THIS COMING SUNDAY will see the conclusion of the group stages of the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC.
There were plenty of talking points over the weekend just past, as some of the groups took shape while one in particular is still almost completely in the balance.
Photo caption: Brian Farrelly of Glenswilly is surrounded by Dungloe’s Gavin Ward and Luke Neely in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC Group A clash yesterday. Photo: Geraldine Diver
GROUP A: Glenswilly come out fighting against Dungloe
HAVING squandered a four-point interval lead, Glenswilly saw Dungloe come back to level at 1-5 to 0-8 and with Kealan McFadden having been sent off for the home side it looked as though their hopes were fading. Michael Canning was joined on the sidelines by Michael Murphy, who had a knee injury and is expected to be out for eight weeks.
Neil Gallagher was thrown in for his first club appearance of 2016, but at the three-quarter mark it looked as though the visiting side, managed by Tony Boyle, were about to cement their place at the top of Group A.
However, Glenswilly down the years have occasionally done things the hard way and with their head boobing on the water level, used their experience to come through on a 1-10 to 0-10 scoreline.
Dungloe are still top of the group, though, and can be content in the fact they’ve a home game against an Ardara team they beat last year in the group stages, with a win going to be enough to reach the last eight.
[adrotate group=”45″]GROUP A: Bundoran proving capable of the step-up
BUNDORAN were landslide winners of the Intermediate Championship last year against Naomh Colmcille but the step up to the senior ranks has proven problematic for teams down the years.
Following their opening round loss against Dungloe, the Seasiders needed something to spark their dreams. In recent weeks, they’ve proven capable of getting results in the All-County League Division 1 and an excellent second half against Ardara means a quarter-final place is within their grasp.
From 1-4 to 0-7 at the break at Gaelic Park, six points on the spin laid the foundations for what evolved into a 1-15 to 0-13 win and Bundoran know what’s required when they welcome Glenswilly to town on Sunday – a home win.
Ardara, who certainly missed Paddy McGrath when he was withdrawn, had a decent victory over Glenswilly for starters but now must get two points at Rosses Park in Dungloe to continue their interest.
This group is so tight all four teams can still claim top spot, as well as bottom.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | An Clochán Liath | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 20 | 2 |
| 2 | Glenswilly | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 18 | 2 |
| 3 | Ardara | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 24 | 2 |
| 4 | Realt na Mara G.F.C | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 30 | 2 |
GROUP B: Kilcar pass their test against St Michael’s with flying colours
ALL week, the meeting of Kilcar and St Michael’s in Towney was dubbed to be the tie of the round.
Martin McHugh’s side are top of the All-County Football League Division 1 but the only side to have beaten them at home – as well as away – was St Michael’s.
Those in Kilcar are well aware that they’ve not even made a county final since 1993 and the 23-year wait without the Dr Maguire has brought some heartbreak down the years. In recent seasons, Kilcar have been well-tipped to take the trophy home but for one reason or another have fallen short.
However, this year’s panel are developing something of an X-Factor and that was emphatically driven home again following their 2-15 win over St Michael’s on Sunday.
For St Michael’s they’ll have to face the side that knocked them out of the championship in each of the last two seasons – St Eunan’s – and they’ll have to win.
[adrotate group=”56″]GROUP B: St Eunan’s make changes but get the result, which eliminates Killybegs
ST EUNAN’S got the points against a youthful Killybegs side at Fintra on Saturday evening and although their hosts certainly gave them as good as they could, David McGinley’s side saw Conall Dunne and Conor Morrison grab goals in a 2-14 to 1-6 win.
Manus Boyle, the Killybegs selector, noted in his post-match interview that perhaps the Letterkenny side had an eye on their St Michael’s fixture this weekend. McGinley, afterwards, said he want to develop a team that’s adaptable and will have more than one way of playing.
It was interesting to see Rory Kavanagh positioned at full-forward and St Eunan’s went for physical presence at centre-field with Sean Hensey and Darragh McWalters, as they matched up well against Killybegs.
With St Michael’s losing in Towney against Kilcar, it means that the Dunfanghy side will have to beat St Eunan’s to stay in the championship.
Killybegs can’t get off the bottom of the group now having lost to to St Michael’s – the only team they can match on points but not the head-to-head. Last year Killybegs had to come through the relegation play-off against Cloughaneely and they’ll have to aim to avoid the drop again.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLG Chill Chartha | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 20 | 3 |
| 2 | Naomh Ádhamhnáin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 22 | 3 |
| 3 | St Michael’s | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 29 | 2 |
| 4 | CLG Na Cealla Beaga | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 39 | 0 |
GROUP C: MacCuamhill’s have too much for neighbours Glenfin
GLENFIN were semi-finalists in the SFC as recently as 2011, when they went down to St Michael’s in Letterkenny.
However, this year they are out of the running and cannot get off the bottom of the table, regardless of how they fare on Sunday in Malin.
MacCumhaill’s haven’t made any sort of impact in the senior ranks since being beaten finalists in 2004 but on Saturday evening put in their best performance of the season to beat Glenfin 3-16 to 1-10, with Frank McGlynn seeing red for the visitors.
Aaron Kelly’s two goals meant the home support would’ve left the Twin Towns with a pep in their step and they will be able to draw on home comforts again on Sunday, knowing a win over Naomh Muire is essential for progression.
They’ll have Steven O’Reilly back from suspension and Shaun McGowan’s return from an ankle injury will also be a considerable boost.
[adrotate group=”81″]GROUP C: Malin continue to make championship inroads, but it’s all new to Naomh Muire
THREE years have now passed since Malin turned to Donegal SFC on its head to defeated a fancied St Eunan’s in the last eight in Buncrana, as the side from Connolloy Park made it to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Last year, Malin upset Gaoth Dobhair to make the knock-out rounds and yesterday at the Banks were almost there, only to be denied by a late leveller from Naomh Muire’s Jack Boyle in a 1-8 to 1-8 draw.
However, that followed a fine win over MacCumhaill’s first time out so Malin know that a win this Sunday against an already relegated Glenfin will mean another quarter-final will be confirmed.
Twelve months ago, Termon squeezed into the quarter-finals at the expense of Naomh Muire on scoring difference and although their form in Division 2 is patchy, Eamon O’Boyle’s team are right in the mix. If they can avoid defeat at county headquarters they’ll get through.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naomh Muire, Íochtar Na Rosann | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 22 | 3 |
| 2 | Málainn | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 23 | 3 |
| 3 | Sean Mac Cumhaill | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 28 | 2 |
| 4 | Gleann Fhinne | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 41 | 0 |
GROUP D: Termon get the better of Gaoth Dobhair again
ONE of the more baffling aspects of the group stages – which came into the beckoning in 2013 – is the fact Gaoth Dobhair have only qualified for the quarter-finals once.
That was in 2013 and although Gaoth Dobhair were expected to make it again a year later, Termon produced a two-point winning margin to oust them. And this year, Gaoth Dobhair had started competently to defeat Four Masters, while Termon had unravelled at Naomh Conaill.
Termon are still battling relegation in Division 1 and Gaoth Dobhair are second in the table. However, on Saturday, the side managed by Francie Friel produced what might’ve been considered the result of the weekend as Aidan Sweeney’s goal sealed a 1-11 to 0-9 win at Burn Road.
Michael Boyle, the Termon goalkeeper, admitted afterwards that with two home to come in their last two outings, they always felt they had a chance to make the last eight.
A win on Sunday against Four Masters will go a long way to guaranteeing that. The only way Termon can win and not qualify is if Gaoth Dobhair beat Naomh Conaill and then all three front-runners will end up on four points.
Head-to-head only counts with two clubs on the same points, otherwise – for three or more – it’s points difference.
[adrotate group=”81″]GROUP D: Naomh Conaill come good in the end but Four Masters had started well
WHEN you look at the final score – Four Masters 1-11 Naomh Conaill 5-12 – it’s considered that the reigning county champions breezed their way to victory in Donegal Town.
And whilst that notion isn’t ultimately far from the truth, the final scoreline does mask the fact that the team managed by Martin Regan and Martin Doherty were 1-6 to 1-4 down at the break.
However, with Four Masters operating in Division 2 these days and Naomh Conaill possessing a panel that looks stronger each year, it’ll take a good team to get the better of the Glenties outfit, who had the likes of Dara Gallagher, Eoghan McGettigan and Leon Thompson on the bench.
Ciaran Thompson and Leo McLoone are starting to forge a considerable partnership in the middle of the field and the two county panellists scored two goals apiece.
Mathematically, Four Masters can still make it though to the quarter-finals but need a miraculous set of results. They’ll need Naomh Conaill to beat Gaoth Dobhair and then would need a cricket score win in Termon.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naomh Conaill | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 19 | 4 |
| 2 | CLG An Tearmainn | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 23 | 2 |
| 3 | Gaoth Dobhair | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 26 | 2 |
| 4 | Four Masters | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 45 | 0 |
