DONEGAL SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

KILCAR V GAOTH DOBHAIR

Sunday, MacCumhaill Park, 3.30pm

BARRY Doherty believes that Gaoth Dobhair remain the second best team in Ireland, and they are the bench mark that all other clubs aspire to reach.

Gaoth Dobhair may have only beaten underdogs Bundoran by three points in the quarter-final stages, but Doherty reckons that the Ulster champions must get the utmost respect.

“They are still the second best team in the country. They are still there or thereabouts. They are the best team in Ulster. They have raised the bar and we are trying to reach that bar.

“If we don’t play to our best we will be found out. We have put in a lot of work. This weekend will tell a tale.” Padraig Carr looks likely to miss the game for Kilcar after going over on his ankle.

He may not start, but everyone else is fit to play.

Not having Carr robs Kilcar of one of their most experienced players. He has played in the corner for a long time, and is a frustrating loss for Doherty to deal with.

“We have a squad, and we will deal with it. We have been building a squad all year.”

Kilcar beat Killyebgs by 2-14 to 0-11 in the quarter-final.

That was a good result according to Doherty.

“We were pleased with the result,” he said. “The performance could always be better. For a third of that game we weren’t the better team.

“Our decision making wasn’t what it should be. Our full back line could improve as well.

“The overall performnace would not be good enough to beat Gaoth Dobhair.”

The attitude of the Kilcar team is good though.

Kilcar were champions in 2017, so they aren’t too far off Gaoth Dobhair’s level.

Though Doherty said that they are frustrated.

“The boys are fairly disappointed to lose Pauric. But these things happen. It’s part of sport.

“We will see where we are on Sunday.”