BEFORE yesterday evening’s game against Tolka Rovers, LYIT Donegal coach Niall McDermott admits that he was more nervous than ever.
“Absolutely delighted,” McDermott told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“In Cup games, it’s win or go home. So, the only thing that matters is the result Cup games are always tight and scrappy. There is very rarely a blow-out in a Cup game.”
LYIT Donegal have been riding high in the League this season, with McDermott having added several new additions.
The likes of Mario Garcia and Manny Payton excelled again as they defeated Tolka in a thriller. The Dubliners pulled out all the stops in an attempt to derail LYIT Donegal.
McDermott said: “They were Cup finalists last year and that experience is invaluable. We only have one player who has played in a Cup final before.
“We knew they’d be ready for this. They brought two new players in just for this game. They put all their resources into it.”
But LYIT Donegal prevailed in front of a big home crowd at An Danlann. As McDermott spoke, the court was awash with underage players shooting hoops. It was a sure sign that the impact is already being felt locally.
McDermott added: “The Cup is what it’s all about. We’ve been to quarter-finals many a time. We’ve never been to the semi-finals. That’s one of the most nervous I’ve been before a game. There was a lot of pressure.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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