Stephen Friel had some harsh words for the Sean MacCumhaills players in the aftermath of their Senior Championship relegation play-off win over Naomh Muire.
MacCumhaills won 1-14 to 1-13 at the Bridge to preserve their senior status for another year.
But Friel, the former Donegal minor manager who is in his first year at the Twin Towns club, has asked his squad to ask some deep questions of themselves.
“The players have to stand up and take responsibility,” Friel said.
“They have to look at the effort expended and it wasn’t good effort. We have really dodged a bullet.
“MacCumhaills has fantastic talent, but that isn’t married to hard work and an ethic that is needed to succeed at the highest level.
“I just told the players that. The talent is here, but it’s of no benefit without that work ethic. What’s the point being there unless we will compete? That’s something the players have to take on board.”
MacCumhaills managed to steer their way to a narrow win and avoid the scenario of having to navigate another play-off against the loser of the Ardara-Four Masters game.
But Friel admits that he headed to Dunfanaghy with mixed feelings at the weekend.
He said: “When you look at the League table, look at some of the teams competing in the Intermediate Championship at the upper end and when you look at our Championship, you have to ask if MacCumhaills deserve to dine at the top table.
“I was in two minds about that. I certainly went into it with a strange mindset.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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