IT’S BEEN A long, long time from May to here.
The Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC resumes this weekend with the second series of group fixtures. We’ll look back and see what lies ahead.
Photo caption: Ardara got their Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC campaign off and running with a narrow win over Glenswilly at Pearse Park in May. Photo: Geraldine Diver
Group A
Ardara 0-8 Glenswilly 0-6
BOTH Ardara and Glenswilly were not having the best start to the All-County League but it was the home team at Pearse Park who got the championship off on the right foot.
Paddy McGrath, the Ardara defender, didn’t appear though injury for the second half, although his team had enough about them to come through.
From 0-3 to 0-2 up at half-time, Ardara made hay in the third quarter with four unanswered points with Stefan Boyle establishing a five-point lead in what was a bruising contest at times.
Before the end, where six minutes of added time was played, Glenswilly had penalty appeals waved away inside a crowded area. From a drop kicked free, Michael Murphy blazed high and topside of the bar.
Dungloe 2-11 Bundoran 0-7
DUNGLOE chipped their way towards the two points before adding nails to Bundoran’s coffin late on at Rosses Park.
At 0-7 to 0-3 in front at the break, 10 minutes from time, Conor Greene fired past Bundoran ‘keeper Conor Carty for the opening goal. Greene slotted home after a well-worked move involving Sharkey, Mark Curran and Neely.
Bundoran’s first score of the second half was 22 minutes in from Brennan, but with Rodgers, from a free, on the mark Dungloe inched further ahead before the cherry was added by Hugh Moy.
The comprehensive win for Tony Boyle’s team was sealed by Moy when he fired home a second goal after Mark Sweeney provided the assist.
[adrotate group=”38″]This weekend:
Saturday, 6:30pm – Bundoran v Ardara
Sunday, 3pm – Glenswilly v Dungloe
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | An Clochán Liath | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 2 |
| 2 | Ardara | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 3 | Glenswilly | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| 4 | Realt na Mara G.F.C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 0 |
Group B
St Eunan’s 0-13 Kilcar 1-10
RYAN MCHUGH’S 62nd minute free-kick earned a draw for Kilcar against St Eunan’s in Letterkenny on a should’ve won, could’ve lost type of afternoon for both sides.
Kevin Rafferty, the St Eunan’s midfielder, had been sent off for the first time in this lengthy career having a picking up a second yellow for a foul on McHugh moments beforehand.
A Patrick McBrearty penalty on 11 minutes helped Kilcar lead 1-4 to 0-2 at one stage in the first half, with Rory Kavanagh black-carded for the hosts.
St Eunan’s came back to lead by two in the closing stages before Kilcar got on terms. Conor Gibbons looked to have won it for David McGinley’s team only for McHugh to grab a point for the visitors.
[adrotate group=”77″]St Michael’s 2-13 Killybegs 0-8
CERTAINLY not as comfortable for St Michael’s as the scoreline suggested in the end against Killybegs but a decent start for the Dunfanaghy team nonetheless.
It was 0-8 to 0-8 with just eight minutes remaining as Killybegs looked as though they were about to throw a serious spanner in the works.
However, Ryan Langan scored a fine individual goal to open up a three-point lead for the home side and from then on they never looked like losing, scoring further points from Odhrán McFadden with two, Mark Anthony McGinley and two from Michael Langan and Martin McElhinney to stretch their lead.
Then with virtually the last kick of the game Liam Paul Ferry scored a fine goal. Christopher Murrin saw red for Killybegs for a second yellow.
[adrotate group=”74″]This weekend:
Saturday, 6:30pm – Killybegs v St Eunan’s
Sunday, 3pm – Kilcar v St Michael’s
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Michael’s | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 2 |
| 2 | Naomh Ádhamhnáin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 1 |
| 3 | CLG Chill Chartha | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 1 |
| 4 | CLG Na Cealla Beaga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 0 |
Group C
Glenfin 0-11 Naomh Muire 3-7
IF there was a shock on the opening weekend, it came at Pairc Taobhouge and as the saying goes, goals did win the game.
Naomh Muire were four points up on Glenfin at half-time thanks to goals from Danny Devlin and Patrick McCafferty.
Then in the 17th minute of the second half Naomh Muire score their third goal from Shaun Yank Boyle which killed the game off as a contest.
Glenfin tried hard but never could get that all important goal.
[adrotate group=”68″]Malin 2-9 MacCumhaill’s 1-9
MALIN were missing a host of regulars when MacCumhaill’s came to Connolly Park due to Glengad United in the business end of their season, but still claimed the points.
Darragh McLaughlin, the goalkeeper, saved a late penalty from Martin O’Reilly to preserve Malin’s advantage over 14-man MacCumhaills, who had Steven O’Reilly sent off.
Two goals from Brendan McLaughlin had the home team in front, 2-4 to 1-4, at half-time, with the away side’s goal coming through O’Reilly.
Malin dug in come the second half and despite Gary Farren’s dismissal for a second yellow card held on for a decent victory.
[adrotate group=”61″]This weekend:
Saturday, 6:30pm – MacCumhaill’s v Glenfin
Sunday, 3pm – Naomh Muire v Malin
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naomh Muire, Íochtar Na Rosann | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 2 |
| 2 | Málainn | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 2 |
| 3 | Sean Mac Cumhaill | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0 |
| 4 | Gleann Fhinne | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 0 |
Group D
Gaoth Dobhair 2-12 Four Masters 1-9
GAOTH DOBHAIR, the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 table-toppers, pulled away from the Four Masters in the second half to post a useful two points.
The Maghergallon men had led 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time.
Five minutes into the second half, Gavin McBride finished off a move after Gaoth Dobhair made a quick transfer from defence to attack. Odhrán MacNiallais gave the decisive final ball to McBride, who hammered past Ryan Haughey.
Six minutes later, Gaoth Dobhair had copper-fastened the win with 20 minutes till remaining. This time, McBride was the architect and Kieran Gillespie applied the finish.
[adrotate group=”45″]Naomh Conaill 1-11 Termon 1-2
REIGNING champions Naomh Conaill got their Dr Maguire defence off to a winning start against Termon.
Ricky Gallagher of Termon, who would later leave the field injured, found a way past Naomh Conaill goalkeeper Stephen McGrath for a goal.
Dara Gallagher bagged Naomh Conaill’s goal in the 36th minute, after a brace of points from Ethan O’Donnell.
Brendan Friel was black carded for Termon and Eoghan McGettigan was among the point scorers. Dermot Molloy kicked three points as the men in blue and white went on to win by nine in the end.
[adrotate group=”46″]This weekend:
Saturday, 5:30pm – Termon v Gaoth Dobhair
Sunday, 3pm – Four Masters v Naomh Conaill
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naomh Conaill | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 2 |
| 2 | Gaoth Dobhair | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 12 | 2 |
| 3 | Four Masters | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 0 |
| 4 | CLG An Tearmainn | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 0 |
