SUNDAY’S SENIOR B final between Gaoth Dobhair and St Eunan’s will rise memories of the senior final ten years ago – with some of the protagonists still involved.
The two captains who’ll lead their teams out at Sean MacCumhaill Park on Sunday, Gaoth Dobhair’s James Gallagher and St Eunan’s Colin McIntyre, played central roles in 2006.
It was recalled at the time as ‘one of the worst county finals in memory’, but that didn’t matter to those who set the bonfires ablaze around the back of Errigal as Gaoth Dobhair took receipt of the Dr Maguire Cup for the 14th time.
Picture caption: Gaoth Dobhair celebrate their Donegal SFC win in 2006. Picture by Aodh Mairtin O Fearraigh.
[adrotate group=”86″]“The best feeling ever,” says Gallagher, who was raised on tales of the Gaoth Dobhair greats, including his father, Neilly.
“We won it before too, but captaining the club to it was just extra special.”
The game is perhaps best remembered for the goal that won it for Gaoth Dobhair as Stephen Cassidy riffled past Tony Blake; a magnificent finish after turning away to open the chance.
“It was a very poor game,” McIntyre remembers.
[adrotate group=”56″]“Like a lot of finals, it wasn’t a great game. Stephen got a great goal to win it. We should have got at least a draw that day, but the goal got them over the line.
“I don’t have great memories of that day. It’s hard to believe it’s so long ago now.”
McIntyre is the elder statesman on this St Eunan’s reserve team, but knows all about the man leading the line on the other side – Gallagher.
McIntyre says: “James was the free taker and he never missed. He’ll be the same this Sunday.”
Gallagher got married the week after the final and missed the Ulster defeat to Crossmaglen.
The win came after Gaoth Dobhair ended a long famine for success in 2002 – well, 2003, when the 2002 final was played! – having waited since ’61 to get their mits on the prize.
Gallagher says: “I remember after 2002, people were saying there’d be more Championships in us.
[adrotate group=”83″]“We lost a couple of semi-finals that we should have won, but we got there under Declan Bonner in 2006. We weren’t flying, but we ground out the wins.
“We had luck in the final, too. I watched the video again a couple of months back. You could say that we robbed it really. St Eunan’s missed a lot that day.”
St Eunan’s had 13 wides that day and dropped numerous shots into Sean Sweeney’s arms.
While McIntyre is the only man from the 2006 senior final who’ll play for Eunan’s this weekend, Gaoth Dobhair have a few survivors.
[adrotate group=”38″]As well as Gallagher, Sean McGarvey, Dan McBride and Christopher McFadden lined out in ’06, as did the Gaoth Dobhair manager, Joe Duffy, who says: “There is plenty of experience in there in that dressing room of ours.
“There’s a big rivalry between us. There’s no hatred, it’s just two highly-respected and successful teams and clubs going at it.”
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