaks and troughs and most of the games that we played but the important thing is we've we've been taking the learnings from each game and and you know to get over the line in the semi-final was a big a big deal to this group because you know a lot of people were saying St. Michael's and you know saying is that as the easy side did the job but we didn't view it like that because there was a lot of experience in that St. Michael's team and a lot of players that had been around the block a long long time so the game was played in atrocious conditions I suppose and we we were we were just delighted to get over the line now and get to get experience the county final yeah just fine I think your best performance so far in the championship without doubt was that first half performance against Kilkear on the opening day Lester would you have to exceed that performance do you just have to go on all the level higher than what you just did the first half and that they they don't back if you're sure to be in with a shout at Holland's all day without a doubt I mean you know that was a home game and we knew that game wasn't going to define us one way or another you know it was the first game of of four and I suppose we we did we produced a very good performance in the first half but there's a lot of stuff that we needed to work on in the in the second half and we went away and we had a good chat among the group and as long as the group were honest with each other and moving forward and to assess where we went wrong and that was the most important part and just you know we were grinding out the victories ever since and but we know that it's going to take a massive ask and on Sunday to to stop a team that's going for three in a row and you know that has been playing with such consistency over the last four or five seasons okay let's write best luck on the final at the weekend thanks Arsene there you go that's Rory Kavna the St Yunans manager speaking to us earlier this week at the the press gallery ahead of this weekend of final and once again St Yunans against Dave Connell live here in Highland full match commentary as from the three 15th row and we're going to come back to Donegal GA shortly and look at the the intermediate final we'll be hearing from the respective men in charge of Klang Neely and Donegal shortly but whoever wins on Sunday in the senior final in Donegal is going to play the winners of the Derry Senior Championship in the opening round of the Ulster Club Championship in round about two weeks time the Derry Senior Decider is on Sunday as well two o'clock at Celtic Park is the throw in time and it's locked nearly against Glenn joining us now to look at this fixture is Michael McMullen of course who has joined us on the score a regular contributor to the program GA writer with with the Gaelic Life and I suppose these two sides Michael this is the final that everybody wanted to see in Derry would that be a fair enough assessment going into exactly Austin before a ball was kicked in any shape or form this year that's all people wanted to see and the whole consensus was that if they didn't draw each other they would end up on the final so here we are and it's going to be a cracker everybody will be looking for it and they won't be disappointed and to be fair the championship really needs it because it's been a disappointing one so far so hopefully it'll end with a real flourish yeah who's better position get into the final Slock Neil needed extra time to go over Lavie in a real tight game they've had a couple of big battles this year already with the Lavie boys they got through it listen Luke didn't in any way trouble Glenn whatsoever in their semi-final so who's better position head into Celtic Park and into the match do you feel Michael I definitely think Glen are better placed they're the form team so far a lot of people say they haven't been tested but to be fair they have been ruthless in every game that they've played the scary point of view for everybody else and Slock Neil on Sunday is that they scored 3-19 against Luke but they created seven gold chances in all they've really strong running game and you know they're really looking dangerous and Slock Neil as you mentioned with the extra time they did finish strong but you know extra time the Hurlin championship had all adds up and Paul Bradley has picked up a few injuries in Brian Chiasa and Conda Guadari you know and Passy Bradley looked at something picked up a knock as well so definitely Glen well placed at this stage but a final is completely different as everybody knows yeah and I suppose given the fact that Slock Neil have played in so many in recent years that possibly might give them give them an edge come final day definitely an experience side you know they've lost a good few finals to Ballon Derry and then you know there's that recent run of success and it definitely does help um you know the the players don't get caught up and the whole you know putting up flags all the all the Rasmund has the taxes to a final it's just an all their final but interesting I spoke to Connor last during the week and he said the same that the matter felt defeat a couple of years ago means Glen are going in you know they've had that experience as well but as you said Slock Neil definitely more experienced going into it yeah but in relation to Glen as well there's a lot of expectation of Glen given all the success that they had at under eight and at minor level and um a lot would have felt that maybe they would have hit the top of the tree the top of the standings before now there definitely has been a lot of expectation and for a few years there people thought that it was gone from them you know a couple years ago there was a sort of talk around Glen that they needed a new kickout system to improve their team they actually converted an outfield player into a goalkeeper and in Conlon Bradley and his kickouts have been excellent all year for example against Blahie in the first round I don't think they lost one that has been consistent the other thing is they've obviously got Maliki Rook and this manager and everybody knows Maliki's reputation and you know and there's knowledge of football and then the third thing obviously Conner Glass is back home um and people outside just see Conner Glass and I think this man is going to catch you four or five kickouts during the game Conner Glass for me has transformed again from the simple reason is that Keir and McFall is now playing at number six everything goes through Keir and McFall but Conner Glass is natural defensive instincts means that if Keir and McFall goes forward Conner sits back and for me that's been the biggest the biggest addition that Conner has brought to them so people say that as you said they should have won it before now but now they're well poised at this stage um you know when you've got so much promise does it matter when you win your first one as long as you do um there definitely will be pressure going into Sunday how Maliki you know manages that with the players you know that'll be probably the biggest key to the lot of it all actually going into Sunday and in relation to Slack Neil how do they go about stopping Keir and McFall stopping Conner Glass if it's if a lot of the stuff has gone through them two particular players obviously there's a lot of other outlets as well like but but what does Slack Neil have to do to stop their threats I would have said a few I would have said a few weeks ago that that you cannot afford to play against Glenn by using a sweeper because if you use a sweeper Conner Carvel who plays at number four for them he's a natural reader of the game so if you play a sweeper against Glenn Conner Carvel automatically goes to number six and then Keir and McFall's free that's what happens to Water when they met so I don't think Slack Neil can afford to play anything else other than man on man which they tend to play better when they do that but the worry for me Austin would be is that if Conner Glass Emmett Bradley Keir and McFall and the two Doherty Brothers all click on the one day it'll be really really difficult to stop you know for example Ethan Doherty has scored one eight in the Chamba tip so far and he plays at left half back Keir and McFall score seven points from center half back so as much as they've got a lot of youth and a lot of mobility their main game is the running game so if Slack Neil don't play a sweeper they have to be able to occupy Glenn's defense and that's where the worry is that for example Shane Wigan the scored three thirty one Christopher Bradley scored 21 points the next score Slack Neil have is Miho McGrath had two goals in the point so Slack Neil sure relied on Wigan and Bradley and if Glenn could stop them you know Slack Neil are in trouble and when I mentioned to you a wee while ago that you know Glenn had created seven goal chances you know Slack Neil considered eight goals and six matches so it means that Slack Neil's going to need their biggest performance of the year because they haven't played well this year they're in the final they've had a couple of decent performances but they haven't played well but final is a completely different thing on how a team shows up you know and no better team to perform on a final than Slack Neil so definitely on the day you know that's what the factor is going to be but Paul Bradley and Gavin Devlin who are in charge of Slack Neil two very intelligent football men and I'm sure that they've been sitting down this week and putting a lot of thought into what way they go about it but I don't think they're going to afford to play a sweeper but I'll be interested to see what they do okay put your head in the block then who's going to want it and who's going to be the man on the match Michael difficult thing when you have a brother playing among the teams and all the rest my head says Glenn and everything points to Glenn the stats point to Glenn but that doesn't always win you a championship my heart says Slack Neil and hopefully improved wrong and Slack Neil do overturn them but I think I'm going for Glenn am I going to get you in trouble with that Emma probably but sure that's what it's all about there's people something to argue about but I think it's very hard to argue against them but as I said it depends how big a performance Slack Neil can put together you know on the biggest day of the year but it'll be it'll be one that I'm looking forward to but as it says to you the champions have been there indeed because I've just been really disappointing up until now just finally and quickly Michael Dairy and Dermidia championship finals on Saturday as well it's a big day for Greenlock and Steadstown yeah they both met in the final last year Greenlock are going for their third title since 2015 and Steadstown have never won a championship of any description and they've lost three finals since 2010 so and both of them have shot the lights out they've been miles ahead of everybody else and you know I think Castle Dawson in Steadstown and the quarterfinals really good game Steadstown an exciting mobile team the big factor actually is the game has been held in Balian McGuigan there's a 50th anniversary of the cup which Balian McGuigan donated so Balian McGuigan is a tighter pitch than Owen Begg and Greenlock versus Steadstown and Owen Begg is completely different than Greenlock and Steadstown in Balian McGuigan and it'll be a huge advantage to Greenlock I think and in last year's final Steadstown played really well up until half time they went 24 minutes without a score and they brung on a fellow Stephen Cleary a fellow county an x20 manor and they didn't kick one ball to him in the whole of the second half this year they have Morgan Murray a newcomer to the team scored five goals and jammed it so far and Donica Gilmore a player I have a lot of faith in they played in the dirty manor team so that's two big players that have come in but you know you look at the Greenlock team you're looking at Andalyn, Niall Auckland Ryan Toehl, Brian McIllian really really strong spine to their team tight game a tip Steadstown to one of last year and they didn't going towards Greenlock this time and I think the venue will probably help them that wee bit because it will shut Steadstown down that wee bit more but well sorry I'll tell the story but Greenlock possibly yeah we'll wait and see Michael's always good to see and good to talk to you as well and enjoy the football at the weekend thanks Sashi there you go that's Michael McMullen off Gaelic Life GA writer of course looking at the Derry senior an intermediate championship we're going for a commercial break when we return still to come on the show the Donegal Intermediate Final plus Funharps versus Derry City Highland Sport is brought to you by Michael Murphy sports and leisure letter Kenny get the Donegal GA supporters gift box now at makermurphysports.ai At Caller we've always looked at the future leading the way with our renewable gas Bio LPG ideal for off-grid homes and businesses it cuts emissions by up to 90 percent so if like Mary and Mick Gorman and Abby Leeks you're looking for a cleaner more efficient way to cook and heat your home our renewable gas is the right solution for you and one that protects the planet too Bio LPG Renewable gas from Caller find out more at CallerGas.ai buy a ticket in Highland Radio's mega draw to win a car to win a car get your ticket by November 30th and automatically enter an extra draw before the big draw big draw one lucky winner will walk away with 2,000 euro imagine that's Christmas all 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Lowery Financial Services are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for the Gormans switching to Caller's Renewable Gas Bio-LBG has made the whole house warmer and it protects the environment too see what it could do for you at CallerGas.ie Highland Sports is brought to you by Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure Letter Can I where the Christmas Club is now open shop online 24-7 at MichaelMurphySports.ie and you're welcome back to this specially extended score program tonight we are of course looking forward to what is a very very busy weekend if you missed any of the show you will be able to watch back or indeed listen back to the program later on as a podcast if you're just dipping in now why not head over to the social channels on Facebook and on YouTube and you can watch tonight's program live as well we're continuing with Gilead Games as we look ahead to the Donegal Intermediate Football Final which will be contested between Dunlop and Clohanele that's on Saturday at the Adonal Park in Letter Can I there is of course a huge prize on offer with senior football guaranteed for the winners coming up we'll be hearing from Desi Gallagher the manager of Dunlop he has guided them back to the brink of returning to the senior ranks having been relegated last year but first up Clohanele are hoping it's third time lucky the men from Fulcara have lost the last two finals to Sitnauels and Erua manager Michael Lynch has been telling Tom Komak he hopes this time they can get that elusive one well Michael looking forward for another intermediate final your own hands at this stage ah well we've been in a few now right Tom I would ah look every day you get to the finals a good day so I look forward to it yeah obviously third in a row isn't it third in a row now aye so I suppose signed to be getting out of there I suppose but not all of something to say about that yeah yeah good good campaign you've you know obviously bounced back from that first day defeat to Neve Colomba in in Centinvilliers Park ah that was that that was a that was a bit of a blotus or eta you know but ah maybe it's one of them things who could take the pressure off we but then you know if you're you have to perform like and in fairness with good boys come back and they're out on that one with me we've maybe getting better and better every game sensely and you had Justin McGee back obviously Justin missed that first game well just as I said game and then he must have fallen game I and he's been back since aye so aye uh no look it's just great to have me you know everybody everybody would like to have Jason on their team and tell me uh looking at the game since you went to fan it obviously and then you went to Bunkrana and you got good results against good teams yeah ah I know that was it I don't know if I said we're off against it down in Fanad you know and there were three or four points ahead of us at half time and we came back and really played some good stuff in the second half and then we're a bit bought comfortable enough and then Bunkrana wasn't much in it down in Bunkrana and I suppose that was good to glad to get out and I can get into the quarterfinals aye yeah yeah and you know did the business with against Manon you know kind of you know what to expect from them and I suppose they're a team in transition but you know ah it came through no that was I got through it probably wasn't the best game I've ever played but now we're glad we're glad we got out of it you know and I suppose uh no I set it up then we're Bunkrana then yeah no so what's what's the mood now ah look it's getting ready for the game just then hope nobody gets injured for you now and then keep taking over and keep getting ready for the largest you know yeah and how are you and then you're refueling like Aaron McEver went off injured was it against Manon Dan went off against Manon but he played against Bunkrana and he felt it a wee bit near the end again but no look we're starting to manage it best weekend you know and uh thumb and John Fats too and we're starting what's the story with John ah he's starting his best anyway you know when he got the fuzzier one we're working hard but well there's just maybe a wee bit too soon for him you know but yeah the soft pitch is on so truly probably someone going back well that's it I will look at it it was six week injury they talked about maybe six and that's five weeks ago so I said most times you know so but ah look John and I look at Kevin the old Kevin Kevin's gone Kevin's gone I so so and then Sean Corden was well I was Sean Corden too early on the year against St. Michael's actually and he never really got back right since you know so he's he's back there and again so but he's an option for us you know yeah did well enough in did well enough in the division more as well surely that's that's to understand you ah well you think that I but you know we won the games I suppose we had to one now in division one but ah it's good comparatively but division two's you know very competitive as well like you know and I'm sure I'm sure to know I've been well tested as well like yeah and tell me in terms of preparation how's it going now since the quarterfinals you've had two weeks ah well that's it yeah that's it I look we're just sort of because they were going we're tapping along just you know and trying to avoid any injuries and trying to get all cleared up and working on a couple of things just but look it's now you're into November now it's dark evenings and bad weather it's hard to it's hard just to to be working on everything and you for as a way college and things like that as well and also a lot of clubs it can be a problem with for them ah I were a few boys away as well but okay I suppose with the weekend break like we got out in Saturday there you know and we had a good session you know so because every club's the same it's not us not you know did you get a seat on low much at all no not really no it was we were on nearly the same time as them and ah I just sitting obviously I was in the streams the videos you know that's that's about it like you know yeah and I got a little rivalry there a healthy rivalry you need you know ah well that's that I don't know I suppose maybe it's a couple of years now since we played on low I suppose I think maybe in the last couple of years that you didn't meet I think you had the upper hand ah I think maybe in 2018 we we beat them well I think maybe in the first game and then they beat us in the last game of the league and we were we stayed that was our first year back in the vision when we stayed up and they they actually went down that year I think you know so it was have a last two in a row there must be tremendous appetite of tremendous hunger in the squad ah there is I but you know as I said well that'll not that'll not get you over over the line like you know you have to you have to go out and play as well you know and to know I'm sure they'll be hungry to get back up there at season senior team you know and I'm sure it was a big a big loss to them to have to come down to play in the medias you know after being senior for so long like so I'm sure they'll want to be upset away so I think it'll it'll hardly come down to that either you know so Desi looking forward to the intermediate final this weekend I'm sure there's a fantastic atmosphere around the club now just days out from the big decider ah yeah it's great it's great for us to be in it high and look at there's a there's a buzz in the town like this is this weekend will be five county finals in the last three weeks it's it's on Herdyn and all like we you know to get one at any age or any stage would be great but to get five like with ladies Harlan on their age and and now two senior teams and it's great yeah it's going to be a fantastic day with two teams there and the A and the B final and but from your point of view you've got the the A game to look after it's been a very good season for you has it gone has it gone as it's planned or has it's gone better than you thought it would at the start of the campaign does it well probably now you're in the final that's probably gonna a bit better than what you thought like we we looked at getting at a quarter final that we we aimed at the nine league games to get settled and get get into it you know and see and then our aim was to get out of our group and get into a quarter final because we never knew what intermediate championship was about so we had to we had to aim for that and in fairness when it came to championship the boys really really focused and that went at every game it didn't matter who we were playing they went at it as if it was an all Ireland final to them that's the way they looked at it and that's what they brought to it and you know and people said we we got an easier draw and no game in championships easy no matter what you do we just had to go out and play them you know and were you fearful of maybe that you might fall into this so-called trap of being stuck in intermediate football because there is a fear of that your opposition Clohon Elliott the weekend this is their third year in a row and trying to get out of it but was that maybe in the back of the mind in any stage data well we never really brought that because we were we were new coming into the management we hadn't been there probably some of these boys haven't been managed by us at senior we had I had a lot of these that on their age in schools football you know and we were new as a management team coming into it so we didn't really focus on that we just focused on getting things right and trying to get the boys confident that they were able to go and play football and enjoy the football that was a big thing because they weren't enjoying it before this you know yeah have they got better as the rounds went on? probably when you start when you started 519 it's hard to get better than what that was you know like the in the first quarter that day like we had three seven scored it was it was unbelievable stuff I thought what are we going to do to stop them but look at as it went on it got tougher teams seeing that we were doing that to set up more defensive it was harder going you know so look at it's probably the last day against Glenn was was the big was a big test for our boys because Glenn are established that you know their physical team they have the likes of Aaron Daugherty and Landy Maloy and then boys there that are probably more household names than what we have you know and look at the stand up to that and get out to the other side but it was great it just shows you as well if you don't have I suppose marquee players if you want to call it's all about the cohesion and the group together and it's certainly gelled well for you guys ah look the groups brilliant the boys themselves are great to even even down into the reserve team that are all all the older lads now playing that have played for years they're in the reserve team like the group at the stage is brilliant that buzzes their atmosphere it's all good and hopefully look at we can keep it that way you know what about the opposition and what you're taking Klochan Eli for the weekend ah Klochan Eli look at how look at this it's just well publicised that the the three in a row you know for them that they don't want that you know it's not three in a row that you want it's three that you don't want and then fairness to Michael Michael's probably seen more down low maybe than he's seen in down early because I'm in Francie Freedler are we're in down low there's last three or four years all the time every time they had got a minute they were over watching and down low you know so um look at we don't know that much about them really because we're playing in division two um but we've seen them playing here last week and in fairness they were very good because Bunkrana Bunkrana were a good team but they they really were a seasoned senior team if you want to say that the way they played the game you know so you can tell they're playing in division one they're playing that level higher so hopefully look at we can compete with them and maybe get them on the home straight we don't know yet we'll see how that goes that's fine and do you feel any pressure around this day does the group feel any pressure I don't know if they feel pressure or not I look at I don't feel any pressure now because we're just we've taken a game by game and look at it's all new for us we're just happy to be there and you know we're just delighted to be to be in a final you know anyway a senior final for us is brilliant you know it would be some night and Saturday night if they and the B and the media title was to to make its way back down the road ah it'd be a great night and oh jesus it'd be a brilliant night we had some good nights over the years but this would be just this would be just top of the three you know yeah well listen best of luck in the final desert okay thank you Ashene does the Galaher manager of Dunlop before that Michael Lynch manager of Klahanili both those clubs contesting both finals on Saturday at the Adonnal Park the intermediate a and the intermediate B the B starts at one o'clock the A's at three and we'll have full life match commentary from Klahanili against Dunlop from three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon just a final piece in Gaelic Games a couple of other finals been played across the Northwest this weekend as well and Tron in particular there's the junior Hurley in final between Neve Colum Kill and Omosin and is at Haley Park at one o'clock on Saturday and that's followed by the senior Hurley Championship final as well where Carrick Moore are taking on Dunganon on Rua so uh champions will be crowned on the Hurley in front and Tron as well on Saturday okay that wraps up all the Gaelic Games tonight on the score program we're going to take another commercial break when we come back former fun harps goalkeeper and captain Gavin Cullen is joined by Kevin McLaughlin of the Dairy Journal there's a big derby tomorrow night it's harps against Dairy Highland Sport has brought to you by Make a Murphy Sports and Leisure Letter Kenny get the Donegal J supporters gift box now at Make a Murphy Sports.ai Big plans doesn't mean big repayments with a home improvement loan from any shown credit union whether you're converting the attic changing the kitchen or doing work to the garden talk to us today with rates starting from 6.18 APR no hidden fees or charges and fast loan decisions we have the perfect loan for you apply online at www.innishoncu.ie or call us on 93 61017 membership of Innishon Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in the Innishon Peninsula all loans are subject to approval terms and conditions apply Innishon Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland This is the new Toyota Yaris Cross a new kind of SUV a new point of view new 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City Derby of course chasing European football Harps looking to move out off the bottom two and out away from that relegation playoff place and to join us now on the program is former Finn Harps goalkeeper Gavin Cullen Gavin good to see you you're welcome along the show and also Kevin McLaughlin sports writer soccer writer with the Derby Journal very good evening to you as well Kevin well huge game guys coming up tomorrow night it's a big Derby match listen nights like these you can throw everything out the window who's this result going to be more important for do you think Gavin Cullen obviously Harps looking to avoid the drop obviously obviously Finn Harps trying to stay up is huge for them as a club with Derby City trying to qualify for Europe I'd say it would be an added bonus this season if they actually qualify for Europe but it's maybe not a necessity but it would definitely help to to engage and take on new players next season so I would say overall it's probably a bigger three-point for Harps at this stage and obviously against their rivals as well they'll be looking for a big performance they'll be disappointed going into the game off the back of Monday night Gavin there won't be I think they would earmark Monday night as well in games where they were aiming and hoping for three points and it wasn't a great performance disappointing not the score at home so I'd say it was one they left behind going on this say the Starving match it's a big big test now on Friday night yeah and in relation to Derby Kevin they'll be disappointed with how things panned out earlier in the week against Waterford and Tuesday night at two all draw we heard Rory Higgins say after the match that it was a point that that they didn't deserve but they ended up getting something out of it and they'll be looking for improvement tomorrow evening well they will certainly they haven't played we on the last number of weeks to be honestly in the last number of games speaking to Rory today it's like four draws from their last eight games so the form's just sort of waned off but the good hang from Rory's point of view is that frightened spirit has been there all seasons as he's come on and then let goals tune this busy a week obviously drawing last week Roland Boyce in the last couple of minutes against Bohemians and then as you say then Tuesday night down at Waterford so they are given that sort of never say die attitude but performance wise they'll want to play better and they know they'll have to play better if they want to get someone down at Harps yeah Roland Boyce is struggling having picked up a knock on Tuesday night Kevin the remelton man has been in fine form this season one of the young guns of course for for Derby will he make it tomorrow night or is he gone? No he did you know you're shuffling you haven't no Derby games players certainly can make it then too in his defence like he did go off pretty early in the second half at Waterford when Derby were trying to get back in the game and he did limp off but you know yourself these niggles and Derby games you normally get over them I'll expect them to play tomorrow night yeah and what kind of game are you expecting tomorrow night Kevin what do you expect to to happen in the Derby? I was going to be tight I was down myself on Monday night at Ballet Buffet and the pitch was starting to really feel the weller in the last couple of weeks being bad it was very heavy and to be fair to Harps if too many players on their side that they want to play so it won't suit them now but I think it's going to be a tight affair and I think the energy ever scores first has a massive chance of maybe one in the game one now I don't see many goals on the game yeah you'd agree with that Gavin it's going to be another another tight derby then there'll be too many in it will there? Yeah there's no doubt about it that I think over recent years has been very tight between Derby and Harps even this season even though Derby are going for Europe and Harps are trying to stay up there's only seven or eight points between the teams and the league so there's not a hell of a lot I think Derby have had good momentum since Rural came in but Harps and Thun Park and as Kevin alluded to Thun Park at this stage of season gets wet gets boggy you know Derby are used to now playing on the brandy well and ask for stuff I think it might help Harps I think if history repeats itself like this stage of season Harps pull out the results on the pitches you get a bit poorer and I agree they have them at failures and players that like to play but at the same time they have the know-how how to get results and battle performances so it might make a wee difference on Friday night as well Yeah obviously we mentioned Ronan Boyce there who has the injury for Derby and Kevin made the point that players picked themselves up and find this extra element when it comes to Derby day from your point of view what was it like getting involved for Derby because he had many big clashes against Derby so you did Gavin Yeah I think we did one too many to be honest so there are always great occasions and support from both teams where it was always excellent and you get a lot of banter and a lot of build up and there were great occasions to play in and I think Friday night could be massive with the atmosphere could be very good I think that it's sort of right whilst in both teams that are something to play for at this stage of the season so it adds to it in terms of Ronan I hope he plays he's been a real fan for Harps this season moving up from the Eastern League squad last year and he's I think he's set a really high standard for himself and earned himself a long-term contract and hope he plays and let's say as Kevin said if it's only in Oxon Niggles at this stage of the season you've not had to lose but play so I would safely say we'll see him tomorrow night Yeah and it's a case of from a Harps point of view it's gone whole now to the end of the season because they're they're sort of pinned there to that second bottom place at the moment yes Waterford do have an advantage by just a single point but Harps have to look at these final three games down and throw everything at it They need points they're behind Waterford I think the Waterford play Longford on Friday night yeah so if things don't go to plan for Harps they could be looking at four points behind with two games to play with me which means they have to win their last two and Waterford if they lose their last two so it's it's gone for them in terms of in their court so I think they have to go all out and try them on the game but I think a point just maybe might be enough come then the season on Friday night yeah from a Derry point of view obviously they need parts Kevin to win the cup if they're going to finish fourth and get into Europe but they're still in with the shot of taking the third place and if results can go their way and they have a huge impact now in the next couple of games Derry could snatch that third still Well we can but I think just this last week Slaggo won in two games against Trajada and then 90th minute against Longford and Derry only just getting two draws I do honestly think third parts out of the the rates of Derry so fourth is where they're going to have to sort of hold on to because that's the way that's the one that is holding on the fourth place because Ibrahimis just behind them you've Trajada and you've Dundalk still getting a wee bit of momentum who Derry play in the final day down at Dundalk so it's just I think from where I'm hanging this point of view try and cement fourth spot don't give up on third spot because then the day you have to play Slaggo at the final game of the brandy well next Friday night so you can maybe close the gap there but I think to be honest it's fourth spot and then all Derry City fans will be some patch fans come cup final day I would say yeah and Gavin of course harps of several players that they step up to the big occasion now we've got team details today the likes of Shane McElhane Ethan Boyd Barry McNamee Adam Foley and Johnny Dunleavy are all seen as doubts as we know Sean Boyd's already out but like half of those players could end up turning up on the pitch tomorrow night and starting who's going to be key for harps do you feel Gavin? look Tunday will be huge as a key for them in terms of running them behind and stressing the Derry defence Barry McNamee obviously is a big player for harps they've been quite solid all season the keepers in terms of Mark Antony know he's been hot and cold he's been very very good in games he's given away silly goals in games whereas Garcide has been quite consistent and done well for his first season so look if Mark Antony is a really good game harps of really good chance as well so look there's a lot of players that are important to harps defensively they're not bad in midfield it'll be a slog in a battle I think they'll cancel these all right there so a lot of rest on Tunday up front is definitely in Barry McNamee in the hole yeah and in relation to Gary again Kevin we've heard Gavin say that the point mightn't be enough for harps would Rury Higgins be happy enough with a point tomorrow night going heading back into Derry? No, I don't think so I think he knows himself he wants to get back 51 on ways they've been as I said earlier four draws in their last eight games they've been too many draws that they've been doing they want to change these one points on the three points and they know the perfect way would be a victory regardless how the performance is if you beat fun harps as Gavin would know a derby if you get that victory it gives you the confidence get under your final two games and then you just see how Slago do you know in their final three matches but you just want the victory tomorrow night just to get the I can't say the season back going again but just gives you that confidence get under the final two games if you get the victory tomorrow night and that's what they'll be looking for Who do you feel in the Derry camp are going to be the players tomorrow night to drive this on? I think it's going to be you know defensively they've been we've been solid enough Keir calls down well McJanet, Toal and Boyce has been sort of a back four he switches something to a back three Keir and Horton come back and they mudfeed must out their little night against Waterford so he'll be a big player they get stuck in and mudfeed with they sort of would miss if he wasn't there but it's up top but it's sort of the front three of Ag and Toonday Junior and Jimmy McGonigal McGonigal had a wee bit of problem with his teeth there down at Waterford he was on the bench he was an accessor something so he didn't start but I would say he would come on but it's Junior sort of seeing them with a bow particularly against Harps he seems to do well he scored in the game a couple of weeks ago up here in September it finished to each he got the opening goal that night and then he scored off into the Hatbuck a couple of years ago when he won top goal scorer and the final night he scored against had against him so Junior could be the man that could win the game from a very silly point of view The home support's going to be key is it tomorrow night for Ollie Horgan South-Gavin? Well me of course but I think I've derried a lot of fans really I think a lot of fans in tomorrow night they'll make noise as well so like whatever teams on top, whatever teams going well and from Park if you're going well and you get the crowd in your back it's brilliant they're excellent things aren't going well and it tends to get quiet you know so that's the last thing Harps want is the game and the crowd to go quiet and it's obviously what Derrie will want so if Harps can start well starting from foot and get maybe the first goal or create the first few chances it'll be a good night and the crowd will help them massively Okay finally then just Kevin for me your prediction for tomorrow evening? Angle for Scrappy battling one now Derrie sneaking it and Gavin we'll throw it to your corner Well I have to go the absolute do I? I think if anybody's going to win tomorrow night it'll be Harps but my gut feeling is maybe a 1-1 draw Okay well we'll wait to see what develops don't forget that game is live tomorrow night here on Highland Jair Middorty and Declan Boyle the commentary team kickoff at Finn Park is at 8 o'clock Gavin Cullen and Kevin McLaughlin thanks for joining us tonight on the score Thank you Thanks So there you go that's it for another score program tonight we are what bang on 12 minutes away from nine o'clock an extended show this evening to facilitate what is a very very busy weekend hope you enjoyed the program again if you missed any on it you will be able to listen back and watch back that will be available shortly on HighlandJair.com enjoy the rest of your Thursday evening Highland Sport is brought to you by Make a Murphy Sports and Leisure Letter Kenny Get the Donegal J supporters gift box now at MakeaMurphySports.com With my dog and gone through the blooming heather Who seek for past time I took my way