Glenswilly lament 0-3 return as ‘an off day’

Glenswilly’s 0-3 to 0-2 win over St Eunan’s from Letterkenny in the Donegal All-County Football League Division One made headlines for all the wrong reasons — but Glenswilly attacker Brian Farrelly put it down to “an off day”.

St Eunan’s had been averaging 17.75 points a match and were conceding 15.58. In May, for example, they won 4-14 to 6-7 at Bundoran.

Glenswilly — averaging 10.08 for and 13.5 against — were slightly stronger on paper but are in the automatic relegation spots. Two-time All Star Neil Gallagher hasn’t played all year through injury and Michael Murphy has been forced to watch more games than he’s played.

“The funny thing about everyone giving out about our game is that, their giving out about defensive football and it wasn’t one bit defensive,” tweeted Farrelly.

“Just two teams having an off day going forward. Great reading some of the ‘experts’ of the game’s comments though.”

Glenswilly had 15 wides and dropped three balls short. At the other end, St Eunan’s kicked 12 wides, four short and cannoned the upright twice in the first half.

Tyrone, in their 5-18 to 2-17 Ulster semi-final win over Cavan, only had 12 shots more than Glenswilly.

Glenswilly and St Eunan’s — who have won seven out of the last nine Donegal SFC titles — weren’t supposed to meet in the first place, but inter-county commitments saw the pair drawn together.

St Eunan’s train with a collective panel of seniors and reserves and on Sunday were missing 34 players .

“We’re looking to be positive this year,” said manager David McGinley after his first day in charge, which was a 3-14 to 3-14 draw against Gaoth Dobhair in March.

“We don’t want to be a one-trick pony. Too many of our players, that’s their default now. I’m looking to develop them.”