The club championship, eh?
My God.
There are players on the Kilcar squad who’ve never known championship success.
Their captain, Paddy McBrearty – he was only just born the last time the south Donegal outfit conquered the county, but 24 years later, the gap has been bridged.
Pics>> https://t.co/fSsI6KEq6i from Sunday's @officialdonegal senior final between @KilcarGAA & @NaomhConaillGAA. pic.twitter.com/yx162ZSppS
— Evan Logan Photography (@evanlphoto) October 18, 2017
Begrudgers might scoff at the scoreline that won Kilcar their first title since 1993. 0-7 to 0-4 they beat Glenties in the decider and, whilst purists use it as a stick to beat Donegal football with, Kilcar won’t give a shit how they got over the line. They got there and that’s all that really matters.
On the day before Hurricane Ophelia hit the country properly, the gales and the conditions in the north west were as blustery as they generally are. The byproduct of that, ingrained over years and years, is short-passing football. Anyone who’s ever played on the Atlantic coast will appreciate and respect the elements and what’s happened in more recent years is they’ve figured out a way to best maximise their short-passing game. And that means counter-attacking.
When two teams do it, you get stalemates like you had in the championship final. But, today, ask Mark or Ryan or Eoin McHugh if they care how low-scoring their victory was. Ask Paddy or Stephen McBrearty if it sours the achievement.
Look at the homecoming welcome they received walking down the hill and back into town and see if it any of it is any less special.
2017 Kilcar County Champions Homecoming #drmaguire pic.twitter.com/I02SM80iHP
— Eamonn Doherty (@eamonnbilly) October 17, 2017
Colm Cavanagh spoke poignantly about what winning an intermediate title in Tyrone meant to him compared to everything he’s already done. It’s different, winning with your club.
These are the ones who reared you, developed you, housed you and these are your mates with whom you harboured your first dreams.
On Sunday night, the men and women of Kilcar made those dreams a reality and by Jesus you couldn’t help but be envious looking in from the outside at those scenes.
Every player and club person in Ireland would take that in a heartbeat if it meant slogging out an 11-point game to do it.
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