ST EUNAN’S haven’t been in a Donegal SFC final since 2015, but Conor Parke hopes a tough group phase will stand to the black and amber tomorrow evening.
St Eunan’s take on Milford in the first of the quarter-finals in Ballybofey (throw-in 5pm).
Picture: Conor Parke in action for St Eunan’s against Omagh in the 2014 Ulster Club Championship.
A place in the last four is at stake with St Eunan’s – who didn’t make it out of the group last year – still something of a mystery for onlookers.
Richard’s Thornton’s team came out of a group including champions Gaoth Dobhair and their old foes St Michael’s, with away draws recorded at both, and Ardara, who they peeled away from to defeat.
“We went to Magheragallon to get a draw before going to the Bridge to do the same so hopefully those games will stand to us now,” Parke said.
“The likes of Kilcar are gung-ho to win the championship back this year and no matter who you play it’s a tough game at this stage of the game.”
Conor Parke with Anthony Thompson in pursuit
Parke played in the 2012 and 2014 final wins over Naomh Conaill and Glenswilly, scoring a point against the later. Parke also played in the 2015 final loss to Naomh Conaill and he was part of the St Eunan’s side that lost out to Setanta in this year’s senior hurling final.
Four years ago, Parke netted a goal in a semi-final win over St Michael’s. On Sunday, he came up from the back to arch over a vital point in the tense draw at The Bridge.
“It was a tight game,” Parke said after Conall Dunne rescued a result for the Letterkenny men.
“We’ve been there a lot and it’s always touch and go. You never get an easy game at St Michael’s. We were just glad to come out on the right end of it.
“I actually thought that the game was gone, but we pulled it back. The boys showed good hunger to push on, especially after losing Rory Carr in the first half. It was backs against the wall stuff, but we managed to do it.”
St Eunan’s have been in a period of some transition over recent years, but with a powerful underage structure in the same time, Parke and co are hopeful of climbing the ladder again.
Parke said: “We had bad luck with a tight draw last year. We didn’t get out of the group. Thank God, we got the results this year.
“You have the likes of James Kelly, Brian McIntyre and Eoin McGeehin inside, who are doing very well. It’s a big learning curve for those young fellas coming through.”