Kilcar focused after "wake-up call"

Kilcar manager Barry Doherty says last week's defeat to Bundoran was "a wake-up call" ahead of Saturday's Donegal Club Championship semi-final against St Michael's at MacCumhaill Park.

Without eight first-team players, the reigning league champions suffered only their second defeat of the season at Gaelic Park on Saturday, going down 2-11 to 1-13, although Doherty expects his side to be at full strength against St Michael's.

Barry Shovlin [hamstring strain] and his brother Stephen are expected to be fit to play in Saturday's game, which is live on eir Sport 2 [throw in 7.30pm], while inter-county stars Ryan McHugh and Patrick McBrearty will also be available.

"We were without up to eight of the squad for one reason and another, from the All-Ireland final to Karl Lacey's wedding," Doherty told the Donegal Democrat.

"But, in fairness to Bundoran, they were up for the game. They are battling for survival in Division One and we maybe took them a little for granted.

"It is a lesson for all and maybe a wake-up call ahead of this weekend's game. St Michael's will be a different proposition on Saturday night.

"But we will be ready for them and there is no chance we will take them for granted.

"We know them well enough and what they are capable of - we have met a good few times in the championship over the last three or four years.

"We are expecting nothing easy from St Michael's and we are going to have to be at our best if we want to make the final."

St Michael's, who are appearing in their first senior semi-final since 2014, are waiting on a late call on the fitness of inter-county star Michael Langan [ankle].

"He is back in training alright but he is still not a 100% and we are going to have to wait until later in the week to see if he is good to go," St Michael's manager Michael Kelly told the Donegal Democrat.

"An ankle injury can be slow to heal and we don't want to rush him either or you could do more damage. He came on for the last few minutes against Burt and had no adverse reaction afterwards.

"He has trained on it since but feels it is not just right yet. We will know better later in the week.

"He is very young but he is an important player for us and we are going to give him every chance to be fit. But we are not going to risk him and if he is not 100% we won't start him, whatever about introducing him."

Kilcar, who beat St Michael's home and away in the league this year, are ten points ahead of their semi-final opponents in the Donegal Cup standings.

Missing the Championship already? eir Sport will broadcast up to 30 games from the AIB GAA Football and Hurling Club Championships in 2017. Coverage continues on Saturday, 23 September on eir Sport 2 with the Limerick club hurling championship semi-final between Doon and Na Piarsaigh [throw-in 3pm] and the quarter-final replay between Patrickswell and Ballybrown [throw in 4.45pm]. Later on in the evening, Kilcar take on St Michael's in the Donegal club football championship semi-final [throw in 7.30pm]. 

Image: Inpho/Kieran Murray

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