Pre-season fever as Colmcille slog it out in Donegal

By David Thompson

Sunday morning, a time of relaxation for most, well not for Colmcille. The minor team continued their pre-season training with an intense session on the beach in preparation for next week’s first challenge game. After a tough session on Friday night, the beach would’ve been the last place on my mind.

The usual pick-up point: the clubhouse. Managers, Paul and Robbie, dragging sleds and the classic rope into their vans, a sight that many quickly realized was going to result in pain later that day. The thought of having a nice day at the beach was quickly vanished. The ‘farmers friends ‘ were being left on the soft sand as the team set off to do a quick warm up; a jog where the wind left men breathless. It was quickly turning into a nightmare session: the boxing training on a Tuesday seemed like a ‘walk in the park’ in comparison to what was to come.

Paul shouting words of encouragement to push the boys on, whilst sleds were leaving us legless.. There was only one-way for a session to finish on the beach; hit the baltic waters of Donegal. Boys squealing like pigs in pain; ice-baths came to mind immediately, only with a winter’s breeze of Donegal air to add to it. Leaving the water as if you’ve been a victim of hypothermia, meanwhile Paul stands in his warm hooded top, praising the team who slogged it out in a session which many would’ve quickly turned their back on.Slogging it out on the beach on the morning of the big game: Liverpool versus Manchester United, sure what else would I be doing?

With the season quickly approaching, thoughts of the pitch in Lowry’s Lane becoming a fortress are being forged into our minds. A dream, which we hope, will turn into a reality. There’s one thing that is evident; we’ll give everything on the pitch, regardless of the outcome of the season to come.

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