BY GERRY McLAUGHLIN

THERE is a very good reason why Donegal boss Jim McGuinness thinks so highly of the highly promising Ciarán Moore, who starred in St Eunan’s Senior Championship final victory over Dungloe last weekend.

In full flight he has the cruising power of a Mercedes, always has time on the ball and plays with the head up and he hit three points against Dungloe – one of them a fine effort with the left foot.

McGuinness brought him into the county squad this year and the talented 22-year-old repaid his faith in spades.

This is his first county championship medal as three years ago he was on the reserve team.

And he said it was ‘absolutely unbelievable’ to be gaining his first gong as he was mobbed by fans shortly after the final whistle.

“This was our target for the whole year, and nothing was left to chance, and it was wonderful to get over the line.”

It is a measure of how much Moore has come on in three short years.

But he has slalomed into being one of the finest players in the county which he showed in spades against a battling Dungloe side.

“Dungloe gave us a savage battle, just what we expected, and we knew they would fight hard to the bitter end which they really did,” he said.

“This is my first medal, and I am just so happy to have achieved it.”

But ‘Eunan’s had to dig deep especially when they were hit with that late penalty when Dungloe seemed to have the momentum

Instead, it was ‘Eunan’s who stormed upfield and got those vital points that brought them victory.

“Yes, I thought the lads showed great character and we were up against it in the first half.

“We may have got a bit of a break for the goal that came after the rebound, but they got a penalty at the death.

“But we did not panic, and we came up the field and got three points to get us through and that just shows the depth of character that is in this squad.”